Lore: Destroy all that Binds

Kyosuke · Post by **Kyosuke** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:34 am

Jhaptal nodded, trading attacks with the elf. "I found yours interesting enough, so I had Lady Reya commission a pair for me," he replied. The elf's eyes unnerved him, not because of what they contained, he was well used to being looked at by eyes like that when he lived in his old village. No, what unnerved him was how the current Soran was so much of a change from the old one. Something had happened when Reya unlocked Soran's memories, and the ninja was readying himself for a tougher fight than he had expected.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:05 am

Soran blocked a blow from one of Jhaptal's blades with his own, feeling his arm nearly buckle under the pressure. Somehow his reflexes were growing sharper and sharper, his memories giving him back elements of his skill that came only from experience, but his body was a step behind. His muscles weren't nearly up to their potential; all his movements took conscious effort to achieve. "Not bad, for replicas," he said stiffly, spinning a swift blow toward Jhaptal's chest. His blades swirled through the space between them with perfect accuracy, almost too swift to see but without much strength behind them.

Kyosuke · Post by **Kyosuke** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:15 am

Jhaptal grunted as his slash was interrupted by Soran's block. "I don't know what the original metal ones looked like," Jhaptal replied. Of course, this talking did have a purpose. Jhaptal recognized Soran's superior skills with the weapons. By talking he was hoping to throw the elf's concentration off. "The blacksmith worked off of Lady Reya's memory of your weapons." He brought up his hand to intercept the stab, bringing his palm forward to stop the elbow from advancing any further. Then he made a quick downward slash at Soran's face with his free arm.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:29 am

Soran's focus wavered, a pang of anger shooting through him. Reya had given him these weapons? He was angry, not at her but himself. He shouldn't have been sensitive to the sting of her betrayal, not any more. The moment's hesitation gave Jhaptal the opening to attack before he could defend. When his focus came back, he saw metal gleaming down at him, and dodged back. The blade sliced his cheek from up near his forehead to close to his chin, just missing his eyebrow. He was lucky it hadn't done more than just that.

Throwing his weight into his blades, he threw several heavy strikes, letting them visibly tire with each blow. It was a feint; he wanted Jhaptal to come off his guard. He couldn't afford to waste any more energy on casual strikes. If they swung at each other till one of them couldn't go any more, Soran knew he would be first.

Kyosuke · Post by **Kyosuke** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:40 am

Jhaptal didn't have time to feel satisfied with the wound, it wasn't a mortal one. Then he was met with a rush of heavy attacks, which grew weaker with every pass. It was a believable act, he had a feeling the healer girl had something to do with the fact that he was now able to move under his own power again, but more than likely he was still weaker than he would be at full strength.

However, Jhaptal was not one to relent until his target was dead, so his guard did not drop. Instead he took advantage of the weaker swing to knock one away in order to meet Soran with his own barage of heavy swings and slashes.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:51 am

Soran's guard went back up as Jhaptal's stronger swings almost cost him another wound. Even though he was exaggerating his weakness, he was out of breath for real. But Soran knew these weapons better than anyone, inside and out. He waited for Jhaptal to throw a horizontal attack and cut up with one of his own blades, knocking the ninja's weapon off balance and wrenching his arm upward. In the opening it created, he shot in with his other blade and swiped into Jhaptal's upper arm, cutting deep enough to sever the muscle. It would be difficult for Jhaptal to move that blade with any precision.

Kyosuke · Post by **Kyosuke** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:56 am

Jhaptal grunted in pain as many of the muscles in his arm were severed. Jhaptal almost wished that he had not forgone carrying a weapon he was more familiar with as he jumped back and in the same moment reached into his belt pouch to bring out three shuriken, which he threw at the rogue as he landed. His left arm hung limply by his side, the ninja not wanting to damage it more than he had to by moving it unnecessarily.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:07 am

Soran's blades shot up and deflected two of the shuriken, which ricocheted to the floor. THe third struck his shoulder, but stopped at the bone, making it a shallow wound. He didnt bother to remove it, launching back at Jhaptal with what appeared to be a frontal attack, but instead he swooped low to the ground and spun around him so that he crouched back to back with Jhaptal. RIsing so that his elbow was level with the ninja's midback, he thrust it backwards, the long pointed tip of the blade aimed like a dagger for his flesh.

Reya watched their fierce battle with concern, keeping one eye on Mizuki. If something happened to Jhaptal, she would be greatly displeased. She hadn't thought much about it before, but she had come to depend on him. She could care less about most of her servants, who were just tools she needed to achieve her spells and experiments, but Jhaptal she sincerely wanted around. He balanced her quite nicely. She began to consider whether the battle could be stopped in exchange for Soran's freedom, should it continue to fare poorly for Jhaptal. Men could be killed at any time, but they were not so easily brought back to life.

Kyosuke · Post by **Kyosuke** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:13 am

Jhaptal made a swing with his right arm as the rogue approached, but didn't expect him to duck down and spin to rise up behind the ninja. He felt the armblade scrape against his lower rib as he rolled forward to try and get away. This battle really wasn't going too well for him. His arm and the back along his lower ribs dripped blood on the floor as he prepared himself to meet the elf's next attack.

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:48 pm

Mizuki stayed close to Siren and Rai. She didn't know what to do as she watched both Soran and Jhaptal fight. They couldn't leave, not without Soran. She did keep a sharp eye on Reya though, if that woman tried anything she would end up with an arrow in her throat.

Mizuki still felt the flood of Soran's memories but they were receding and finding their respective places in her memory banks.

"Come on Soran.." she whispered. Willing him to keep on strong.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 4:06 pm

Soran didn't give Jhaptal any room to retreat. He followed him as he rolled away and drove his left blade into his shoulder, coming in with the other at his neck.

Reya watched the battle with growing apprehension. "Stop this!" she called out, hating the choice she had to make. "Lower your weapons, and you can leave here unharmed."

Mizuki · Post by **Mizuki** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:14 pm

Mizuki shot Reya a look. Was she trying to fool them? ...No, she had given up the bracelets for Soran without much fight. Mizuki found it hard to believe that Reya would let them go, but then again, there was probably something she wasn't seeing.

And she refused to look to make sure.

Kyosuke · Post by **Kyosuke** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:47 pm

Jhaptal felt the armblade stabbing into his left shoulder, rendering the arm even more useless than before. Fortuneately his reactions managed to kick in just in time and he shot his hand out to deflect the incoming arm so it would go in front of his neck instead of behind it. Instead he was in a position to be choked out as opposed to having his spine severed. That was the point where Reya interrupted, definitely noting her servant's complete disadvantage.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:59 pm

Soran heard Reya perfectly. He even believed her; she would accept defeat. But something was burning in his mind, telling him he didn't just want to stop. His anger was too strong; he wanted to keep fighting, to wring Jhaptal's neck until the life left his body. His arm bit hard against the ninja's throat as he pressed his other arm firmly to the ground, digging his knee into his back. He'd won, he knew he'd won...but unrelenting hatred burned in his eyes.

"Soran! I said stop, Soran," Reya pleaded, afraid of the look in his eyes. Her voice had changed from before; it sounded small and helpless, the way Soran remembered it. All of this had been meant to destroy the last trace of that shy, delicate person she'd been before, and now she found herself fully reverting to it. "That's enough!" she screamed.

Kyosuke · Post by **Kyosuke** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:02 pm

Jhaptal still had his hand in the way of the chokehold, so the elf wasn't quite cutting off his air, especially when he jammed his chin down to further prevent it. Still, the knee in his back and his injured arm being pinned down was taking its toll on the ninja's will power. He felt unconsciousness slowly creeping up on him.