A New Beginning (Vincent/PM for Entry)

[Vincent]

Good, Ryu was on the offensive now! A grin crossed Vincent's face. He was happy but at the same time he was calm, so too was Ryu and that was undesirable. In fact he was completely unmoved by Vincent's goading and taunting. He returned words of his own and then struck. There would be no use in words, nor time to speak going forward it would seem. This was the best kind of dual after all.

Vincent was startled by the suddenness of the blow but managed to block the shot high just as Ryu's body turned into another blow. He was at a disadvantage now and the enemy had another attack coming. "Blast!" Vincent swore. There was not enough time to grab his dagger with both arms up. Vincent resolved himself to take the blow but not without taking something from Ryu while he was at it.

In what felt like a full minute Vincent slid forward with a roar throwing Gemini high above and tackling Ryu with a hard punch at his face. In the same moment the dagger was plunged into his right shoulder. The sharp steel burned like hell as the two collapsed to the ground. The blade was not cripplingly deep but it certainly would hinder Vincent for the remainder of the battle. A light pale blue light began to swirl and most around Vincent's right hand.

"I won't lose!" Vincent declared as he pulled the dagger free before throwing it away from them both. He grabbed his gargoyle tusk dagger and attempted to give Ryu a matching wound on his front side.

[Ryuzaki]

As the assassin finished the lunge, he noted in the brief fractions of a second prior to their clash that the mercenary had blocked Gemini upward. How interesting. The fist coming towards his face was another factor. Before he could brace, the hand shot by his cheek, the edge of the tough gloves slicing a long cut on the assassin’s face, from near the corner of his lips to almost his right ear before the full weight of Vincent’s body slammed into him.

Ryuzaki was thrown backwards under the force of Vincent’s tackle, hitting the ground hard and struggling to slither backwards as the mercenary half-retreated, stumbling back and standing as he ripped Ryu’s dagger free and cast it aside. A swift motion, and Ryu scooped Gemini up from where it had slipped from his grasp as he met the ground, just barely getting upright before the bone dagger came forward in a well-executed stab. Heh, his old pupil did remember some of his teachings, it seemed. Quick dagger strikes were one of Ryu’s favorite incapacitating strikes.

His left foot moved backwards, balancing and bracing himself into a sturdy walking stance, and his right arm swept down in a low block, bashing the dagger away from his organs and grabbing the Mercenary’s arm, yanking and hopefully sending the foe down towards the ground.

Without waiting, he retreated a few steps, then raised his right arm and slowly swiped it over the wound on his face, collecting a smear of blood on the back of his hand. Grinning, he licked it from his skin, savoring the searing pain on his cheek and the taste of iron in his mouth.

"The first blood is mine, but you’ve wasted no time evening the score. One to one, Vincent. Well fought. You’re quite the brawler."

Ryuzaki twirled Gemini in a figure eight and then pointed it directly at the other man. The sun glinted over the blade, highlighting the jagged ‘crack’ that ran down the sword. Vincent knew of Gemini’s secret, and so there would be no element of surprise. But it could prove advantageous to have two swords. Indeed, it would take some planning to use the split to his advantage. Not now, though. Now was the time for energy-saving strikes, clean cuts with the razor edges of his tried and true exotic weapon. It had been with him through thick and thin.

The assassin raised his guard, lifting an eyebrow to look at his foe with a bit of a lazy and incredulous look.

"Is that all you can muster? I know you said you did not have your full might, but this is pitiful."

[Vincent]

When Vincent's gloves scrapped Ryu's cheek he thought he had blundered but to see just how deeply he had cut him was worth it. He evaded the punch but blood was perhaps more valuable in this duel than a solid hit of brute force. When Vincent tried to strike him with his dagger however Ryu was far more prepared. He evaded again and sent Vincent's arm low with redirection, but no matter

The moment Ryu put distance between the two Vincent knew he had a chance. Without waiting he lashed out the chain and wrapped it around his opponent's arm. That is what he gets for savoring his own blood when I am not yet down, he thought.

