The disturbing sound of twin swords clanging to the ground, the soft patter of leaking blood, and the twinge of an aching heart brought back to reality a man long thought a myth. He was once a warrior, revenge and obsession driven to find a way to put a stop to a man who he had deemed a rampant tyrant. Long he had been on this path, ever since their first interaction. He had matched through futuristic wilderness, overgrown with metallic and silicone vine-like wires. He has slept in ancient fields where magic trumped man-made arms, and mythical beasts were plentiful and obliviously dangerous. At every turn he has failed at his goal, he had been within reach, an inch at the most - and still had not managed to gain the power to reach beyond that woeful barrier.

How he longed to end that man.

How the night seemed to laugh, as though his reach and rules and deals brokered controlled their very twinkle. The sun seemed to glare harder with each step, as though the untouchable had placed a magnifying glass between it and him. Each failure mounted up until he walked over mountains and oceans of each. It had started easily enough, a failure was a failure, and he could move past it. Each taught him something about the man, or something about himself. But now, each failure was another weight that brought with it another step away from who he was.

Who was he now?

No longer the warrior who danced elegantly with swords names after children, his own flesh and blood. He was not the man who had competed in the first tournament of many, a simple human against fantastical creatures of lore and destruction.

No.

Life had failed him, he had failed himself, and now he was something different than when he started.

His last bout had not been a pretty one. He had slaughtered the man, and his child, in cold blood with many swings of his left handed weapon. He had not flinched when the small child took up arms against him in defense of his slain father. Instead he bathed in his blood as well.

As noted sounds and pains bought him back to his reality, and baleful eyes cast themselves upon the open field. It was mostly empty, except for a lone tree and long grass. The latter swept across his pants, brushing against him in the light breeze. With each inhale and exhale he could almost taste the Chi that had been expelled here. Battles won and lost.

A flicker of life danced through his eyes, as they flicked downward and he saw the crossed weapons lay on the ground. Almost a second later they were back in his hands, his body part registering what had become an extension of his limbs. He did not return his weapons to their sheathes. Every fiber in his being told him there would be no need for that.

Have you had you fun, Liaison? The Warrior, Dessembrae, your hunter has fallen.

The sound of electricity crackling, clashing and buzzing fills the air of the open field; they were sickly sweet sounds, ones that followed and comforted Hiro. His frame coming more and more into few with every step; until he stand across from the only other being inhabiting this open field. Hiro was not a being of dominating stature; he was shorter than the average human male and he possessed much less mass. The one thing that he had, to help create an intimidating presence; was the unearthly lightning that danced and shot around every curve of his body. His eyes were haunting, a bright, aureolin yellow shade; their glow piercing even the daylight. As he looks upon the weapons held in this being's hands; a devious grin tugs at his cracked lips.

"So, you are the one I am here for today?"

His words were soft, but carried on the wind with weight. His right hand slides down to the left side of his body; his now extended fingers, grazing and rubbing the hilt of his tachi, so affectionately named muramasa. With a tightening grip, he slides the sword from it's sheathe; as he extends his arm and the blade before him in direction of the other being. The blade itself was the length of Hiro's own arm, containing a slight curve in the blade midway through. It was a beautiful sword, one that Hiro took pride in; one that he cherished beyond any of his other possessions.

Slithering from his very fingertips; the lightning makes it's way down the length of the sword. The lightning seemed to co-exist with the sword, as if the two belonged together; making for a beautiful and harrowing sight.

Upon looking at Hiro's face, one would notice a severe burn scar; consuming the entirety of the left side his face. This was his main motivator for winning, for he did not want to feel the sting; the pain of loss again. He always fought with a chip on his shoulder and a heavy heart; this would often lead him to be reckless while fighting, though effective most times.

With a shake of his head, he drops his sword back down to his left side; still gripped firmly in his hand. His left foot creeps forward, until he is into a sturdy enough position. His upper torso lowers slightly; his head continuing to look to the being before him. The lightning that once danced and twisted around him, now explodes into a violent flurry; equal to that of a lightning storm. Random bolts firing off and striking the ground around him; though the bolts movements were strange and erratic. There was a strange glow to the lightning, one that seemed to match the glow of his haunting eyes.

"Be careful, friend. If you look the devil in the eyes, you don't blink."

His words uttered last not long on the wind before another person appeared before him, forecast by lightning strikes around his person. The being would not require Alphonse's innate ability to glean knowledge if their manner of Chi manipulation with his ever so brazen display.

What words came from the man's mouth seemed to slither in one ear and out the other, at least the first set. Eyes of sadness peered towards the manner of man before him, registering the various wounds and weapon, a Taichi that now danced with dangerous electricity. This man had come to do battle, perhaps a pawn of Liaison to test the mettle of his would be bodyguard. So much like that trickster this test would be.

