Appeaance: Tall but possessed of a lithe build. Athletically fit with long limbs. Face is a bit squarish with pronounced cheekbones underlining a pair of striking blue eyes. His hair is a very dirty blonde color that is usually encased by the helmet of his cryogenic combat armor.
The cryogenic combat armor itself is large and bulky, containing the necessary equipment to keep Retaliation's body as cool as possible in order to prevent his own body heat from interfering with his Pyrokinetic Art. It bears no distinguishing marks other then clear signs of improvised construction and constant repair. It is clearly worn and scarred from many battles.
Section II – Powers
Pyrokinesis: At a young age, Retaliation found that he possessed a gifted skillset of supernatural occurrence. Pyrokinesis – or – the psychic ability to manipulate and speed up the atomic state of molecules to the point of combustion, is most notably known for its ability to create or manipulate flames or heat from seemingly nothing. This manifestation happened to make Retaliation an outcast even among his own family – so for their safety he was sent off to Hashima Island – Also known as Archive City – for training in the hopes of tempering this ability for his own safety.
After many years in the City of Academics, Retaliation found himself more than able to manipulate, control and generate/create fire of different intensities and states at any given moment.
The nature of Retaliation's Pyrokinesis allows him to release a constant high temperature fluctuation of heat decay/enthropy around his being at all times (this field expands 5 feet around him) causing – without constant monitoring – the area around him to heat up. This field is visible in the sense that it’s constantly observed as embers and cinders flaring up around him, hinting that his Pyrokinetic manipulation is constantly active.
The temperature of his natural Pyrokinetic Generation never exceeds 6,000 degrees – however further manipulations and enhancements can augment the temperature of his flames/heat even more than that. Because of this – it is commonly seen that Retaliation uses his Pyrokinesis to generate and create flames that shoot from his hands, explosions that manifest before his eyes and more.
Spellwarp:
During his childhood Retaliation could always be found reading. His parents actively promoted this hobby and as such Retaliation was incredibly well read by the time he reached his teens. In particular he developed great admiration for the magical abilities of fictional knights and wizards of high fantasy stories. As such, a lot of his manipulations go through a process he calls “Spellwarp”. While this aspect of his power is not magical in nature, his mimicry of the fantastical style of sorcery is more than relative to how he utilizes and manipulates the flame. Normally a construct of some strange “Spell” in which he may issue out an incantation or use a somatic component, Spellwarp attacks are usually stylized in common “Magical ways”, including but not limited to – Flaming Sigils, Fire Figures (Elemental Afterimages), Will’o’Wisps and more. Purely an aesthetic choice and not a tactical one, this manipulation of control does come with some interesting benefits.
While his manipulation of flames are limited purely by his imagination, by using his staff as a focusing tool – he is able to combine the unique Psionic Crystal Cartridges and their abilities with his flames to create even more advanced attacks.
List of Unique Flames here:
Lanciaflamme: The name given to a shaped air bust explosion - the force of which originates in mid-air and is directed towards Retaliation's opponent by way of his Pyrokinetic abilities. Essentially a dust explosion shaped by psionics towards a particular object the attack can be generated in open air or space but cannnot displace any physical objects. This makes the Lanciaflamme hard to anticipate and harder to avoid. And even if a target manages to achieve the feat – multiple Lanciaflammes can be fired in succession.
Magma Blossom Bombs: An altogether fancy name for a small chroniton-infused ball of cold plasma that Retaliation generates near his body and shoots at an opponent. The purpose of infusing the chronitons into the plasma ball is to take advantage of a similar haptic feedback effect as his own Time Alter ability should it make contact with any enemy utilizing a type of barrier or wide-area particulate attack. Each Magma Blossom, despite their small size, will “stick” to whatever they make contact with and slowly degrade it over time. The haptic feedback from the chronitons ensures that the degradation is continuous over time. It takes one full turn for the degradation to take effect, and its effects linger for one full turn afterwards.
Combustion Chain: An extension upon the already potent Lanciaflamme, Combustion Chain extends the range of Lanciaflamme beyond Retaliation's line of sight by defecting the force of each explosion – with another explosion. This ability is difficult to use as obviously striking a target one can not see is inaccurate. Nonetheless, Retaliation can easily redirect the force of any particular Lanciaflamme with more of the same – pelting enemies trying to hide from him.