"You think it is pitiful huh? Well how is this!?" With a jerk of the chain Vincent tried to pull Ryuzaki forward. If he thought he was as lanky and weak as he was the last they met he would be in a world of hurt. Ryu was faster than him, he begrudgingly admitted but Vincent was stronger.

As soon as Vincent could get Ryu close enough he rushed in with an attempt to use the chain to trap his limbs and movements while simultaneously getting it around his neck. It would not be easy but he doubted anyone had tried this on the assassin before now.

As the battle progressed Vincent felt heat rising from the sigil and the box by his side had light beginning to shine through the cracks. He wanted to win against his opponent and even in a broken state the blade could feel it.

[Ryuzaki]

There was a sudden movement as the assassin brought his guard up, and he felt a weight contract upon his arm as links of silvery metal descended upon it. The chain, which wrapped itself twice around his arm like some sort of ugly metallic vine, took the assassin slightly aback. Not only had it managed to solidly connect, but he suddenly felt himself moving. At first resisting, but then pulled off of his feet, Ryu went for a brief trip though the sky before crashing into the ground, Gemini clattering a meter away. Ryu grunted, twisting his body and spinning the chain to try and untangle it. Damn thing. How on earth was it holding on? Vincent then lunged for him, other links of the chain held in an attempt to pin him, but it in fact backfired. The extra slack provided the assassin with the opportunity he needed, and he slithered free, managing to wrench his captured arm out of the metal's grip and dive for his sword. His body tucked into a roll as he left the chain behind, lowering his profile through the move and ending up out of immediate strike range. He scrabbled for his sword, scooping it up off of the ground and whipping it up into a guard. With Gemini back in his hands, and a chain in his opponent's, Ryuzaki took the chance to strike. The metal weapon had long range, but it was awkward and slow looking. To beat such a weapon, he would need range of his own.

So he sheathed his shimmering Gemini and drew forth daggers, hurling two at Vincent in quick succession as he backed away. They were fairly in line, one higher and one lower, and the spacing between them was about a half of a second. The gap created, Ryu felt it time to bring the quality of the fight up a little bit. Enough of the farmer's toys and barroom style. This was a duel of swordfighters, not hicks.

"Come now, Vincent. Surely you can do better than striking at me with your fists and a chain? I was for a moment excited when you drew that dagger, but you seem to have become so caught up in these novelties that you have abandoned the weapon that will truly define a man's skill. I know you're good with these trinkets, but I want to dance with you. I want to feel the power of your determination, focused in your blade. I want you to strike out, strike true, like you have before. Come now, show me the might I know you possess!"

With a no-nonsense pull, Ryuzaki drew Gemini once more and let the blade hang motionless in the air before spinning it in a figure eight and slowly beginning to close the distance, circling clockwise and moving ever so slightly nearer to Vincent.

"You spoke to me of grand ideas, once, of your goals and dreams and hopes. You fought at the City of Heroes, and assisted in defeating the Bandit King Hargus. Surely you have not lost the swordplay that you used to strive for those ambitions, to achieve those victories. Display it to me. Loose your full power, Vincent!"

[Vincent]

Vincent had expected the assassin to break free of his chains, but the reality that he himself gave the opening disappointed him. He would remember that failing of his and adjust going forward. Ryu seemed to be on the ropes? No, Gemini was still unsplit; if anything he was pestered by such minor chipping blows. As two blades were aimed on him Vincent lept the the side for the first and stumbled falling just to dodge the second. As he swiftly rose he was reminded of the blow Ryu had given him prior. He has only one more dagger unless he had increased his stock.

"Trinkets you say? You should be more honored friend, I only adopted these because of you." But he was right, at best he was corralling his opponent like this. He had not pushed his opponent to wield all his blades but he had expended most of his knives and Vincent would take solace in that fact. The glow around Vincent's hand had begun to swirl with pale mist. His blade hungered to be wielded. More than ever before, but not just yet.

