The World Never Changes (Zorolo)

“Give me very thing you got in the bag bitc**,” a strange voice said ringing into the young man ears as he walked through the town of Slity. His work seemed to never end, but it did get easier everyday as he grew stronger.

“Help!” the young maiden yelled staring at the metal blade before her heart. Her heart pound, ripping out of her body with every beat it took. She took small steps back wanting to run away from this nightmare she faced.

“Come on. Get it up and no one will get hurt,” he said with the look of greed and death written all over his face. His body seemed very weak as if he hadn’t had a good meal in days.

“No!” she shouted feeling the cool stone wall touch her back. She rubbed her hands up against the hard rocky surface behind her. The only way out is now through the crazed man with the knife. She gripped her purse; readying herself to run through him.

“I wouldn’t do that if-”

“I was you,” the young swordsman said walking around the corner to find the trouble.

“Who that?” the man questioned turning around to see the samurai now blocking his way. His eyes grow, mostly with anger that someone would try and stop him. The young woman looked and reacted quickly, running past the theft with all her might. Only to be pulled back by her hair and rapped into his arm with a blade to her neck.

“Let her go,” Nikudemon stated his arms already resting on his sword. He gripped the hilt watching and waiting for the right time to attack.

“What are you going to do now hero?” The man questioned with a smile; tightening the blade deeper into the woman’s neck making her cry out for help louder.

“Let her go or you’ll be the one hurt,” he said again not backing down nor seeming to care that she was endanger.

“Like you could stop me. Just walk away and act as if you never came.”

“Nope.” He blunting said before dashing towards the man with great speed. It took less than seconds for him to reach them, before he jumped over them and smashed the back of the blade into the mans back. As he landed a strange black hole appeared out of the ground. He tried to miss it, but it followed him until he landed into it.

*** Neo New York ***

Nikudemon opened his eyes slowly, wondering what happen and where he was. He blinked a few time getting use to the brighter than normal sun. He finally started to get a clear view of where he was, but he didn’t seem to know the place. Everything was far more advance than he had ever seen.

“What is this place?” he asked mostly himself getting up off the hard ground. He looked at the fly broads that changed as if it was a T.V. “I must have jumped to another world again,” he said brushing his self off again.

He walked through the strange city wondering why he was called he. He looked around noticing everything seemed quiet and peaceful. That wasn’t the only thing he noticed as he watched the different people look at him in a strange way. He seemed to be the only one that was carrying a weapon around with him.

He made his way through an old parking lot of some kind when he heard the sound of fighting. The sounds that came from the fight seemed strange, but he was sure it was a fight. Dashing towards the wrong doing without a thought about he life the view of what looked like two robots fighting came into his sight. A crowed of people surround them watching the two fight. Nikudemon didn’t care if it was two robots or people they seemed to be fighting to the death and he had to stop it.

“Stop!” he screamed out as he ran and jumped over a few people getting into the ring where the two robots where. Quickly gripping both sword he unsheathed them stopping the attacks by the bots. His body slammed down into the ground as he held the powerful arm at bay. His other sword was just able to toss the odd looking katana from stabbing him and the other robot.

“What wrong with you people?” He asked trying to hold the arm at was trying to crush him.

“Get out of the way?” the robot said firing a boaster in it’s arm. Nikudemon with his speed sheathed the other sword and gripped Solana with his right hand as he controlled the path the arm can down at. That when he noticed the skin around the helm of the suit.

“Human?” He questioned as his sword changed paths like a snake and the hilt of the sword hit the bare skin that show. “What going on?” he asked himself as he dodged the other armored man attack with great ease. Jet boaster launched from the man back and flew at the young swordsman.

“What the?” he said jumping to the air and with the back of his sword hit the other man in the back of his neckline. As he landed he noticed the crowed of people weren’t help with him. He quickly dashed away leaving the two fallen human there.

What is going on here? Was all he could ask himself as he walked down the streets of this strange new world.

The sound of skates against the arena. The rush of wind against her neck and chin and cheek. The feel of speed along her armor as she reached back for her spear and smiled as she looked back over her shoulder. Three of them, all moving at once. She knew they wouldn't stand a chance. It was just a matter of time.