Phoenix Blade: Another name befitting function, with the Phoenix Blade Retaliation wraps a tight cluster of either flame or even straight plasma over any part of his Staves or his Suit an extends it into the form of a blade in order to deal straightforward (and extreme) thermal damage to a target attempting to get close to him. The blade itself burns at similar temperature to Retaliation's aural abilities.
Spell Buffs -
Lanciaflamme Burst: A smaller and more compact Lanciaflamme intended for one singular purpose – using the force of Retaliation's own explosive attacks to enhance his own speed, mobility, and melee attack power. Each Burst dramatically increases the speed and force behind Retaliation's movements but there is an implied limitation – accelerating and decelerating oneself with small explosions is not an action that can be canceled. Thus Lanciaflamme Burst is only used in times of dire need or decisive action. It is especially potent used in conjunction with Time Alter.
Phoenix Soul: As part of his journey to understand and control his powers Retaliation uses his own Subversion Field in order to absorb the thermal energy of his own explosions. As his Suit and Staves are constructed of tungsten specifically alloyed to withstand the kinetic force of his own attacks, this collective set of precautions is referred to as Phoenix Soul. For situations in which Retaliation anticipates needing to use Lanciaflamme within close proximity to himself he has provided his own protection so he can do so without fear.
Dynamic Strike: With his understanding of thermodynamics comes a great understanding of how to manipulate the potential kinetic energy within his own body. In rare cases where particular armor proves resistant to his flames, bullets, psionics, and basically everything else but raw physical strength Retaliation is not without recourse. By focusing all of the potential kinetic energy of his body into a single point he can deliver a single blow with the approximate force of a collision with a bullet train at full speed upon a target. Because this ability relies on the total mass of potential energy being focused it has very little effect in a bullet and is most potent in melee combat. The more of his potential energy he chooses to focus, the stronger its effect.
Psychokinetics/Subversion Field:
A sub-discipline of and primary design of the Pyrokinetic Arts he developed is Retaliation's intense Psychokinetics and the resulting Subversion Field they create. Consistently present in even the most basic form of manipulation of energy, Retaliation's Psychokinesis allows him the capability of manipulating objects via psionic force around him in extravagant ways. Whether its dematerializing non-organic matter and changing its composition in a system not far off from alchemy or manipulating energy fields or throwing physical objects (up to 1,500 lbs) with little to no issue. Psychokinetics is the core building block of Retaliation's powerful arsenal. With it he is able to manipulate thermodynamic principles of affected objects to create powerful effects.
The Subversion Field builds atop that sturdy foundation by not only restructuring the inorganic matter but also by using his Thermodynamic control to subvert the heat of the objects which surround him – including his own flames. This gathered energy is then used to create a particular type of unstable “cold” plasma around his body. With the correct reactants added that cold plasma field can be made temporarily solid – at which point Retaliation can manipulate it directly with his Psychokinetic abilities. Due to the intense heat of the plasma and the nature of a psychokinetic field – anyone attempting to close in on Retaliation would likely be detected and engaged by a 5,000-degree Celsius plasma bolt the moment they penetrate his barrier.
The Subversion Field is typically limited to a radius of about ten feet around him in every direction.
Thermo-Dynamic Mastery: Archive City, also known as the most Academic infrastructure on earth, was where Retaliation spent his formative years. When he was not learning how to temper and control his Pyrokinetics, he was hard at work studying. Due to his dedication and earnest studies - Retaliation happens to carry numerous degrees in the physics field – as well as a few accreditations for his work in the field of Thermodynamics – including three Ph.D’s (Theoretical Quantum Physics, Chemistry and Thermodynamic Engineering) centered around the study of Thermodynamics.
Thanks to his unique skill-set, Retaliation was able to turn theories into fact by applying years and years of research into his mastery over his own Pyrokinetic background. Due to this, the laws of Thermodynamics and all if the properties therein are at his disposal and mostly seen in the use of his flames.