"I guess you are right. I can't push you as much as I would like this way but I did rid you of most your knives. I will draw my blade as well." Putting away his 'trinkets' he drew his silver lancereaver in his left hand. He fully intended to dual wield before the end. "I will give you my all, so long as you can draw it out."

He lowered the blade to his side and charged with fierce upward swing. It was his disarming blade, and he wondered if Ryu remembered that fact.

[Ryuzaki]

"Hah! I am not particularly honored, but I am grateful that I managed to teach you to be adaptable and resilient. You've come a long way, silver-haired friend. I recall not too long ago you were but a mere whelp. Now you are truly a warrior. Your style defies any attempt at classification, and I salute you for being so competent with such an array of tools.

You are astute. I am running low on daggers. Perhaps I'll have to increase my stock later. Who knows, friend Vincent. But for now I am merely grateful that you deign to face me, blade in hand, as an equal."

Vincent drew out a blade, and Ryu identified it. A lancereaver. He recalled this blade. The mercenary used it to disarm foes, and its peculiar construction meant that it was well-suited to battling soldiers, knights, and the like. But bandits and fighters would romp all over the man who approached them with a lancereaver in hand. Truly an interesting specimen. The blade was not particularly strong or weak against the design of his weapon, and he knew that even if he split, given Vincent's position, it would not afford a significant advantage. To combat such an attack, which was designed to break his sword from his hands, destroying his guard and opening the entirety of his body to a subsequent strike, he would either need equal power or would have to somehow deflect or avoid the blow. It was a fast strike. There was little time to choose and even less for acrobatics or any sort of graceful motion. Very well. He would meet force with force, but not head on. That would be simply foolish.

Adjusting his grip to firmly hold Gemini with both hands, the assassin cut his circle the other way, stepping right and swinging his own sword in a space-clearing counter-clockwise arc. It was not meant to stop the strike, merely redirect it outwards, away from his body. The move worked well, and Vincent's first slash did no harm to either. The bright clatter of metal meeting metal rang out as the two blades crossed and then parted, Ryuzaki ending up in a guard that disposed itself to heavy downward strikes. With sword above his head, held in that guard, Ryu was about to launch into a slicing vertical blow, but checked himself. Fool. To strike hard was what Vincent was hoping for with this blade. To disarm Ryuzaki would be a great advantage. He would not let that happen so easily.

Vincent's words echoed again in his mind.

"I will give you my all, so long as you can draw it out."

He would draw out everything the other silver-haired man had in his core.

Ryu struck, stepping forward and giving a quick downward slash out of range simply to lower his sword into position for another lightning-quick stab. No doubt Vincent had learned from the first time the assassin had used a stab on him, but it would force him to either deflect the attack or move. If Ryu could keep pushing him around, sooner or later a hole in his guard would appear and then the assassin would exploit it, splitting his blades and striking with two at once. But until Vincent opened up, he would have to settle for slowly forcing him to make judgements, to block, to recover, and hopefully, to make a mistake. Ryu was calm and focused, but so was his foe. Any lapse in Vincent's defense would be small and fleeting. He would have to be very watchful.

[Vincent]

Was he underestimating him Vincent wondered. Using the same tactic again when previously he had delivered two body blows. As his opponent swiftly lunged deep the young mercenary wasted no time stepping aside and into the clear open space of Ryu's open body. Utilizing the notches in his blade he swung it downward to lock it onto Ryu's own. With a proper twist of his wrists he could break his opponent's sword but he was not in the business of doing so to a friend. Instead he yanked against the blade with the intent to wrench it from his hands.

"Don't look down on me!" He shouted announcing he thought his opponent doubted him, though it was far from the truth. Vincent's eyes began to have an ever shifting blue light within them. The longer the fight went on the more the glowing light consumed him. Was it a possession? Or just his power shining through. While lesser men would be intimidated by the effects that Phoenix Heart had, Ryu was no lesser man. He had said it himself, the two were equals and fighting as such. However with this duel there was one simple fact, the victor would prove to be the other's superior until next they meet. Last time it was Ryu's victory, it was Duma's victory, it was his father's victory, it was always Neil's victory! Something began to stir in the back of his mind. No matter what great feats he had he could never seem to outdo his rivals.