Three laps had elapsed and each time they struck, she'd made a fool of them. The Silver Beauty was untouchable. She was the princess in the tower, except she was controlling the dragon, instead of being imprisoned by it. Now then, it was time to give these boys a real reason to fret. After all, she could almost hear them shaking in their metal boots.

Emile skidded sideways, moved along the arena floor by her momentum and started skating backwards for a moment as they bent around the turn. The three other battlers rushed forwards towards her. If they could rush her, she guessed, they thought they'd win. Well, these boys needed to be taught a lesson.

The armored beauty removed her spear from her back as she continued to skate along. As the turn ended, her boosters kicked on a bit, adjusting her momentum so she slowed down enough to change her direction. Pressing the button farther back, the tip of the spear began to charge lightning through it. The woman smiled brightly as she skated forwards with all speed. The Divine Lancer wasn't someone to be taken easy.

The three men brandished their swords all in unison, readying to slash. Time to show them up. "Gae Bolg!" Emile yelled as she fired up her thruster, bursting forwards with such speed that after her strike, a vacuum of air was created, pushing the three male warriors backwards into the arena wall. The crashing sound of their armor hitting the wall and sliding to the ground brought about a gun shot. The battle was over.

The purple haired girl skated up towards the three men and looked at them. "You're all pathetic. Haven't got much to show for your hard work, huh?" she asked them condescendingly as she skated off towards the battler locker rooms.

0=)----------- In the Locker Room -----------(=o

Emile walked out of the shower, absolutely beaming from her battle that day. After all, she might have another one, but she wasn't sure. That was some intense battle, she thought with a slight smirk. Still, I'm not gonna get any stronger playing around with wimps. I need someone that's really worth my time. A real professional warrior. After all, in all of my street battles I can't be touched either. Man, being me is better than a chastity belt, she mused to herself with a slight chuckle against the back of her hand.

Emile opened her locker and removed her clothing, getting dressed quietly. The female battlers normally didn't compete much with men, so Emile's unique disposition gave her a locker room to herself quite often. Still, as she dressed, she wondered why exactly she battled. After all, there had to be better things to do.

Hmm... nope, can't think of anything more awesome than this.

Her thought made her look at a small screen in the locker room. A battle was going on outside. What seemed to be an interesting one at that. Emile finished getting dressed and walked outside to go see who or what was fighting. Maybe she'd request a battle if this person were strong enough.

Danger. It was something the young swordsman felt as he walked down the lonely street of the city. He could feel in deep inside of him that something was following him. He wasn’t sure why he was being followed or who it was. He couldn’t even tell where the person was, but he hated the thought of trouble coming his way. Staring into the large crowds of people ahead of him he had hopes to lose this people.

“Come,” a soft voice spoke as a gentle hand rested on his shoulders before making it way down his back and disappearing.

A woman? he thought to himself as he came to a stop by the strange moment. This could be interesting, but I’m not so easy. He thought to himself continuing to the group of people.

The strange woman disappeared off in one of the many alleyways that covered the city streets. Niku glanced back with his eyes, but couldn’t tell much about the mysterious woman. He could only clearly see the heavy pale coat, dress or shirt that was wear. Other than that, see seem to be a little shorter than him, but could tell do to how she walked away.

He continued on his way to nowhere figuring it was best not to fall into a trap. Lowing his head and resting his arms on his sword he begun to run through everything that had happen so far. He needed to find a way back quickly before he found himself more trouble. As he walked the feeling he had before returned like a plague.

“Why didn’t you come?” the soft voice said this time she stood walking next to him. He stared at her in wonder backing away before saying a word.

She good. Not to many people can do that, Nikudemon thought gripping the handle of his sword. Now haven’t got a better look at her or not as she was wearing a type of dress, but it had a hood covering her face. “I’ve seen you before,” he said trying to place where he seen her.

“You’re strong. I watched you take out Dozer and Razor just a few hours ago,” she said pulling her arms out her long sleeve. “Here.”

“Dozer? Razor?” he questioned looking a bit confused. “Who are they and what is this?” he asked taking the envelope from her hands.

“They where the two Roller Battling when you stopped them with your swords. You must show me what type of suit you wear. A person like you must have a very unique type of armor just like the Silver Beauty,” she said the name with such anger in her voice. “Anyway, I’m paying you to beat her in the ring.”

“Roller Battle what? Suit of what? Silver who? What are you talking about?” the young swordsman looked at her clueless. He didn’t understand one thing this woman was talking about.

