[Round 1] Seething Volcano- Halcyon Hero VS Wolfen

Spring Tournament 2009, Round One - Seething Volcano [Halcyon Hero VS Wolfen ]

As the battle progresses, just remember that each fight will go on for about 25-30 posts, the character that you choose for this first round must be the character you use for the entire duration of the tournament, and that Councilors characters (for example, in this thread, my character) will act as a referee for this thread and maintain balance. Try to keep posts at around 500 words max, and avoid controlling your opponent's character. With all that said, have at it and have fun!

IC:

Five thousand feet above the ground; where amidst the birds and the clouds, the air is thin enough to choke and the temperature dropped many time below sea level. That last part was not true in this case. A Bubbling red liquid turned the usually cold air into a sweltering heat. Tsuukai did not mind the heat; even in his thick robes he barely dropped a sweat. From the platform that hung loosely above enclave, Tsuukai looked down at the hot magma burning brightly.

The mountain was tall and steep, making climbing it near impossible. As the mountain rose from the spiked earth it slowly became more and more snow covered until it was like skatchewan in the wintertime, a blanket of snow primed for an avalanche. This is excluding the very tip, which was a dark brown –clearly no snow could survive the intense heat for long-. At the tip it suddenly dipped on all side creating a steep slope inwards that lead to a pool of lava, that looked ready to explode.

Above the pool of liquid death was a thick granite platform with no clear markings. It’s hard surface unforgiving was opposite of the twenty either ropes, keeping it up via hooks in the platforms side, that looked almost ready to snap at any moment. Tsuukai’s boot tapped lightly on the warm hard surface, his face staring blankly forward at the curve of the earth.

The plan was for them to arrive by helicopter, Tsuukai however insisted that his loosely strapped together battlefield would not be able to withstand the pressure of the helicopter winds. So Plan’s changed and the unlucky constants of Tsuukai’s battlefield became even unluckier as they where forced to climb the mountain by hand. Tsuukai tapped his boot again the hard granite five thousand feet in the air, waiting for the fun to begin.

A stream of transparent blue aura flowed from Dante’s fingertips, freezing the layer of snow before him as he zigzagged up the mountainside. His skates rumbled as he flew along the curving ice path, his form bent low to compensate for the steep angle and rushing headwind. Dante leapt, pulling his legs up to clear a jagged outcropping in the rocky face. Landing on the backside of it, the young man zipped down and up, using his momentum to gain extra speed as the climb turned nearly vertical. Eyes narrowed as they focused on the blonde-haired mage’s goal, Dante bent even lower, placing a hand on each skate.

An extra burst of power exploded from the wheels, propelling Dante past the last of the ice and snow, and onto bare rock. His skates moved with the curves and contours of the volcano, bringing him ever closer to the lip. Sulfur and ash began to reach Dante’s nose now, as did the heat. His bright blue eyes watered, and the young man had to pinch his nose to keep from sneezing. A quick turn brought the mage around a sharp spike, and onto a straightaway to his goal.

In a flash of black and white, Dante launched off the lip, flipping over backwards. He tucked his legs up behind him and again laid a hand on each. At his magical beckoning, the wheels and metal coverings disintegrated, revealing his regular Nikes. Continuing his rotation, Dante fell straight down, landing deftly in the center of the platform.

A tall figure marched up the mountain, sent there by an authority he dared not question. Whether he answered because this authority was frightening to him or because he knew better than to understand its ways was unknown except to this elven warrior. The ancient Dragons swirled in his mind like the smoke billowing out of the volcano's mouth. Ryagiere, the Dragon of Fire, crept a metaphorical claw to his head and whispered in his ear. This heat would be far too intense for a normal human. But you may be able to use it to your advantage while remaining perfectly comfortable under such conditions. Taen had learned over the past week about a technique that controlled the temperature around him to prevent him from becoming too hot or cold. This was more for use in battle than just for mere comfort, however. Ever since he had been imprisoned by the Vatican he regarded his powers with more seriousness. He felt as if a a part of him had died inside, but this was not so, the Dragons reminded him. He pushed away those thoughts now. This was a time for fun; an epic battle between two heroes just for the hell of it.