The box that Vincent carried shone now with an intense light that was nearly blinding through the cracks. It was time Vincent used it. This was not a duel to test his ability with each of his skills, it was a test to show the fruits of all his training and to win against his rival. He should have taken it more seriously than this! If he could wrench the blade from Ryu he would readily throw away both their blades and face him with Phoenix Heart alone and he with his own magic blade.

[Ryuzaki]

Vincent moved elegantly, swiftly, cleanly. There was the air of the professional in him as he expertly locked their blades, stopping the stab and creating a momentary stalemate. The illusion of calm hung, the moment before both moved a still-life of two titanic wills clashing in a battle of mind, body, and spirit. Blue eyes met indigo, and the power of each’s gaze bored like a drill into the other. There was a sudden flash in Ryu’s own eyes, as his irises almost appeared to melt, dripping down and leaving a blackish void that yawned like the mouth of the abyss itself. Then in an instant it was gone, and the painting was consumed as if ripped from the easel and cast into the flames, the beautiful frozen scene erupting into the chaos of combat once more.

His opponent pulled, as Ryu knew he would, and the assassin pulled back, tightening the lock for a brief moment as he twisted his wrists, stumbling backwards as the pressure suddenly released. Then he sprang forward, slicing twice, once down and out with the left Gemini Edge and once down and out with the right. Both of these strikes were too far away to make contact, merely meant to buy a second for Ryu to collect himself and truly begin his assault in earnest.

"You already demonstrated how skillful you are with that disarming sword, my friend. Did you think I had forgotten? Now let us see if you have forgotten my skill with the twin blades of Gemini. Ready yourself!"

As he moved forward, Vincent might notice an unusual sight upon the assassin’s side. There appeared to be a stream of blood slowly dripping onto the ground, dying the Sacaean earth a dark crimson black. The assassin had not noticed his blade’s energetic display, so focused was he on his attack against the mercenary.

Closing the distance, Ryuzaki moved slowly and smoothly, advancing like a cat on silent paws before he struck, using his left blade to sweep outward and upward as he turned his right side to face the foe before lashing out, bringing the keen edge of the right Gemini Edge in a horizontal slash. The first slice utilized the serrated edge of the weapon, intended to catch and displace an opponent’s guard, and the second was a damaging blow. His foe had proven himself to be competent and skillful, though, so neither was guaranteed to function properly.

But that did not mean he held back. On the contrary, each stroke the assassin brought forth was executed with the fullness of precision and accuracy that his many encounters and battles had taught him. Each strike carried the force of his body, mind, and spirit. Each movement reflected the grace and speed of the assassin. His focus was complete and unwavering, and his will had not faltered.

[Vincent]

As Vincent and Ryu's blades clashed he looked up at his opponent's face and in his eyes he could see the darkness fill them like ink rising to the top of still water's surface. If he were not so heated with combat he would shudder just before the darkness faded and the two broke apart each staggering quickly into their stances. Ryu broke his sword in two at last. Looked as though all it took was one good clash of blades for him to push him to that level. Vincent grinned, this was the battle he wanted at last. "I know your skill well, but you have yet to see my own skill with two blades!"

It was true, and a fact he had forgotten until now, the last time they battled he was still without Phoenix Heart. Perhaps this could be the true surprise for his opponent who has yet to see his full style. The thought elated Vincent. It was then he noticed his opponent's side spilling with blood. It pulled his mind from the battle as he could not recall why he should be bleeding. Wait, was it because of the dark in his eyes? Was it a price for his new sword perhaps? Magic was fickle.

Distracted he was left off guard as Ryu attacked. Reflexively the first strike was blocked as the blades slid across each other just before the second came swiftly down. It was a clumsy but swift motion on Vincent's part and he stepped back as his clothes were slashed just narrowly avoiding a devastating strike against him. "You're bleeding heavily!" Vincent announced as he swiftly moved back showing Ryu his side with blade raised.