“What?” she liked at him stupid before saying another word. “Are you trying to talk me you don’t know what Roller Battling is?” Niku just shook his head as both of them stopped walking. “And that you don’t own a battle suit?” He just continued to shake his head yes. “And that you never heard of the Silver Beauty?”

“Now you get it,” he said with a smile rubbing the back of his neck before he said another word. “You see,” he begun to say. I should lie. “I’m not from around here and we don’t have this Roller whatever in the village I come from.”

He’s lying, she thought before looking back at him. “Well. She a very evil person and gives the sport of Roller Battle a bad name. Also, she very strong and no one can beat her. If you would-,”

“Hmm… I’m going to have to put a stop to this than. If she the reason why those two where trying to fight to the death than I have no other choice. Where is she?”

“Not going to be so easy. First you need a suit or armor to wear,” she said before she begun to think of a way to get him one. “I guess you could wear my old one. It should fit your style of fighting pretty well… Come.”

**** First fight ****

“Go get him Nikudemon!” The strange woman said as the young swordsman stood inside the fighting arena. He wore a rosy red helmet that not felt like it weighted a ton, but he had no clue what it was for. She hadn’t given him to much detail about the suit.

Let see… If I push this little button on my arm the roller should come out, he thought to himself as he tried the idea. He almost left over as he begun to roll down the ring a bit. The suit that she gave him was that great. In fact the only color on it what the Rose color helmet on his head. The armor it self had a lot of holds and one of the useful ones was where his swords hung out at.

“Come on! It not that hard to use!” she screamed out angry that he was making a fool out of himself. Though, the young master quickly got a hold of himself and was able to stop moving.

A very awkward man with a rose colored helmet seemed to be fighting, she noticed. Aside from his almost inability to skate, she noticed that he didn't have a foe. They were giving him a chance to practice. That was lame. The Silver Beauty smiled a bit as she vanished into the locker room. It was time to see if that sword guy was really that good.

The people spoke about this guy as if he were awesome. After all, he had only beaten Dozer and Razor, both of which Emile found herself making into scrap heaps on a daily basis. Well, not quite that often, since their bones needed to heal, but still they were people she made short work of. As the woman donned her armor, she thought about the battle to come.

She skated onto the arena as this swordsman slid to the starting line. His skates magnetized as his skates stepped onto the line and he looked at her. "Who are you, and what's going on?" he asked, but she couldn't see how he was looking at her. Still, he sounded like a man, which meant only one thing: easy pickings.

"I'm the Silver Beauty. The legendary beauty that has graced this stage with my great skills and strengths. Also, my beauty makes these men chase after me like dogs on leashes. Able to move, but not get close enough," she said as the red light turned on. "And as to what's going on, I've requested a Roller Battle with you. I recognize that helmet. If you're working for that wannabe, you might as well give up. If she couldn't beat me, what makes you think you can?" Emile asked as the a beep rang out.

A second and third beeps rang out suddenly. The light turned green. It was go time! The roller battler fired up her boosters and shot forwards, skating quickly off with a smile on her face. "Come. Show me why she decided to make you her replacement," the Silver Beauty said as she sped quickly off, turning around to skate backwards and watch him. This would be oh so fun!

Nikudemon didn’t have a clue what this girl was talking about. He also noticed that she didn’t seem as bad as the other girl made her out to be. He pushed forward with one foot trying to keep him self up with the other. Skating wasn’t something he did a lot of and it wasn’t that easy. “You don’t seem like a bad person you know,” he said starting to get use to the movement of the skates. He was always a quick learner when it came to new things.

“You know that you can’t beat me by staking a lone?” The Sliver Beauty said still staking backwards.

“How do I win by the way?” Nikudemon asked not even showing a worry in the world about what he got himself into.

“Simple. All you have to do is knock me out. Though, that might be harder than it sounds,” the young woman said turning back around and begun to gain some speed. “Now let begun.” She said jetting off around the ring.

Hmm… Knock her out, he thought as he flipped his sword of life around. Guess I got to use the back end of my blade. The swordsman also begun to move quicker though he found his legs weren’t moving as fast as he thought they should be.