When Taen had learned the opponents name and where he was supposed to be fighting, he resisted in his mind from making a "Dante's Inferno" joke and instead just headed straight off to where he was supposed to be. He reached the edge of the volcano, and he could feel his skin being baked by the lava. He took his shirt off, then his shoes, and began to practice the technique of controlling the temperature outside his body. He stood still for a moment, closing his eyes and feeling the molecules that touched his skin. He slowed their movements and pushed the heat away from his body.

Satisfied with the temperature, the Dragon Summoner pressed on, watching the red liquid boil with a feirce intensity that made it look like the gates of Hell itself. The smoke clouded his vision, but that was easily cured by controlling the wind to slice through the air. He moved his arms in a circle and a great gust blew out from his hands. The smoke retreated fearfully, and Taen could see for a second a slim figure standing at the other side. He called out to him, but no answer. He then glided around to the other side, sneaking up behind the figure and poking him on the shoulder.

The young boy jumped for a second and fell over, but Taen caught him at the last moment. Flashing a smile, the elf helped the boy back up.

"Hello there." Taen nodded kindly, "Are you the one I'm supposed to fight?"

Backing away, Dante shrugged. Lightning-fast glances let him take in everything about the shirtless stranger, whom had appeared before the young mage even got a chance to talk to the black-swathed man already waiting.

“I suppose I am,” he replied, glancing at the man in the heavy coat. “And I suppose this guy is the mediator?”

“Something like that. You may call me Tsuukai,” the man introduced himself, still tapping his foot. “Not that you’ll really need to. Now enough chatter; you’re both here for a reason. Let’s get to it.” The contestants nodded; Taen drawing his twin blades with a slow scrape, and Dante unzipping his hoodie. Sweat was already beginning to pour from the young man’s face. Dante pulled back his hood and cap, noting enviously that his opponent’s bare chest was sweat-free.

“Five . . . four . . . three,” the mediator began counting down, steadily walking toward the platforms edge.

“Two.”

Dante sent a magical pulse into his manacles, the crosses at their ends warping as he grasped them in his palms.

“One.”

The blonde-haired warrior took his stance, blades crossed defensively before him. Across from him, the shirtless elf did the same.

“Go.”

In the sweltering heat of the volcano, the blurred movements of the combatants were even more exaggerated. Dante narrowed his eyes to focus through the simmering air, lashing out at the charging elf warrior with both blades.

"Three."

Taen's eyes followed Tsuukai as he strolled to the edge of the platform. The elf glanced back at his opponent, the young pretty boy with the nice hair and cool goggles. Taen thought of reasons to hate him in order to get himself fired up for the fight.

"Two."

Two swords emerged from the chains on the boy's wrists. How appropriate. I've got two as well/ He patted his swords tied around the rope dangling from his belt.

"One."

Taen pulled out his swords, sliding them across each other once, the sound they made sending a chill down the summoner's spine.

"Go!"

A rush of thoughts and emotions fired through his head. Images of the Vatican and of Kariette flashed through his mind, giving him feelings of retribution and love. Of wanting revenge and wanting to protect. He was ready. Dante flew at him, swords raised, and Taen blocked them. He felt a jolt as their weapons collided, and he rotated both blades upward, throwing Dante's arms to the side, and struck at the mage.

The boy stepped back, and sliced at Taen with one of his blades. Right on right, left on left. Two swords fighting in perfect sequence. The clanging of metal and flying of sparks lasted only a couple seconds before Taen tried a different approach. The elf slid his foot beneath his opponent and tried to trip him. Such a dirty move was countered by Dante grabbing Taen's foot with his own and throwing his across the stage. The elf gasped, and felt his skin sliding against the hot metal. He saw the edge coming in fast, and pointed his swords at the floor to stop the momentum. He stood up just inches from the edge, and knew this warrior was no one to be trifled with...