[Ryuzaki]

So the Mercenary was also a dual-wielder, then? If that was his newest style, Ryuzaki hungered to see it in action. Vincent was full of little quirks, fitting so many fragments of styles together to create a unique technique. Interesting approach, it was. He would take note of how the foe used blades in synchrony, and from that would be able to deduce where the openings in his defenses were. No matter how well he hid his weak spots, eventually he would slip up. But until he drew another weapon, Ryuzaki was at an advantage. The assassin fully expected to press that advantage, forcing the other to continually defend, not affording him an opportunity to counter effectively.

His initial attack was met with moderate success – he felt the sword cut smoothly through Vincent’s clothing, and he allowed himself an inward smile. He would continue to apply pressure, and then the next thing he would slice would be skin. Though Vincent was strong, now Ryuzaki had an overwhelming advantage in speed. Two blades, each light and agile, to his one heavier lancereaver? It was clearly in his favor.

Vincent pointed at Ryuzaki’s side, and the assassin, far from being concerned, let out a rousing laugh, a bright sound at odds with his fearsome appearance and the tense combat situation. In fact, he was so amused that he dignified Vincent with a response, albeit cryptic and taunting.

"Vincent, Vincent… My friend, did you think you had injured me so severely? Surely you have been keeping track of the touches, of our respective successes and failures in this battle of mind, body, and spirit, just as I have. You certainly have not struck my side, so do tell, how could such a wound…appear?

Would you be able to fight like I am fighting under the effect of such a wound? Certainly not. I know most men would soon buckle under the loss of their life-blood, crumpling to the earth as the essence that keeps them alive flows out in a river into the earth from which they came. No, my friend, this is no wound. This is power, power as ancient as the dragons themselves and certainly no less mysterious.

You are seeing a sign, a symbol, an omen! The blood which you see is the blood of victims past and future, the essence of the spirits struck down with human hands and a blade made in the time when dragons conquered the land, sea, and sky. Red is the color of this blood, but black is the color of dread. How many have fallen to the power I now possess?

Soon you shall witness it firsthand! As you said to me, I now say to you…

I will give you my all, so long as you can draw it out!"

[Vincent]

Ryuzaki was taunting the young swordsman for his concern. His nonchalant attitude made him sound like Vincent was such a silly child. He was used to the tone from him but it left a vile taste of irritation. So it was his blade doing this after all. When Ryu spat Vincent's own words back to him he took pause and began to laugh. It was a hardy fearless laugh of enthusement. It lasted for several moments.

"Blast it all you are long winded! I preferred your dull depressing introverted self!" He grinned widely as he set the case on the ground. "Well then, shall we put to the test, who is the better with dual blades?" In one swift pull he undid the ties on the box and pulled from within a blade of beauty. On touch as it was brandished there was a pulse that sent the grass around them swaying. It was... Intense; the touch of the hilt filled Vincent's senses with heat, threatening to overwhelm him. The blade in hand the glow intensified around the boy as he held it to the side. The blade shone pure white with glowing golden runes along the length of the blade.

A white blade? That was different, normally it would appear black or gold in hand. "Come Ryu! If you believe you can handle this power and skill then defeat me here! I'll give you two minutes before I end it!" A bold declaration and one he completely intended. With a swing of the blade to his side it was consumed in holy divine flames. It did not burn hot but it seared as light magic would. The blue flames and mist surrounded Vincent like an aura. Without the will to wield this blade it was clear how others were consumed by it.

"Now, no more words, unless you wish to waste your precious minutes!" Vincent charged his opponent with a renewed vigor. First he swung with the reaver intent on trapping one of the swords and delivering a devastating blow from Phoenix Heart to his leg. If Ryu would retaliate he would have to cross his own body or lose one of his precious two Gemini blades.

[Ryuzaki]

Long-winded? The assassin was briefly confused. Hadn’t Vincent heard of the custom of delivering elaborate speeches about one’s power before defeating a strong foe? The history books needed something to remember this duel by, and a stirring speech would be the perfect record of this dramatic duel. Pshaw. Well, at least the Mercenary spoke his mind. Too many people were worried about offending someone, rocking the boat, upsetting the apple cart… and so everyone just smiled and nodded. But no, that was not the way. Vincent knew it, and Ryuzaki knew it. How interesting that they were so similar.