His own swords seemed to come alive in his hands, the soft blue aura of Chi gracing their edges as a reminder of who he once was. A man of honor and morals, now a sellsword with a murderous persona. If the man dared attack him, his life too would be forfeit, another bath in the blood of those who sought to challenge the First Sword.

Once more words came from the man's mouth, but these were not ignored. They bespoke his intentions, for they were accompanied by lightning that sang like a violent storm. What wild power and raw energy this man must have possessed to be one with the skies, or was it all for show? Could be wield the wily light of the world, that burst with such intensity. If naught, then the man would fall where he stood, a victim to one who had been a victim since he took his first name, The Warrior.

Today, man of electrical power, it is you who should not blink.

His words were somber, almost as if they were the words of a sad apparition. With his words, the Chi of his soul sprang from him like a fountain, already forming it's first step. For inside him the real process was occurring, the Chi pressing against the bottom of his skin, gathering itself up for the coming storm.

He lifted his right sword, named after one of his sons and pointed it towards his for before bringing, and the other into a stance, the left lower and pointed towards Hiro, and the right pointed upward and angled towards his rear.

Hiro's eyes stared greedily to the energy creeping down his blades; the feeling this gave to him was orgasmic. He had not felt the thrill of imminent battle in years and he was more than ready. The corner of his lips tug upwards; causing a malicious grin to take his face.

With the man's words flowing through him, he slowly stands back up; dropping his taichi dropping to his left side once more. Lightning traces each slow and measured step that Hiro took; following him and striking the ground around every step he took. He was making sure not to make a rushed approach, this opponent was too composed; he was too calm for a blind rush. The sound of his erratic heartbeat, becomes music to his ears; more eloquent and composed than any classical music. This was something Hiro dreamed about, something that consumed his every thought and desire.

His movement halts, Hiro slowly slides his right foot forward; leaving his left foot behind. As he comes within ten feet of his opponent; allowing him to get a better view of this being and his attributes. Hiro took note of his energy, his weapons and any nervous ticks this being may have. To his shock, there were none; there was no sense of fear or hesitation from this person and that was alarming. He left himself fairly unguarded, but he also gave off a threatening sensation. Looking down to his own blade, Hiro's arm raises and slams downwards; forcing the lighting conducing blade into the dirt beside of him. His right arm crosses his chest to his left side and pops; as he crosses his right arm and waits to hear the pop. Tilting to the side, his neck releases a sickening pop; the sound bringing the silence to an end.

The lighting that surrounded his feet, begin to slither and dance up his frame methodically. As it reaches his shoulders, it begins to slide down the length of his arms; until the electricity encompasses his fist. With this, Hiro suddenly pushes off his left foot, allowing him to dart forward at fairly high speeds. As his left foot leaves the ground, lightning strikes the earth that his foot once inhabited. As he closes the distance between him and the man; his right foot plants into the earth below of him. Digging in and giving him a solid base, so that he may react to any attack that would be returned.

Hiro was a very reckless fighter and this was apparent; he knew the man still kept his weapons, but he did not care. He liked to take things slowly and this being would find out. Using the momentum of his powerful dash, Hiro cocks back his right arm; firing a powerful haymaker towards the being's right temple. As his swing approaches, the lightning around his fist intensifies and crackles; anticipating the immediate impact.

With words past his lips, neither party deemed it worthy to speak again, instead, Alphonse hoped the man would prove to be more of a challenge than the lost foes Liaison had sent after him, his tests seemed to have every bit of his loathsome personality etched in their very being. Annoying, to an almost unholy degree.

Alphonse stood as he had before, weapons not shifted in the slightest. How would the man approach someone who gave off a forboding aura, whose very presence reeked of a life lived and died. Would he play it smart and wield his lightning at a distance? The dancing lightning illuminated the field in it's glow, it cut the silence with it's thunderous shrieks, and left the field bathed in it's lingering tingle. The uncut energy was very much alive, but so was the Chi that Alphonse manipulated to a masterful degree.

What the lightning showed in its wild display was the opposite of the subtle Chi that laced through Dessembrae's body, his very core. He learned long ago to control his power for maximum effect, for minimal cost.

The man had sunk his sword, partial into the ground. This caused Alphonse to tense, his years spent standing before any number of combatant lending itself to his experience. What had the man planned? He would find out soon enough.

A rush.

Hiro decided to rush the man, engaging him at close proximity, a battle that would surely benefit from getting inside the guard of the sword and effectively decreasing their usability. Perhaps he was a cut above the rest, but his foolhardy attempt would not bare fruit.

The man stopped close by, Alphonse allowing him his repreive for his new demeanor relished the thought of the viciousness. Arm cocked back, the foe launched what would surely be a knockout blow should it connect. The haymaker screamed of physical power, and the lightning that engulfed his hand did it's part to supplement the power with electrical currents. Oh, this blow would kill upon success.

