[IC] ALL HOPE IS GONE (Xavier Vs. Auz)

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz was off balance when Xavier attacked. He got kicked in the chest, losing his breath as his breastplate dented in. When all was said and done, he'd have landed hard on his back seven feet away, skidding another five and leaving a small trench in the ground behind. Auz didn't intent to go easily though. It seemed that Xavier was coating his leg in blood to protect it, but could enough of the blood reach all the way down to his ankle in time, and how much damage could it absorb?

Auz wasn't nearly as strong as Xavier, nor as durable. Speed? That was a lot closer by now, though Xavier still likely had an advantage. Auz knew this, and he made up for it with incredible timing and precision. He swiped his dagger back the way it had came and up beneath Xavier's ankle as the foot pounded into his breastplate, the narrow, razor sharp blade set to sever Xavier's Achilles tendon and hobble him. It was doubtful that Xavier could reach down with a blade quick enough to beat Auz's dagger to the mark and intercept it.

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

The dagger dug lightly into the skin of Xaviers ankle before the blood jumped into action. A thin rod lept from the bottom of his calf with blinding speed. The rod did not hit the dagger, but rather cradled Xaviers ankle. When Auz went hurdling his blade would be able only to partially sever the tendon before meeting the rod. Blood oozed into Xaviers boot as he returned it to the ground. Everything felt together enough, but it was a close call no less.

"You have managed to keep me on my toes. I will give you that."

The blood on his leg retracted back along his body, spreading along his back. Xavier would advance slowly on Auz to give him enough time to right himself. Xavier stopped 7 foot shy with his arms at his side and weapons at the ready. Saying nothing but inviting Auz in eith his eyes.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz climbed to his feet, but couldn't speak immediately. He had to get his wind back. He could only make throaty whistling noises as he sucked in air. Why had he been given time to recover? What was with the mid-fight banter? After several seconds he recovered and looked up into Xavier's eyes.

*zap*

It hit him like a jolt of hot electricity, igniting a deep flame inside his ribcage. Some say there is such a thing as love at first sight. Maybe, maybe not, who can say? It wasn't a bolt of electric love that hit Auz though. It was battle-lust, the realisation that he had met a like-minded individual; another combat aethetist who lived only for bloodsport.

Call it what you want. At the core, it was simply the meeting of a strange and rare breed of true companions. The kind of companions that more often than not meet only once in a lifetime, because that lifetime has been dedicated to the pursuit of strength and violence. Rivals, worthy opponents, soul enemies...

"On your toes? You'll be a regular ballet dancer when I'm through with you."

Auz raised his longsword in both hands, sliding his left leg back and keeping a shoulder's width parting between his feet. He advanced two paces and, afterwards with a yell, the tip of his blade darted out towards Xavier's midsection. A surprisingly straightforward attack...

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

Sorry

I actually had to do work at work today. The nerve of some people >.> Lol. But I should be clear for now!

"We shall see."
As he spoke Xavier readied himself, sliding his right foot back and raising his heel so only the ball of his foot touched the ground. Both his arms flexed as Auz drew near, twitching for only a moment as the blade drew ever closer. Rather than make an attmept to avoid or counter the attack though, Xavier chose to move into it. The tensing of his arms and the muscular twitch would have been done to fool Auz and distract from true intentions. When Auzs blade was only 6 inches from Xaviers midsection, his right foot pressed heavily against the ground as his left was lifted. What should have been a fleshy squish would instead be that of a severe metallic impact. Seeing the attack coming Xavier had manifested enough metal to coat his entire chest.

The goal would be to interrupt the strike before it hit him to surprise Auz and with any luck present an opening. The moment Xavier would make contact with the sword at his chest he would bring about the massive, yet now lightweight, sword in his right hand. Slashing horizontally at Auzs midsection so that he would require no backswing. The impact would be lessened, but the strike itself would be much faster.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz was no bundle of nerves, but a polished warrior with hundreds of years of experience in killing. Perhaps if the trick had been attempted earlier on when the difference in speed was greater, it might have surprised him.

Auz by now knew that his foe had a tough hide, but not an invincible one. He also had learned that his opponent could harden parts of his body at will. Such a foe walking towards a sword with his chest bared? A ploy. Then again, Auz had no qualms about walking into a sword swing. He had lives to spare. It was worth it.