Pyrokinetic Inversion/Arctic Flame: Due to further mastery of his powers – and thanks to the science team of Academy Island - Retaliation has learned a way to invert his powers over flame in a unique way. While fire is indeed hot, and Retaliation's flame is no different – Pyrokinetic Inversion allows Retaliation the ability to displace the heat aspect of his fire/flames and reverse the flow of atoms to create what is known as “Arctic Flame”. “Arctic Flame”, as the name implies, is a type of Fire that freezes instead of burns while maintaining the physical construction of an actual fire. When the heat is displaced, his flames (which are normal in color on a regular basis) shift colors to blue. Aspects of this type of flame are – as the name implies – below absolute zero and beyond and can mimic the opposite aspects of the fire from which it came (IE: If his maximum heat decay is rated at 6,000c then his Arctic Flame resonates at a maximum of -6,000c). This type of flame can also be integrated within Retaliation's Ember Aura.
Ember Aura: A unique reaction to Retaliation's intense psychic presence is the strange visual of embers rising off of his form at all times. As if the little cinders themselves originated from his body, the visual representation would be a soft snowfall of glowing red particles dancing around his form in all directions (outward 5 – 10 Feet). Because of the unique properties of his manipulation, Retaliation can pull the heat directly from these embers and create flames from the smallest spark alone. Additionally, the intensity of the embers can be dulled or enhanced at will, allowing for a small speckling to a massive downfall (similar to a blizzard) all around him.
The heat of such embers can also be intensified when a number of cinder are accumulated into a mass and manipulated by Retaliation's Pyrokinesis. Thanks to this reaction, Retaliation always has a source of flame.
Subsequently, his Ember Aura can also act as a defensive field by manipulating the density and flow of the embers, Retaliation can engulf himself in a field of heat decay that melts most mundane (Non-Magical/enhanced) Projectiles or reduces them to ash. However, for those objects with enhancements, Retaliation can supplement his own Psychokinetic energy into his Subversion Field for defense.
Time Alter:
One of the greatest manifestations of Retaliation's mastery of thermodynamics comes in the form of the ability coyly named “Time Alter.” Time Alter, as implied by the name, is an ability that manipulates time in the form of accelerating or decelerating (stagnating) time on an internal level. The differing states of manipulation occur on command allowing for two separate types of Time Alter that he's nicknamed “Black Flash” and “Red Menace.” Both of these ability forms are entirely limited to Retaliation's own body as its range of effect wraps around his own physical body and whatever attacks are generated from that body.
It functions by encasing his own body in a chroniton field produced when he touches one or both of his Chrono Staves. Retaliation is able to manipulate the flow of internal time within his body and all connected physical movements of his limbs. Literally speeding up or slowing down his own movements within himself for a few seconds. However Time Alter in either form does not effect the outside world; its reach purely affecting himself and any attacks originating from his own body. This, incidentally, means Lanciaflamme (even its Burst form) is not enhanced by Time Alter. As a failsafe Time Alter can be stopped by the user at any time as it puts considerable stress on the body.
The variants of Time Alter are:
Black Flash: Black Flash is the name for the variant responsible for accelerating Retaliation's internal and external processes. This process occurs by speeding up the flow of his blood, hemoblobin, metabolism, and muscle fibers simultaneously – allowing him to move faster then the human eye can typically see. This does not mean he cannot be seen with the naked eye, only that it would be difficult for those with unaugmented vision to keep up. This enhanced speed is a direct consequence of him accelerating time by a few seconds within himself. This accelerated movement allows him to make split second reactions and evasions at speeds most would consider superhuman.
The degree of this increase is deliniated by how much time Retaliation is increasing, which he does in tiers. Normally he can achieve running speeds of 50 km/h, with a Double Black Flash that increases to 100 km/h, Triple Black Flash goes up to 150 km/h, and Final Black Flash taking him up to 200 km/h. Each tier of the ability denotes an additional second of increased time – beginning with two and increasing to five. However the ability can only be used for brief periods of not more then two to ten seconds of time to the outside world.