Alphonse sprung into action, dipping his left handed sword, and summoned the Chi that had welled up beneath his skin. A moment before the wild blow would land, Alphonse enacted his counter. His Chi burst forth forming a protective shield against his left temple, catching the blow before it could be completed. At the same time, his right hand swung downward and to the left, aiming to sever the man's arm from his shoulder.

Many moons ago, he would not have swung with such ruthless aggression, afraid to bring harm to the swords named for his spawn, but now the broken man cared little for that part of his life. Instead, he swung with a power that could split a man in two with a proper hit.

Hiro's foolish arrogance would soon give way to fear and clarity; as his blow connected with an unexpected target. The lighting swirling turbulently around his knuckles dances down the shield protecting the being's soft spot; before dissipating. He should have known this foolish attack was obvious, that it was thought through well enough. There was no time for second guessing, no time for what could have been.

The electricity emitting from Hiro had been with him, for almost the entirety of his short existence. It was an extension of him, part of who he was; and who he identified as. Years of grueling training, combined with continuous pain; to form the relationship that allowed him to co-exist with his combative energy. He felt that it was ultimately a contributing factor to his own personality; having dealt with it for so long. This would prove useful in his future fights and endeavors; possibly even saving his life one day.

"Shit..." That sinking feeling formed in the core of his stomach; a sharp, horrifying chill shot down his spine. The electricity that encompassed him at all times, had given him brief heed to the sword being brought upon him; resembling a guillotine, a swift and decisive blow. IF Hiro did not act, and act accordingly; he surely would lose something of utmost importance to him. With this, he garners every ounce of strength he had and pushed himself backwards with his right heel; that had been previously rooted in the soft earth. This allowed him to shoot himself backwards, but unfortunately; he was not quick enough to dodge the entirety of the danger

As he lands five feet away from where he previously stood; the entirety of his middle finger lands on the ground where the sword would have landed. As he were flying backwards, his middle finger had been extended just enough; getting caught in the blade's path as it fell. Blood accompanied the extended finger; as it also spurted violently from the gaping wound, were his finger would normally be. Given the time to process his injury, a pained and bloodcurdling how fills the air; the pain was crippling and sent a shock throughout. After a few moments of taking in the injury, Hiro's jaw clenched hard; as he raised his right hand, now only containing four fingers.

"I guess I deserved that. Fucking hurts." A soft chuckle parts his cracked lips, as his eyes look to the being; giving off the piercing, yellow glow as usual. Hiro's eyes look back to his stumped middle knuckle, as the tint of his eyes begins to glow more vibrantly. A single bolt of the lightning, slithers around and up his right forearm slowly. As it reaches were the middle finger would be, it fires into the air shallowly; coming back down on the wound. Another howl bellows from within Hiro, as his own lightning makes contact with his flesh; burning and cauterizing the wound.

Twitching from the pain, Hiro turns his back to the man; moving methodically to his sword in the earth. His left fingers wrap greedily around the decorated hilt; pulling with one, swift upwards motion. As Hiro turns back to look at the being, he slings his sword sideways; flinging any earth and grass from the gleaming blade. With a flare of electricity, bolts of energy begin to dance and inhabit the blade; dancing beautifully along the blade. "I can feel your intent, your bloody desire; it excites me" As his words fade, another menacing grin takes Hiro's lips. His blade now extending outwards; tip pointing towards the being.

Hiro was not able to avoid loss, but he managed to save his arm; a necessary sacrifice. He would not make the same mistake twice.

His sword whistled through the air, it's most vile destination only moments away from realization. He had ained high, and sure, for his opponents arm. Hoping to take it away as a punishment for his opponent's reckless charge and equally idiotic haymaker.

Alas, his own attempt was not meant to be, as his opponent exhibited an unnatural aptitude in speed and reflex, connecting with the newly manifested shield, realizing his danger and darting off with only his middle digit being lost to the veteran swordsman. That this had transpired and that his prize was not an arm, ignited a fire under Alphonse and he leapt to extinguish it.

How? The death of Hiro.

His opponent had so foolishly left many openings, and as the sword cut through flesh and bone, detaching the digit, he used the momentum to coil the bones in his legs and pounce. Hiro was mid-flight, and shortly after, so was Alphonse. When Hiro landed some five feet away, he would be faced with one sword swinging from left to right. When he landed his right sword was immediately jutted into the ground to act as a quick base, to propel him in a vicious circular motion; his left sword was aimed primarily towards the middle of him, hoping to cut off any potential upward or downward dodge.

See, Alphonse landed not more than two moments behind Hiro, having leapt a similar distance to the man, and executed his attack. What Hiro had planned would need to be put on halt if he were to find a way to escape this onslaught. The pressure Alphonse was applying had come from years of travel, through both land and time, and learning that to stay on the offensive was almost Paramount in his situation.