He felt a tap hit his head as the Silver beauty passed him on her skates. Seems the wheels can’t match the movement of my feet all the way. That and the faster I go the more trouble I have reaching my sword. Nikudemon glared forward now having a clear idea what he was dealing with. He took a deep breath before gripping his sword. He could here her skates coming closer to him and he swung his sword out smashing it into her suit of armor only to find himself spinning out of control as she jetted by him.

“Is that all you got?” she said laughing at the poor display of skill Nikudemon showed.

“Come on! Where is that great skill and power you had!” the Rosy Red Queen yelled out from the crowed.

“I told you I never did this. Just me a minute. I think I’m starting to understand how this skates work,” he said calmly as he flipped his sword back around. He finally understood that he wouldn’t be able to fight her by stay still. The wheels didn’t give him enough grip for that. He smiled as he skated forward trying to gain as much speed as he could.

Emile laughed. This guy was a joke at best. That angry woman would get embarrassed... again, and this guy would get crushed. He didn't stand a chance. After all, the Silver Beauty hadn't lost ever for a good reason: She was simply too powerful.

Emile turned around and began to skate backwards and skate around the swordsman. The battler drew her spear from her back and smirked. The purple haired girl skidded to a stop and rushed forwards, not quite ready to end this. First, she'd play around a bit. When that fun bit was over, then she'd end this like the others. After all, she doubted he could handle anything like her strength.

Emile skidded around and stopped quickly, dashing forwards and lunging her spear. The clash of metals as her spear struck the samurai's sword caused her attack to only graze the right shoulder of his armor, causing him to slide sideways and stop. The swordsman turned quickly and skated after the young woman, slashing his blade quickly. The secretary turned suddenly and blocked the sword with her spear.

The weapons locked, the swordsman's blade between the grips of her spear. The purple haired woman pushed the dark haired man's blade away and spun around, chasing after him. Her mysterious opponent turned quickly as she slashed her spear. The blades clashed and sparked, the defending warrior thrown back towards the wall. Emile smirked as she watched this guy slide backwards. "Ready to give up yet?" she asked with a smile as she slowed down.

The swordsman couldn’t happy, but smile himself stopping his slide with his foot. It wasn’t everyday he found himself without the upper hand. This game he’d gotten himself into with harder than he first thought, but he thought he was going pretty see as how this was his first time. He wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to beat this woman at her own game. One thing he did know was that balanced that he was gain could help him in later fights.

“Like I would,” he said sheathing his sword back by his side. “I’m just starting.” The young man dashed forwarded this time with more speed than he’d been able to reach. He’d already got use to how the skates reacted to his movements and now was about to move more quickly.

“Tsk,” was all the Silver Beauty said as she too rushed towards the in coming man. She swung her spear out in hopes to hit the man, but Nikudemon just ducked under her weapon as he passed by her. She quickly swung around as Nikudemon skidded across the ring as he fought to change his direction.

He moves were rough on the skates as he left making all over the ring. He head towards the Silver Beauty again this time swing his arms with his heads to help shift his weight better. She dashed toward him with even great speed with her spear out hoping to ram him to the ground.

Nikudemon watched the spear and her as they both headed for him. Very second it got closer and closer to him, but he didn’t look worried at all. As the point of the blade came near he lifted the first of this feet up quickly swing them to the left and resting them back down letting his skates move him away from the on coming weapon.

The swordsman laughed a bit while a big smile came across his face. He’d finally gotten comfortable with the skates and he knew there was only one thing left as he gripped his sword coming to a slow stop. “I guess I can try attacking now?” He said turning back around to view his foe.

Emile smirked. It had been a long while since she had found herself with a truly worthy foe. Or, to be more exact, she had never found a worthy foe in her eyes. No one was strong enough. They were all weak, scared puppies, and she was operating the gas chamber for strays. All that the purple haired girl was doing was weeding out the strong from the weak. This had brought her to one truth: she was the strong.

Still, so far this man had proved himself more than capable of holding his own against even her great power. Still, that didn't stop her from being able to crush him, it would just take more effort. That was, indeed, a first. It had been a while since she had needed to try.

She smirked slightly at his comment about taking his turn to attack and slid back slowly, still skating backwards. Not if I have anything to say about it, the battler thought as she exploded forwards, skating towards the samurai with all speed behind her feet and skates, blitzing towards the man. Still, he started skating towards her. It was a good, old fashioned game of chicken. First one to blink would lose.