Red Menace: Red Menace is the counterpoint to Black Flash in that it stagnates time within Retaliation's body for a set period of time. During this period of time all of Retaliation's internal processes are slowed as the time in which they would be operating are slowed. This ablity is not tactfully useful in most situations so it is rarely employed but when it is it is often used as an emergency control of his own powers. As Retaliation's powers are based on heat; yet too much heat will send his powers spiraling out of control the only time Red Menace is ever employed is to slow down his own internal entropy and prevent his own powers from consuming him.
Section III – Weaponry, Equipment:
Cryogenic Combat Suit: Ironically in his adventures on Academy Island before his accident, Retaliation discovered that the best way to make really hot flames was to cool yourself as much as possible. To this end he designed, tested, and constructed a personalized suit of combat armor designed to keep his body as cool as possible. The Cryogenic Combat Suit serves a vital function for Retaliation's powers as without it he would simply keep heating up until his body was enveloped in a super heated plasma cloud he could only barely control.
Chrono Staff x2: Essentially large Psionic Energy Crystals infused with chronotons and wrapped in a study tungsten alloy staff – these weapons were chosen specifically for their compatibility with Retaliation's powers. Each Staff can project flames from either tip and their tungsten shell allows them to react with Retaliation's Subversion Field whenever the need arises.
Psionic Energy Crystals x12: Retaliation can infuse special crystals with his own psionic energy and use that energy to buff up his Pyrokinetic and Psychokinetic attacks. Each Crystal is expended after three uses. The extent of the psionic buffer is limited to the amount of concentration Retaliation devotes to each attack. Never exceeding a straight doubling of the ability's potential outside of Time Alter.
Section IV – Biography:
Sent to Archive City at a young age to learn how to control his Pyrokinetic abilities, Retaliation found himself deeply enjoying the academic lifestyle that he found in Archive City. He excelled quickly in his education and was praised as a prodigy. That praise, however, turned into a curse. Ultimately in college he tried to impress his mentor of the time, Voltz, however that ended in a tragic accent that maimed Retaliation. Enduring a long period of rehabilitation; Retaliation could only watch as Vertex dismantled Voltz's organization. When they offered to assist in his rehabilitation Retaliation reluctantly agreed. In the end he profited greatly from his association with Vertex, finally gaining true mastery over his Pyrotechnic Arts and becoming an effective agent.
Clarence looked across the symmetrical and relatively warm arena before him analytically. On its face this arena seemed purpose-built for battle; its square construction and segmented sight lines perfect for forming kill boxes for the defender as one might expect to see in a medieval castle. But the hazy orange light permeating the field told Clarence that this was no castle. The utter silence also seemed to confirm that whatever battle had once been fought here had long since faded into memory. Yet even now Clarence found himself summoned to wage yet one more battle here in this alien battlefield. Further exploration of the battlefield quickly confirmed he was no longer on the Earth as he knew it – the arena porch sections each had computer screens with imaging technology much more advanced then the relatively primitive plasma screen technologies he was used to seeing.
Indeed he could see around himself the center of the arena hosted a quadruple set of platforms with a fifth at the center hosting a pillar that extended upwards to the orange hazy clouds above them. Around him were four more L-shaped porches overlooking the central platforms and past that raised porch was a long ring. Access between each section was open with few real avenues to avoid being spotted by one's enemy. This is an arena where long battles are discouraged. Clarence thought to himself; then smirked behind his helmet. It's about time.
From Clarence's point of view this arena suited him fine. There was nothing here that seemed to hinder his powers, and so as long as his opponent wasn't allowed to effectively use their cover then he shouldn't have too many problems fighting here. However, taking stock of his past battles and what had worked and what had not Clarence came to the realization that he needed to take better advantage of the terrain around himself. And that was when he realized the first problem with this place – it was impervious to his powers. It was extremely problematic to utilize the terrain if he couldn't manipulate it. Fortunately he had time to evaluate his surroundings and come up with a potential solution to that problem.
Clarence's own aura flashed to life as he extended his staves outwards. He continued to roil up his Subversion Field as he returned to his original starting position. Once he had returned to his starting point he cast one last look about the battlefield. Then he spun up his Chrono Staves until they were fully charged with chronotons and palmed them in hand. All that remained now was the arrival of his opponent.