Under the new circumstances of Xavier's split second bum rush, Auz screwed in his heels and bent his elbows right before the longsword met its target. Sword hit metal. Xavier's cleaver swung. Auz's blade glanced up the chest and plowed towards the jugular notch, following the contours of the body like a well-aimed uppercut, the swordsman's arms fully extending. It was one thing to turn away from a stab aimed at the chest from a human standing four feet away. This time Auz was 58% faster and his sword could very well have been allowed to reach flesh before any evasive maneuvers had been made.

Xavier's defences could likely follow the blade's path, but Auz was using two arms for this stab, not one like before. It had some extra spice on it. Perhaps not a killing blow, but if it was further deflected by blood or metal it might sever one of Xavier's sternocleidomastoid muscles, those tendon-like fibers forming the neck's entrance, the ones you can feel at the front of your throat if you turn your head.

Regardless, Auz took the cleaver to his midsection, armor rending and blood flying. His purple-red intestines hung out in heavy, sopping loops. Ribs were snapped, abdominal muscles sundered. It was pretty gnarly.

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

As Auzs blade glanced up his chest towards his throat Xavier made an effort to stretch the metal on his chest to throw it off course. Deflection may not be a possibility, though he could throw it off course along side a hairpin drop of both knees. The sweet sound of tearing flesh filled the air, followed by a solid metallic ping. Auzs blade tore through the flesh of Xaviers adams apple, though his dense muscles would help to slow its entry. The tip would make contact with Xaviers spine. A deafened and metallic ping would resonate from within Xavier upon impact. Xaviers very skeletal structure was comprised of metal he fought with. Along with this and perfect alignment Xavier took full impact in a non-lethal manner.

Xavier stiffened his neck in anticipation, giving Auz a solid contact point that would in turn rock his own head back. Using the angle and momentum to his advantage Xavier would back step, lifting his throat from the tip of Auzs blade. In the same moment the edge of his sword shifted, creating a series of small hooks that would be angled towards Xavier. Much like that of a saw blade. With his backstep Xavier would pull the weapon free of Auz, pushing it towards him as he did in an effort to saw through a little more of the man.

At any rate Xavier would follow his first back step with a small leap to distance himself once again, a small smirk upon his face. At his throat a small stream of blood began to trickle down, the majority held back through Xaviers will. The arteries at the front of his throat had indeed been severed, though as the blood poored from them Xavier created a thin metallic barrier to rejoin them. Coercing blood flow was one thing, repairing the muscles would be a different matter.

"Accchhh iiiiyuuu... mmmuuiiii shhhhhhhh cchhhhhhh" With each unintelligible phrase came a small spray of dark red blood.

Xavier gave up after that, his arms falling to his side as he gave an exasperated sigh. A sigh which lurched a small stream of blood onto the dirt infront of him. Along with his throat being stabbed, Xaviers vocal cords had been severed by the last blow. With it came a light feeling of stiffness as Xavier rolled his neck slightly, a bigger trail of blood oozing from his wound as he did. I must tread more carefully, a lesser man would have been done in on the spot. Xavier thought to himself, retracting some of the blood upon his back into his body.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz fell to his knees, grasping at his guts as they piled out. Poor bastard. There were likely bigger fish to fry for Xavier though, such as how many painkillers it'd take to be able to enjoy drink for the next few days. Perhaps if-!!

A loop of intestine flew through the air to lasso Xavier's neck. It was stupefying in its gall, utterly unexpected by virtue of the nuts required to do such an inane thing. Auz howled in agony from between gritted, bloody teeth, gaping eyes bulging in opposite directions. If he succeeded in wrangling Xavier, then with nigh improbable effort he'd try to haul the man in and strangle him, Auz using his own intestines as a noose. Not that it'd actually work, of course. The tensile but squishy guts weren't fit for choking out someone with superhuman durability. Still, it was worth trying. Auz knew he was going to die anyways, might as well go out in the craziest way possible.

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

Xavier cocked an eyebrow as Auz seemed to fiddle with his intestines. This was certainly something a dying man had never done at Xaviers feet. The sheer audacity of a man using his intestines as a weapon.. it made Xavier chuckle. Or rather caused him to make a few raspy, blood soaked wheezes.

As the intestine wrapped around his neck Xavier fashioned a small blade on the skin of his neck. As tension was added it would be severed and in that same moment Xavier attacked.

