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Rayen -> RE: =EC 2015= Twilight Arena (8/28/2015 11:08:12)
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Back to the wall, Shud watched as the usually quick-footed assassin rose shakily from the ground, having just become visible again. The man seemed genuinely pained, but he wasn’t fooled by this likely only temporary or intentional display of giddiness. Hitting the ground hard can do that to any man, but won’t bother him long; and, by now, Shud had enough respect for his opponent to know that this was not just “any man”.
The assassin kept his eyes closed as he straightened, likely avoiding the already dizzying effects of the lighting of Twilight Arena, then took in a deep breath, spat blood and spoke calmly, meeting Shud’s eyes, “Is that all?”
Shud grinned. Much as he hated to admit it, he was beginning to like this small, shady fellow. They were alike in many ways - strong, determined, self-confident. And now both injured and missing weapons. Was that all? No, not even close. Shud laughed loudly, voicing his thoughts, “You’ve gotta be kiddin’. I’m just gettin’ warmed up, little fellah.”
It was true, though. He had hardly had an opportunity to display his power at all, so far. He’d missed every attack, and had only survived that lest attack on sheer luck. It was time for new tactics, but Shud wasn’t keen on the idea. Shud hated assassins. But he hated magic, too. He hated people who used it too freely and hated using it himself, as it left him feeling tired and weak. In fact, if Shud ever bothered to consider it, he would likely discover that he hated a number of things. However, sometimes unpleasantries must be endured in order to achieve one’s goals. This fight was drawing on too long. The longer it lasted, the higher the chance that some trick or other of the assassins would slip through Shud’s guard and end his life. The time and necessity for the use of magic was drawing near.
Yes, Shud might create small, rippling shockwaves that emanate outward from each footstep, causing unsuspecting passersby to trip or weak structures to tumble; yes, Shud could kick or throw larger rocks much further than any normal man, through the use of primitive Earth magic; yes, Shud could manipulate the pure-Earth gemstones, that were now as much a part of him as any limb, causing them to float or form any shape. But what nobody knew or had seen, what Shud’s first and secret ability was, could be described simply as Bonemancy.
There was a reason Shud had always been so strong; why he’d grown so fast, tall and bulky. “It’s not natural”, his Aunt, originally an Outsider to the family, had said. And she had been correct. When surrounded by Earth containing the necessary minerals for bone development or oxygen transfer in the blood, Shud could absorb nutrients through his skin and fuse them with himself. At first this happened subconsciously due to Shud’s desire to grow strong like the rest of his family, but on his fifth birthday, he broke his wrist trying to wield a large mallet incorrectly. The wrist was splinted neatly by his grandmother and he was told he wouldn't be able to use it for at least a few weeks. But when he woke the next morning, it was perfectly back to normal. Curious, he intentionally broke a finger, splinted it himself, and waited to see what happened. Immediately he could sense weak magic flowing through his bare feet to his finger, so willed it to strengthen. Within minutes, the finger was at full strength.
Over years of experimenting, his magical ability growing with his understanding of it, he found that not only could he heal himself, but he could, merely by focusing, break one of his own bones or move a limb incredibly fast without using its muscles. Soon this extended to breaking other’s bones, though it sickened him to do so, as he lacked the cold-heartedness and rage that he was now famous for, and which he now brought to the Elemental Championships.
Yes, the time for Bonemancy was fast approaching.
Shud was quickly broken from his deep thought by fast-approaching hoofbeats. It seemed that the mounted competitor was racing directly for both the assassin and himself! Reading his body to dodge an attack, Shud pushed his back against the smoothly curving wooden wall, hoping that the darker shadows there would somehow enshroud his gigantic form, allowing him to escape this charge. If the assassin was killed by the rider, he’d be furious…but he’d also be somewhat relieved. He wouldn’t mind a few minutes to recover from the burning, aching pain of his arm. The pain, he imagined, was equal to rubbing a hot coal against his gums. An angering pain that made Shud want to lash out, though to do so may be to cause even greater pain or injury.
As the hoofbeats neared, Shud noticed that the rider, a woman with short, spiky hair was ignoring both he and his current foe, keeping her eyes straight ahead, as if fleeing something, although nothing seemed to be following.
The rider and the intimidating man clad in the night sky who now rode with her came to a stop somewhere to his right and the man began chanting, but Shud kept his eyes on the assassin, waiting for him to make the first move.
Shud was in pain, angry, and had his back to a wall. His options were growing slim, but in a wave of inspiration, he squatted down, temporarily reforming the gemstone neck-plate as a small crowbar and prised two floorboards up, tossing them in Shadow Toy’s direction and quickly placing his left foot onto the tamped earth beneath, while the floorboards distracted his foe. Then he straightened and impatiently called out, “If yer scared o’ me, let me club yer head in. No need to go hidin’ away. Fight me like a man and I’ll let ya die like one!”
It was the assassin’s move, provided the mounted pair didn’t try something first. With Earth finally beneath at least one foot, and his mind prepared for using magic, Shud was ready to crush whoever stood in his way.
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