"Time to see if I've got the skills to fight on these things yet," the swordsman said as he rushed at the lancer. The Silver Beauty simply smiled as she continued forwards. Time to meet eye to eye.

In the blink of an eye, the two past each other, the sound of blades and armor clashing echoed out. It had all been so fast, but Emile had seen a flash. As she looked at her armor, she noticed he hadn't hit her, so she had evaded the brunt of his attack. She turned her head and looked at Nikudemon, who turned to face her, his armor undamaged.

Then what did I hit? she asked herself as she looked at her spear and then at his sword. It had all been so quickly that she hadn't noticed. Her spear blade had struck his sword, deflecting both of their intended attacks. She wasn't sure if that had been an accident, or simply something that the samurai did. Still, she knew it wasn't going to happen again. "I need to end this."

Nikudemon slowed himself down to a stop it was hard, but he’d some how controlled that exchange of attacks. The armor was having an effected on how fast he could move. He didn’t like it taking the time to view the armor while his foe prepared for her next attack. He could tell that the armor was made from something strong and knew he wouldn’t be able to break it on his own.

Hmm… Maybe if I could get her attack to hit it just right, he thought staring down at his arm hearing the electrifying sound of lighting off in the distant. Glancing back at the young woman he’d been fighting he saw sparks flying from off the tip of her spear. It was like nothing he’d ever seen before. This could be trouble.

“You lose,” the young skater said, taking her stance, readying herself for her signature attack. Nikudemon watched carefully getting a bad feeling from this new form of attack, but he also thought it was a good chance to get rid of some of his armor.

So, she ready to end this, the young swordsman thought resting his hand upon the hilt of Solana. He closed his eyes giving his skate a light push off. Flames busted from her skates and she skidded off towards that samurai. Nikudemon opened his eyes watching her move at a slower rate than she actually was. Drawing his blade as she came closer and closer to him. The back of the blade rested now on the armor as the spear grazed both the swords and the metal.

Nikudemon body flew back as the Sliver Beauty zoomed pass him. His back smashed into the wall and the armor he wore on his arm shattered into pieces. His sword landing by his feet as he fought to breath life back into his body. He stayed standing if own because of the help from the wall.

“That was something,” Nikudemon stated, coughing as he bent down to get his sword. The sword only hummed as if nothing happened to it. “But now I’m free to attack more easy,” he said glaring back at Emile.

Emile looked at the armor she had just scrapped with a single attack. "Tsk," the woman muttered as she rested her spear on her shoulder, skidding backwards to a slow stop. "Gae Bolg didn't beat him... but it shattered his arm. Well, maybe I should make this a bit more interesting," the purple haired woman said as he placed her spear along her back and cracked her knuckles. "I'm not too sure what to do. He's starting to read my attack. Hey, helmet, what should I do?"

The computer within the head buzzed and beeped, loud enough so only she could hear, as it analyzed her option, foe, and the battle to this point. Analyzing battle data. Enemy identified skill level: Very high. Enemy armor: Identified. Chance of Victory: 75%, the computer's voice echoed in her helmet, again only she could hear it.

"Dammit," Emile whispered as she pulled her spear off of her back. "What do you suggest I do?" she asked the helmet very quietly as he foe still stood still.

Suggested course of action determined: Attempt Gae Bolg. Percent of Success: 66%

Emile growled lowly, not liking that answer from the computer. "Time to show you!" she yelled across to Nikudemon as he started moving towards her again. She dashed forwards, the two crossing and her spear clashing with his sword as she passed, skidding to a stop and slashing her spear horizontally at the samurai, who quickly turned and slashed his sword. As her spear was knocked away, the woman jumped back, skating back slightly. This guy was good.

"One more time!" the battler yelled as she started skating and pressed the button to engulf her spear with lightning again. "Fell my wrath! Gae Bolg!" the purple haired girl yelled as her boosters fired up and she dashed. She'd make this one count.

Nikudemon readied himself, gripping his sword and watching the jet boosters fire from behind her feet. This time he didn’t have the weight of the armor slowing his arm down. He would show his true strength of his swung as he dashed forwards. The spear clashed with Solana, riding along the path Nikudemon wished as the two passed each other. With out thought the swordsman lifted one foot while spinning like a top on the other blade. He swung around quickly smashing the blade of Solana into the back of his foe.