In one quick movement Xavier spun to the right on the balls of his feet and bent his knees. As his body spun Xavier tensed his right arm and began to swing his sword. Using the speed of his twist along with his natural strength for a fast and powerful swing. The goal would be to spin just a little over 360 degrees and to hit Auz with the front 8 inches. Just enough to cleave cleanly through Auz while maintaining a little distance.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz was cut in twain. As could have been expected, he was back in a quarter minute. When he reappeared it was five yards in front of Xavier, and he was belly laughing.

"HAH!! I expected more of a reaction out of you! What, do you get guts thrown at you on a regular basis? Ha hah ha... Well, I guess I shouldn't expect an answer. You sound like you've deep throated a troll!"

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

Xavier chuckled quietly, a few raspy and wheezing breaths accompanied by a drool of blood from his throat. As he watched Auz, the blade in Xaviers left hand melted onto his forearm. Allowing him to bring it quickly to his chest to thud against his sternum in one fluid motion. His hand would move to his face now, the fingers folding inwards so that only his index and middle finger stood. Those fingers pointed at either of his eyes respectively. Next both his hands stretched directly infront of him, his right hand still holding his sword, before making a large circle in the air. I see alot

Ontop of this, Xavier found himself engrossed within the battle at hand. Before Auz there was no man or woman in this world to challenge him. Auz however brought something special to the table that no one else could - his deaths. Xavier lived for battle and the rush of the kil. So to find an opponent who could die again and again only to come back as an even better fighter was like a dream come true. What Auz did betwixt fighting and dying was of no concern to Xavier.

The metal on Xaviers left arm began to shift along his skin before bubble in what would at first seem to be random points. From the bubbles emerged several one inch thick rods that would grow to 4 inches thick. Covering his arm from elbow to wrist as Xavier shifted his right foot behind him, shifting the majority of his weight there.

Xavier lifted his left arm again, pointing it directly at Auz this time. The palm of his hand lay flat and open, his thumb folded towards the center while his fingers pointed at Auz. The fingers would quickly coil back on themselves before lying flat, repeating this process two more times. Beckoning Auz for the first move once more.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne



So Xavier was switching up his game, getting serious. Auz realized that he might as well throw out all the stops as well. He drew his gauche dagger and suddenly pitched forward with the blade leveled at his left eye. The pommel hit the ground and a length of sharp steel plunged through Auz's eye socket and into his brain. Death was instant, more or less. He appeared soon after, the lurid red ropes of blood coagulating back into his form, brandishing his longsword. Auz wasn't going to just be fast now. He was going to be fast. It was true that when he died he became more powerful, and also that he could only die a limited number of times to each individual that killed him. Thing was, Auz himself counted as an individual.
He tossed his sword up and caught it by the end of the blade with both hands, left over right, wielding it as if it were an improvised warhammer.



The Mordhau style. The ancient art of not giving a fuck about holding a sword the wrong way, all the better to bash an enemy's skull in using the outrageous force concentrated at the long, narrow ends of the crossguard. There was of course a technique to holding the blade in such a way as to not get your hands cut, but having a sturdy pair of gauntlets helped too.
The mercenary crept towards Xavier, moving slow and with his weapon held poised up above his left shoulder. Auz's eyes glinted sharp and steely, taking everything in with a steady calm that he hadn't displayed before. He had a better reaction speed now. He could perceive motion more easily and could afford to keep the heat on the burner low for the moment, so to speak.

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

Watching Auz kill himself brought a small smirk to Xaviers face. There would be a few deaths still to come before Auz would find himself on par with Xavier. However, the fact that it was closing as fast it was sent a chill up Xaviers spine. As Auz returned to life, the blade in Xaviers hand began to ripple and sieze as its form shrank. In its place stood a sword almost equal in length but significintally thinner.

A small portion of the excess metal which was gained from this made an appearance on Xaviers left wrist. A mound of glistening red metal connecting itself to the collection of metallic rods on his forearm. This piece was left more pliable than the others, allowing Xavier to spin his wrist while maintaining contact of the two.

As Xavier dropped his left hand back to his side the mound came to life. One of the rods on Xaviers forearm into his skin with a blur before lurching from the mound on his wrist even faster. At first glance the rod would be targeted at Auzs face, though as it would reach within 1 foot the rod would suddenly shift tracjectory. The angle change was quick and drastic, the rod sinking itself into the dirt at Auzs feet before losing form. Creating a thick red puddle 6 inches across on the dirt.