Time to fight. As Vincent opened his box and withdrew Phoenix Heart (wait, where was he keeping that box? Hot damn, Ryu wanted pockets like that) the assassin fused his Gemini Edges back into one blade and wrenched Shinryu from its sheath in a flourish to match the Mercenary.

Seriously? Holy flames? What was the obsession with attacking him with flaming swords? First the golden-haired assassin on the rooftop, and now his old student on the plains. It was as if having a flaming sword was a mark of courage, or strength. It was getting a bit old to the assassin. Why didn’t people have swords that spewed blood, that sucked in light and emitted a gleam that seemed almost dark?

Speaking of which, as it slid free of its covering, Shinryu seemed to burst into light, shining with a glow that, paradoxically, seemed almost dark, as if it were sucking in light. The indigo-hued blade gleamed malevolently, and a spray of crimson droplets burst forth from the whole length of the sword as it cut in an arc through the air, scattering the blood across the grass, where it hung, slowly working its way down the blades of green until it soaked into the parched earth of the Sacaean plains. For a brief moment, it seemed as if there was peace, a lull in the combat as both men evaluated each other’s magical weapon.

Then Vincent charged, bringing the lancereaver inward in an attempt to entrap his sword, following it with a strike towards Ryuzaki’s leg. Interesting. In order to block the first strike, he would sacrifice positioning, placing his blade in a clash against the disarming sword. And to deflect the second, he would further weaken his position if he crossed his body. A most well-played pair of strikes. But what if he played the second…but not the first?

A small smile played across Ryuzaki’s lips and he swung his right arm up, using the iron sword blade that he had fashioned into an armguard to block and entrap the lancereaver. Then, with the grace of a dancer and all the force he could muster, he swung Shinryu down to slam into Phoenix Heart, moving in so that the two combatants were closer together, their arms outward. It was quite foul positioning for both of them, ensuring that Vincent would have to reposition himself before striking again, at the cost of making any sort of follow-up attack Ryuzaki would have liked to make similarly impossible.

As Shinryu bulldozed into the other magic sword, the droplets of blood intensified in number and size, until blood seemed to be streaming off of the blade. Where it contacted the sacred fire, there was a loud hiss, and the flames seemed to be slightly muffled even as the fel blood was evaporated. A most peculiar interaction. But Shinryu continued to spew out crimson liquid, and in fact seemed to glow more violently, pulsing slowly as the two swords pressed against each other.

Tense and ready, Ryu waited for Vincent to make a move. The second he tried to move back, out of the deadlock, Ryu would act likewise, creating distance and evening the playing field once more.

[Vincent]

Ryu had drawn out his new blade: Shinryu. It was a volatile thing oozing with blood and a darkness so deep it pulled in the light around it. In a way the sight of it made Vincent feel sick; not for the blood, he had seen far too much of that before now, but rather because a man had made such a weapon. A weapon that was full of such darkness and intent. The originator must have been a real swell guy, he thought sarcastically.

As Vincent's first blade made contact he was taken aback. Ryu had thrown his entire arm into the lock of the blade, only avoiding horrid damage because of blades armor. The cruel berserker Vincent had mentioned prior shone in Vincent's eyes as he knew just what action to take when his second sword was blocked by Shinryu. The opposing powers clashed against each other, neither winning out or overpowering the other but there was one odd thing Vincent found, the more the two nullified the other the more he wanted to outshine the blade and the more the flames would flare up at the same time. But so too did Shinryu spew more black blood.

The deadlock would do little for them aside from tire them both out but Vincent enacted a harsh maneuver. With his reaver around Ryu's arm he twisted his wrist with the intent to cut open or possibly even break it. The barbed edges would twist and pierce the armor with any luck and then it would he tough to get undone in a fight. Vincent worried he may have another trick up his sleeve but if not he would surely win. If so... He glanced at Phoenix Heart preparing himself mentally to unleash its might.