Her armor took the damage from the attack, but the sheer power he dealt out sent her flying towards the wall of the ring. While he flew back to the other wall, skidding the ground with his butt as he came to a stop on the wall. An odd smile came over his face as his back slammed into the wall.

“There we go! That what I’m talking about!” the girl yelled out getting up out of her seat. “Take that Silver Beauty!” she said pointing her finger at the woman that was recovering from the blow. “You’ve got no chance now!”

Nikudemon laughed at the responses from the woman that had gotten him in this trouble. “I never thought this would be so hard though,” the samurai said getting up off the ground. He wasn’t use to being planted to the ground so much in just one battle, but his balance with the skates had gotten much better and he was now able to shift his weight as he pleased. Win or lose he learned something from this fight.

“Damn.”

“Using the same attack again won’t do you any good young lady,” he said sheathing his sword again. He was in pain, but it wasn’t enough to affect his performance. He still needed to get through her armor before he had a chance to knock her out. He could see already that this was going to be a long fight.

Emile stood up and smiled. The computer in her helmet had stopped beeping and reading her foe. She knew all she needed to, so the computer didn't have any orders to analyze anything. "Okay computer, what should I do now?" she asked as she rose to stand again and placed her spear along her back. Clearly, it didn't seem that the great power of even Gae Bolg would work. Instead, she'd need to try a new tactic. Something more inventive.

Uploading hand-to-hand combat. Initiate close range combat without weapon. Powering up armor for weaponless combat. The computer's words made her smile as her fists began to glow slightly, followed by her legs. Her chest plate seemed to pour out power into her armor as she readied to make her moves and start the fight seriously. After all, she wasn't afraid.

Her thrusters fired up as the armored woman rushed forwards, her skates leaving burns in the track as she moved along, the thrusters calming down as she approached. The swordsman quirked his eyebrow as he saw the attacker nearing and reached for his sword. "What are you doing?" Nikudemon asked as he began skate towards her.

"Changing things up. You said Gae Bolg wouldn't work any longer, so why waste time with an attack that won't work?" the Silver Beauty said as her she neared for her attack. The sound of the samurai's sword being drawn echoed out as the lancer moved forwards, rolling under the blade. With a quick turn and a devious smirk, the woman placed her hand on the ground and her leg struck behind the warrior's knee, forcing him onto one knee. Quickly resting her other hand on the ground, the female warrior spun herself around and did a split in midair, spinning herself on her hands to try to take advantage of her situation.

The swordsman kept his body low watching his foe spin upside-down. Truly a sight to see an attack that kept him from escaping. The young man closed his eyes, calming his mind to come up with away out. It was foolish of him in the first place to be caught in such a trip, but that he couldn’t do much about. He watched her spin around in his mind, around, around she when. Very hand and leg movement played down for him to watch.

“Skilled,” the swordsman uttered, fanning out his legs and gripping the hilt out his sword, “but so am I.” Solana soared from her sheath aiming to take out her legs. Nikudemon knew it wouldn’t have much power behind the attack, but it was enough if he hit his mark.

The blade dipped quickly as fully coming out of the sheath. His goal clear in his mind, watching the blade dive down like a hunting sparrow. It crushed into the ground missing it target, as she landed back on her feet. Almost like she felt the danger of the close range attack.

The strange swordsman rose from the ground. This time it was harder than before as he found his legs in an odd way. He made it up just in time to block an incoming punch that sent him flying into a wall. His head juggled inside his helm, but he didn’t fall.

“Stronger than I thought,” he proclaimed slowly moving his sword back into it sheath. “It was foolish of me to think I would win without,” he took hold of his sword with two hands, ”blowing away some of that armor.” He smiled already set to use the only powerful move he had.

“Come if you wish.” The swordsman took a step forward letting himself roll slowly towards her. He wouldn’t need to rush at her to unleash the attack on his mind. Only prey that it didn’t harm her.

Emile rushed forwards towards the samurai, looking at his grip upon his sword. "Think you can scare me, taking your sword in both hands. Hah! Like I'm stupid!" the battler mocked as she turned up her speed, smiling all the way. She couldn't lie, this guy wasn't half bad. He was giving her the full extent of a worthy battle. A worthy battle that made her almost giddy to think about. "Taste this!" she yelled as she reeled her fist back, readying a powerful punch towards his chest.