He, however, would not neglect his magical means of combat either; for before him was an opponent who wielded the most outright deadly of part of nature, one that dealt more damage per hit than any other. Lightning. Alphonse was forever wary of those who used magic in this fashion. Elements came with additional effects, his Chi did not. Therefore, his Chi once more welled up in him, bubbling like a fountain - just beneath the surface.

Could Hiro once more display his speed and confirm what Alphonse suspected of him. Or would his defiance turn out to be the last burst of adrenaline for a man marked for dead.

Before Hiro had a moments time to gather himself, the other being was upon him; his speed rivaling that of Hiro. The stump, where his middle finger formerly rested, still trickled with warm, crimson blood. This being's blood lust was palpable, his intent becoming blatantly obvious; Hiro knew this man was striking to kill. Though Hiro's speed and ability to react was exceptional, this man made it difficult for Hiro to prepare; he struck quick and struck without hesitation. Within the few moments Hiro did have, ideas flooded his mind; trying to find any way out of this, without being struck a fatal blow. This was truly a challenge, one he was not prepared for; one that could prove too much for him to handle.

"Fuck!" Hiro could only squeeze one word out; as he had little time to say much else. His aureolin shaded lightning, danced violently around of Hiro, giving him the only warning that he had gotten; the blade slicing with silent precision, directly towards Hiro's mid section. The danger excited Hiro, but it also bestowed a fear to him; one that would become deeply rooted, a cautionary tale for the future. There was only a few ways of escaping this, whilst remaining fully intact; he had to decide what would work best in his favor.

"No better time than the present..." Hiro knew he would have to test a theory he had, something he had never tried before, something he knew was risky to attempt. His left foot quickly slides backwards, as his right foot stays in place; giving him a solid base to move. The swirling torrent of electricity surrounding Hiro, begins to glow more vibrantly than before; seeming to come to life before them both. Hiro was going to attempt to reverse the electrical field, discharged by his constant source of electricity; in an attempt to slow, if not stop the swing of the blade coming at him.

His focus became solely on reversing the magnetic field and escaping; the only option Hiro found suitable at this juncture. The magnetic field begins to change it's flow relatively quickly; just enough to cause a hindrance, slowing the swing of the incoming blade. Hiro knew he would not come out of this unscathed, but he also realized, this was his only chance of surviving.

The muscles within his legs tighten, the bones bending quickly; throwing Hiro backwards once again. This was not the fight that Hiro had envisioned, he was being punished for his bullheaded mistakes; he would have to be more careful in his approach from now on. As Hiro propels himself backwards towards his implanted sword, the magnetic field surrounding Hiro weakens; allowing the blade to flow at full speed once more. The edge of the sharp sword, slashes across the midsection of Hiro; digging slightly into the skin. Hiro had afforded himself the luxury of not being cut in half, or having his innards hanging from any wound; though the cut was deep enough to force his blood to leak once more.

As he lands inches from his blade, he takes no time in reaching for the hilt with his right hand; removing the dirtied blade from the earth with haste. The electricity that once vibrantly glowed and danced around Hiro, had now dimmed significantly; almost disappearing completely. He had used a significant reserve of his prepared electricity, much quickly than he had anticipated. He would need time to harness more, time he knew he did not have at this point; he needed to come up with another plan.

The warm, crimson trickle of blood was familiar to Hiro; given his track record of fighting and training prior. Many a times had he taken injuries similar to the ones he suffered here; just never in such quick succession. The being before him meant business, he was not going to take it easy on Hiro; he was aiming to end Hiro's existence. Hiro throws his right arm outwards before him, tossing any dirt, or grass from the soiled blade.

His haunting, aureolin gaze stays upon the being; not going to let him escape his sight. Using some of the remaining electricity he possessed, two separate bolts dance across his flesh; one crossing over the lengthy cut, adorning his midsection. The other traveling up the bloodied stump of his middle finger; each bolt pressing into his flesh, creating a loud, disgusting hiss of burning flesh. He managed to cauterize his wounds, stopping himself from bleeding any more than he had; he could not afford to lose much more so quickly.

His body slowly begins to dip once more, his right foot planting before him again; as his left foot plants behind of him slightly. Hiro had to take a defensive stance, as he attempted to regain and charge energy; he had forced himself out of a chance to take the offensive. His right arm turns slightly, allowing the blade to cross in front of his chest; the blade pointing outwards towards the being.

It was time to prepare for his ace, his one chance to swing the battle in his favor; though it remained a risky proposition. The hue of his iris, begins to enhance it's already vibrant glow; as he never ceases his gaze on the man. It would take time for him to open the dimension, so he knew there was a chance it could not happen; though he had to try at this point. Hiro was prepared to defend himself a little better, ready for most any onslaught the man could provide; barring any secrets the being had.