[Ryuzaki]

As both weapons of Vincent’s came into contact with both of Ryuzaki’s blocks, the assassin smiled grimly. The power of Vincent’s magical weapon was clear, but Shinryu seemed to match it in energy, and neither could overcome the other’s abilities. On the off-hand side, Ryuzaki’s armguard had become entangled, the leather and iron caught on the barbs of the lancereaver. As Vincent wrenched his blade, Ryuzaki gritted his teeth, feeling the friction and the torsion. He did his best to keep his arm straight, his muscles trembling slightly with the exertion, and then there was the sound of ripping leather as the whole guard sheared off of his arm. The barbs of the lancereaver ripped across his skin as the iron protection came free, and the twisting motion cut curved, J-shaped lines on his forearm, drawing blood from the multiple slices.

Ryuzaki hissed, an involuntary reaction to the damage, and his eyes narrowed as his anger flared. Instantly, Shinryu responded, even without conscious command from the assassin. The blood pouring off of the blade seemed to explode outward, bursting upward in a spray of bloody haze, a mist-like downpour of droplets that splashed forth, descending towards Vincent even before Ryuzaki could consciously react. As he thought, his other sword came into motion, Gemini slashing low towards the mercenary’s legs. Though he had not intended it to, the strike served a second purpose, for if Vincent tried to duck under the spray, this strike was more likely to inflict more serious damage than a simple slash to the legs.

Inwardly, Ryuzaki was mulling over the significance of Shinryu’s outburst. While the sword’s intensity changed with the tension of a battle, the flow of blood from its blade seemed to come and go without any predictable pattern. The spray of droplets was even more difficult to anticipate, and if he hoped to have better control over his sword’s power, he would need to become more familiar with its tendencies and personality.

For now, though, he was content to focus on the battle, on his Gemini Edge coming in a fast, hard strike from the right and a blast of venomous, maleficent droplets emerging towards his foe from Shinryu, still locked in a dead stalemate with Phoenix Heart.

[Vincent]

That blackened blade was full of surprises. The clash between the two was reaching its peak and it began to splutter out its dark blood intent upon spraying the young mercenary. It was disgusting but also incredibly dangerous, that he suspected. Vincent was forced to abandon his ground. Kicking off the ground he leapt away diving and rolling across the grass just to avoid the damage. He was forced to abandon his reaver, still inside of Ryu's arm. No doubt a devastating blow.

He did not escape unscathed however. He avoided Gemini but the splashing of the dark blood had managed to pepper his side in the gore of the nether. It ate away at his gauntlets and burned his exposed skin. He gritted his teeth in pain and rage. "Blast!" He swore. Standing tall and straight he visibly winced in pain. The black marks that peppered his arm revealed deadened skin like a rot. "That... That is one nasty trick you have!" He turned his body shifting to face Ryu. It was time to end the duel one way or the other. With a deep breath he called to Phoenix Heart to give him the limits of its power that it would.

Drawing the blade back he raised it vertically to the sky with both hands upon the hilt. The aura that swirled around the mercenary receded to the blade, swirling around it and growing as a light blue flame before giving way to something more solid. A pure blue light. His face illuminated and his hair and clothing blown back by the power oppressing the mercenary he announced, "this is the battle's end!" With a sliding step forward he brought down the blade with a crash of divine power. It tore into the ground and consumed the small area in divine flames.

Ryu however would remain unharmed. Vincent fell to a knee and planted the blade into the earth. The aura that had built gone, instead replaced by the faintest of glows. "I made sure not to strike you. The power is too much to risk. He grinned sweat pooring from both the combat and single exertion of power. "I'm afraid I can't sustain multiple strikes like that just yet. It takes a lot out of ya." He laughed. He had no idea how Ryu would respond. Would he call him weak and consider it a wasted blow continuing the duel? Concede defeat in the face of what power he just witnessed? Or... As Vincent decided he would be satisfied with, a draw.