As she approached, the swordsman smiled. Suddenly, he drew his sword with such strength that a powerful vortex of wind exploded from it, rocketing him backwards into a wall. The winds moved quickly as the purple haired girl looked at it. "This could be bad... initiate Absolute Defense," she whispered to the helmet. The woman shifted her body so her left arm was in front, her energy shield deployed. Suddenly, the attack struck and the woman picked up her thrusters, using the shield to buffer the force and the thrusters to push her past the attack.

Still, the force of the vortex exploded, pushing the woman, shield and thrusters and all, backwards. She skidded to a stop and looked at the man as she fell to one knee. That had been some rush. She could feel her hands still shaking as she slowly shook her hands to try to relax the shaking. She took a deep breath and looked at her shield. "Computer, damage and energy report," she commented, listening to the computer calculate what it was figuring out.

Shield withstood attack with 60%. Energy in Absolute Defense at 30%. Suggested action: letting shield recharge. Energy in Jet Booster 0%. Jet Booster recharging. Estimated recharge time: two minutes.

Emile frowned slightly. She'd burned out her boosters and her shield against just one attack. Still, that didn't mean this was over. "Deactivate Absolute Defense," the battler whispered as she drew her spear and smiled a little bit. "Let's dance!" she stated as she started skating towards her. "Time to see how well you can handle this battle!" Even if I'm down some armor... she thought with annoyance.

Missed. The young swordsman couldn’t believe he made an error like that one. He didn’t know why the thought of him rolling back didn’t come to mind. Anyway, he wouldn’t make the same mistake again, rolling around the ring with the woman closely behind him. She seemed angry to him, but again that could just be him. Though, it seemed that the attack did little to nothing to her, he knew this just couldn’t be true.

“That armor pretty good,” the swordsman said glancing behind him to see his foe.

“What the matter? Don’t want to fight now?” she returned gain up on him.

“Not really,” Nikudemon replied quickly skidding around an dashing towards the woman. He had to know the truth of the attack. His hands lowered themselves on to the hilt of the sword. His eyes slowing every movement down, making his action easier to perform.

She swung her spear down, but the swordsman dodged his head down gaining in close to the woman. This was his chance to see the truth in his attack unleashing his deadly attack on her chest plate. The blade soared from it sheath like a crow, attacking it prey. His body moved forward giving his sword the extra it needed to reach her armor.

In one smooth movement Nikudemon smashed into the armor as he body blow back from the powerful wind that was created. The attack hit not perfectly, but it hit her armor. He body smashed into the wall harder than ever before. Unable to feel his back the sword looked up to see the damaged made from him attack.

Emile stood up, rubbing her hand on her chest plate. A massive slash mark had cut had been made in her armor, the circuits beneath her armor were slightly exposed. The battler stood up and smiled. That had been a rush. Maybe this guy really was worth her secret skill. But no, that skill was much too deadly to use in the arena, because the odds of his living were slim to none if the attack hit. Also, without her boosters, there wasn't a likely chance she'd be able to hit him.

The Silver Beauty started skating again, moving towards the samurai, who was still recovering from the attack. As the woman built up momentum, she skated right past Nikudemon, smiling back at him at the pass. She did have just one other thing she could use aside from her Gungrir and Knuckle Duster. That being something that didn't have a name, instead simply being an offensive move she hadn't used before. Emile smiled as she spun her spear around.

"Come get me!" the voice of the armored woman echoed out as she heard the sound of skates moving after her. He was either really dumb or really brave. In her book, the latter was better than the former, but both weren't very smart. As the Divine Lancer skated backwards, she suddenly did something the crowd had never seen before: she pressed the button on the upper handle, causing the blade of her spear to retract. "Show time," she stated with a smile as she aimed.

In a flash, lightning had shot from the volt dispenser at the tip of her spear. A small hole appeared in the track, an apparent miss aim, as the woman smiled. The samurai caught a glimpse of the hole and steeled himself for the next attack. Holding his sword, he smiled as he watched her press the button. This second blast, she was sure, would hit. After all, this time he was dead in her sights!