Of course it is interesting that Mimring was apparently unaware of the great danger he faced in trying to fuse with Jason under these conditions. Arctic Flame had been and still was sucking the heat out of the arena at an atomic level – a persistent effect Mimring was now racing towards the heart of. In its static or lightning forms Mimring would nonetheless be extremely vulnerable to the effects of such rapid cooling since neither form could generate enough heat to stave off the effect for a safe merger to occur. Instead of safely merging with Jason as intended Mimring would have simply been frozen in place suspended in mid-air while trying to reach his partner.
Even if the freezing effects of many seconds of Arctic Flame casting somehow failed to have the cumulative effect necessary to stop Mimring in its place Clarence was already planning out his next move against Jason.
First though he had to do something about those pesky wings of his. To that end while the dragons attempted to merge Clarence carried out his original plan: a two-pronged assault as he shifted his Magma Blossom Flail to target Jason and fired off his next burst of Arctic Flame. The Blossom Flail now spread out around and above Jason, taking on the form of a dozen long hooks clearly intended to grapple Jason and push the great beast back towards the ground. The very same ground where the Arctic Flame now swept up even as Jason took to the air. The Arctic Flame literally left a column of ice in their path as they traveled vertically, seeking to entomb the dragons forever.
Whatever Jason and Mimring did next, Clarence had hoped to sufficiently distract Jason from what came next as he lifted his staff slightly to adjust for Jason's movements into the air. Once he was certain his next shot would be properly led to connect with his target he slipped into Time Alter – Final Black Flash as a searing dot of plasma began growing on the tip of his staff. Instead of a new series of Arctic Flames this time Clarence would use his Phoenix Blade ability – greatly extending its range through his Subversion Field. More importantly for Clarence at such high temperatures his Phoenix Blade would be visually indistinct from his Arctic Flames and thus even if Jason or Mimring saw it coming they should believe it to be just one more Arctic Flame.
Taking full advantage of the speed increase Time Alter afforded any attack originating from his person, Clarence knew this spear of burning plasma would reach Jason in less than a second. Aimed for the great dragon's head it was Clarence's intention to cut Jason in two with or without his armor. The Phoenix Blade was kept small and intensely hot so as to burn through whatever it touched as quickly as possible. Once he was ready it was all Clarence could do but watch as the Phoenix Blade arced through the air – seeking Jason's armored hide.
Clarence was naturally focused on the search for Mimring since he had no way of knowing Jason existed until he revealed himself. When that moment came and a blackened dragon began to grow before him it naturally drew Clarence's eye – and his ire. Clarence did not enjoy cat-and-mouse games such as they had been engaged in. As glad as he was that his prey presented himself and proved he wasn't simply going paranoid – the moment Clarence saw a dragon appear he immediately attacked. He converted nearly all of the heat within his Subversion Field into a fresh batch of Arctic Flames and pointed his staff in Jason's direction before slipping into Time Alter again.
While all this was occurring Jason was roaring – the powerful roar might have failed to intimidate Clarence - but it did shatter much of brittle surfaces surrounding Jason currently under the effects of Arctic Flame. This created a beautiful shower of ice and crystal particles in the air for a moment sparkling in the blue highlights of Clarence's magic as the Arctic Flames gathered at the tip of his staff while Jason roared. A quick thrust of said staff as Time Alter's effects came to an end propelled the Arctic Flame forwards quickly and unerringly towards the target before Jason even had a chance to issue forth his flames.
Even should Arctic Flame fail to reach Jason before his flames emerged; with the effects of the previous round of Arctic Flame still persisting it was unlikely that Jason's flames would be sufficient to block or even deflect the renewed attack on his person. The lightning bolt which streaked away from Clarence was noted but for the moment disregarded as Clarence focused on amassing a new and intense batch of flames surrounding himself in preparation for his next move if it became necessary.
The Blossom flail was aided greatly in its task of destroying the temple by Jason's roar. The sounds of cracking in the ceiling began to grumble as the roof supports sustained damage past their midpoints. Clarence made no effort to stop this slow decimation of the battlefield.