6 more exactly like it had been fired as Xavier dropped his arm, all of these sinking themselves into the dirt in a path from Auz to Xavier. As the rods lost their form they would create 6 puddles over the roughly 10 feet between the two men. The puddles were dispersed upon the path, leaving plenty of open ground to walk on for the moment. Xavier began to slowly march towards Auz as well, taking the same careful half steps as before so as to remain within his stance.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz bobbed and weaved unpredictably as each rod flew at him, just to be safe. None followed through though, instead splatting down on the ground. So Xavier could control his blood independent of his body. Suspecting that the blood on the ground might shoot out or act as some kind of trap, Auz reversed his steps and began backing away to force the encroaching Xavier to leave his trap behind, if he wanted to get closer that was.

"What kind of ploy is that!? You think I'll step on your blood or take my attention away from it, eh? Huh? Oi? Yeah?"

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

As Auz changed his pace and direction Xavier began to take larger strides of his own. Before too long he was ontop of the closest puddle he had created and upon contact with his boot it wriggled to life. Xaviers boot seemed to act like a sponge as the blood disappeared around it, the vast majority it being recollected. The exact same would happen with 4 of the remaining 6 puddles as Xavier approached before he switched up again.

Xaviers strides would still have been rather slow and calculated up to the 5th puddle. Xavier landed within that puddle on only the ball of his right foot with his left arm stretched out to his side. His right arm draped across his waist while holding onto his sword. In an instant the puddle sprang to life, creating a perfect launch mound beneath Xaviers heel. The ground surrounding this puddle fractured for a moment as Xavier exerted great force against it, launching 3 rods from his left arm in the exact moment he began to accelerate. Giving the rods a speed boost before launching them so that they may make contact ahead of him.

The rods initial trajectory would make it seem as though they would fly off into the forest. Though a sudden drastic turn would bring them back around towards Auz, or more precisely behind him. The plan would be to have them land in a way that would coat the ground surrounding Auzs flank upon impact.

Meanwhile Xavier tore through the air towards Auz, the tips of his toes barely skimming the ground to push him faster. Xavier would plant his left foot first, a good 8 feet out from Auz still so his momentum would allow him to slide the remaining distance. This would kill the majority of his speed but allow for his stance to be regainined faster. When Xavier neared proper striking distance the blood within his blood came to action, sending a single rod through the heel of his boot into the ground. Xavier anchored himself just a moment before enacting a wide, diagonal strike that would be intended to hit from Auzs right hip to left shoulder. This allowed him to focus the majority of his forward momentum into his swing, allowing for a much faster and more force filled strike.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz stopped short, lunging suddenly forwards and to the side of where Xavier's lead foot landed at the eight foot mark. The reverse longsword scythed in low, a split second arc of light beaming from left to right, to strike the back of Xavier's forward leg and potentially take it off at the knee. This would be right as Xavier's weight settled down on the foot, which he'd have also conveniently pinned in place with the blood rod. The attack came before Xavier's own swing, perhaps even beating him to the mark. As for the flying rods, Auz figured that darting away from the spot they landed at would serve its purpose as well as it had the first time, two birds with one stone.

Not having any methods of slowing his momentum, Auz would roll several yards away and to his feet should he finish his attack.

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

The rod which anchored Xaviers foot to the ground had yet to be created when Auz moved. The creation of this rod had been timed alongside of Xaviers swing, which he had been unable to reach.

Xavier had never taken his eyes off of Auz as he was sliding along the dirt. So as Auz darted in low and quick Xavier thrust against the ground with both legs, floating just above Auzs blade. In a last ditch effort Xavier would twist his body, aiming a flying right knee towards Auzs face as his attack missed. The impact would be less than Xaviers full power since it was enacted midair, it was still double that of a normal man. Bone shattering in the least.

Hit or miss Xavier would torque his body afterwards so that he would do a 180 degree flip in the air. Landing so that he would be facing Auz. During this flip 6 of his rods were flung from his wrist, careening high into the air before angling back on the earth. They would land in a wide partial circle behind Auz, creating a collection of puddles there like the three infront of Xavier.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz hadn't any intent of being within easy striking range when he attacked, using the reach of his arms and blade carefully. Regardless, he found it necessary to take action when a counter attack came his way.