His skates slowed down to as he held his sword in front of him. His eyes fixed on the black marking on the floor from the attack she’d just used. He couldn’t think about what he would have become if that had hit him. Returning his sight back on her just in time to see the lighting leaving the lance. The young sword slashed his sword at the lighting hitting it. The blade hummed as the change danced around the blade of the sword before jumping cross the air into his armor.

It give him a little shock finally reaching him after the blade of his sword took most of it power. It swordsman smiled sheathing his sword back to his side skating towards the woman. She fired another shot from her spear, but it just missed as he quickly changed his course. His eyes seemed fixed on her, more so an before.

Nikudemon was now on the hunt like a wolf that smelled blood. He could see his win clearly now, if only he could get a clear shot at hole. He didn’t know much about this armor they wore, but one thing seemed clear to him. His goal was simple, but the task would be even harder to do now than before.

“I only got to blow that suit of armor way to win really,” he said to her with a smile as she skidded across the ring gain even more speed. He could smell the end of the fighting coming to a close, planning how to get closer to her so he could get a full clean hit. He would need a full hit to get the deadly winds to blow apart the armor and wires inside of the metal.

“You must know this,” he said as he skated around the ring.

Emile laughed at his notion. Destroy her armor! Yeah right! Her armor was the best kind of armor that had ever been donned in this world, and this arrogant prick thought he would destroy it with that mere vortex technique? She would make him cry. She would utterly destroy him; that was her decision.

"Computer, decision time! What are we going to do?" she asked the helmet as it began to compute silently. She could see him drawing closer, but she wasn't about ready to meet defeat at the hands of some new guy. It didn't matter how good he was with that sword, since his armor was arcane and outdated armor couldn't withstand a strong enough attack.

The computer finally gave an answer after a few unending moments of silence. Options weighed... decision: initiate Knuckle Duster. Power from attack equivalent to defeat foe and destroy chest plate. Redistributing power from other parts into Knuckle Duster. Estimated time until attack: Three seconds.

Suddenly, every piece of armor that Emile wore began to glow with green and blue and yellow wires and lines running from wherever they were and into her right arm. The energy began to pool around the purple haired girl's right fist, slowly covering it in a white energy. The multicolored wires on her right arm glowed very brightly until the energy stopped rushing through it. At that point, the battler smirked as she cast a slight glance back at her foe.

"Now that Knuckle Duster is ready to go," Emile said quietly, keeping herself mostly focused, but a tad giddy to finally be testing out this weapon, "I can give him everything I've got." The female warrior spun around and clenched her right fist tightly, beginning to skate forwards, carrying her right arm with all of the power condensed in it for a prepared strike. "This'll be over soon. Don't worry, it won't hurt too much," she said, snickering as her boosters fired up and she charged, taking her all too ready offensive. This would end this battle, she was sure.

OoC: And he is the last post that I've been meaning to write for a long time.

BiC: Nikudemon pushed off with his right foot inching closer to the woman in front of him. She seemed ready for the final attack. The young swordsman lowered his body resting his palm on the hilt of the sword. He breathed in deeply, gliding across the ring towards her. Emile made her move first, releasing all her power at once. Her fist flew through the air growing closer towards his chest plate. Without warning the swordsman bent back and with all his might his sword soared out from it sheath.

The sound of grinding echoed throughout the stadium, smoke covered both fighters. They both gave it their all, but the sound of metal crashing to the ground was the only thing the crowed could hear. Everyone in the crowed stood up gluing their eyes to the score broad. The buzzer sound and the winner name slowly appeared across the broad.

***

Nikudemon’s blade glided across her fist blocking most of the attack, pushing it off across his arm. It took everything he had to keep himself on his feet. The blade of the sword swiped across her chest plate missing, and the sheer force of her attack blew him off his feet. The swordsman mind cleared its self; this was going to be the end. He could feel it. His body spun around on its own. The vortex from his last attack pushed her closer to him. His sword danced around the sky as he spun around slashing her armor deeper and deeper with each hit.

He finally stopped, falling to the ground, breathing hard. He didn’t know if he won, but it was quiet now. He heard the bell ring in his ear and the dust and smoke cleared. Looking up at the woman he’d just fought he could clearly see now who the winner was.

The crow stood quiet, mostly in shock from who the winner was. Nikudemon body felt light noticing that she hadn’t moved yet. What going on? He thought feeling as if he was falling.

***

“Nikudemon is our winner!”