In slow motion Xavier jumped over the sword, Auz tiltef his head away from the knee, both blows passing within millimeters of their targets. To the human eye, the exchange would've been a blur.

Auz allowed the torque of his missed swing to spin him around, greaves digging trenches in the ground as he skidded to a stop facing Xavier. More of those pesky blood traps landed in front of him. Auz immediately broke into a sprint towards his right, intending to give the blood a wide birth and flank Xavier.

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

Xavier landed delicatlely on the ground, his knees bending to cushion the fall and assume position. His left hand was resting flat on the ground, the rods on that arm vibrating in anticipation as Auz began his sprint. Xaviers right hand holding his sword across shoulder. For a moment Xavier seemed to do nothing as he watched Auz. Xaviers eyes darting to and fro from Auzs legs to the ground as he calculated. Xaviers legs tensed as his the toes of his boots and the fingers on his left hand dug into the earth on Auzs 3rd step. Legs, toes, arm, fingers and rods released their tension as the step landed.

In a plume of dust Xavier was mobile, making use of his unbelievable acceleration capabilities. Surely Auz would be able to keep track of Xaviers movements, however Xavier would be moving much faster than he had so far. In this same instant the rods on Xaviers arm had come to life, sending 4 through the air. They would be flying directly infront of Xavier and would land just the same, infront of him.

On launch Xavier had began to right himself, maintaining a forward leaning angle without being so low to the ground. This allowed him to step with his right foot at the same moment the first rod would land. The rod would turn to a puddle beneath Xaviers foot as the remaining 3 rods hit the dirt. Xavier stopped dead in his tracks much like before, though this time the blood cradled his foot rather than anchoring it. Xavier willed the puddle to extend in an instant, shifting from 6 inches all around to 4 inches wide and 8 inches long. The following 3 rods which impact shortly after underwent the exact same change as they made impact. Creating a 2 and a half foot puddle that strecthed across the dirt towards Auz.

The goal was to either cause Auz to step on the puddle which had been put directly into his path midstep or to distract him with it. If the first plan was a success and Auz stepped on the puddle then Xavier would shift the metal. Creating a pike that would tear through the air towards Auzs groin. More specifically the taint, taking advantage of the lack of armor plating their in hopes to run him through from anus to brain.

Meanwhile Xavier swung his sword in a diagonal fashion towards Auzs neck. Another multiuse tactic meant to take use of the distraction the blood would create or to create a distraction for the blood to make contact.

[Doc Doctor]

@Xavier Bloodbayne

Auz slowed down a little bit an instant before having to encounter the blood puddle, so that Xavier would reach him first. When Xavier swung, so then did Auz twist and bring his inverted sword sweeping down with frightening speed. His intent was to hack the thick of the blade into Xavier's forearm to sever muscle and tendon, effectively rendering the arm useless should the blow land. Just like when Auz stabbed his opponent's arm before, Xavier had the momentum of his own attack working against him. Of course Xavier could try to tank or deflect the heavy blow with his club arm, but he'd find that even with an armored hide, the raw cutting power of Auz's two-handed mordhau swing was incomparable to his earlier attacks. Either way it'd hurt like a bitch. An instant later Auz would attempt to leap high over the blood. The spike could shoot up still and probably catch Auz, but it'd likely be less damaging as he'd be quite a good jumper with as much speed as he had. Less damaging in this case would be a very, very subjective term, though. For most men with a bloody stalactite up their gooch, life was over. For Auz, it'd mean flipping head over heels like a ragdoll having its period, spraying blood this way and that from his ass which'd be penetrated up to the point of his lower intestine.

[Xavier Bloodbayne]

Xavier had guessed that Auz would attempt a counter and Xavier never let his gaze falter as he watched for it. When Auz swung his sword in Xaviers left arm moved in a blur, positioning itself between the blade and its target. Rather than take the damage of the blades edge, Xavier had positioned his arm in line with Auzs hilt.

The metallic rods and the coating which held them there took a significant amount of the impact. Reverting momentarily to a liquid state to allow the blades hilt to bury itself with its impact. Xaviers forced his right arm against his left at the same time. The blow had pushed the two together and he used this to stabilize his arm. The metal would than attempt to leap back across the hilt in an instant. Solidifying just as quick with the hopes of trapping the blade in place. Xavier hoped that it would either force Auz to remain where he was for even a second longer to allow a full skewer or force him to momentarily part with his blade.