PM to join [Bronze Woods]Showdown at Sundown (Crypt, Hisoka)

[Crypt]

Crypt landed in a low crouch, holding his wooden sword out as he faced Yohan. However, the fall caused him to wheel his arms wildly in an attempt to keep balance. Failing that, he fell on his back, landing rather painfully on a rather inconveniently-placed rock. Ah, what did I do to deserve this damn rock? That's going to leave a bruise. Stifling a groan, Crypt got to his feet as he watched Yohan recover from his well-struck blow. Smiling slightly, he called out a reply to Yohan's compliment. “You too, friend Yohan. I had forgotten that the Zith had wings until you flew.” After waiting a few seconds for Yohan to commence the next round of the spar, Crypt decided to take the initiative and dashed towards Yohan, aiming a direct blow towards his right arm before moving slightly to his right in an attempt to grasp his wings.

[Hisoka]

Hisoka winced inwardly whenever a blow was exchanged between the two males. She did not enjoy the duel, but she did not allow it to cloud her awareness of it, and as it progressed, she felt an undercurrent of something she could not name. Hisoka scanned her surroundings, trying to get a sent, she sniffed. Nothing. "Strange..." she thought to herself, perturbed. Little did she know that she was feeling the usage of Djed from the two duelists, which seemed to raise goose-bumps along her skin.

She turned her attention back to the pair, though she kept her senses alert for any threat that may appear. She was just in time to see Crypt's wooden stick... sword, strike Yohan, sending him reeling with a shocked expression playing across his features. She stood there for a moment, wondering what had occurred, replaying it in her mind. Hisoka hadn't even had the time to wince in sympathy. She met Maras' eyes, and shrugged comically, not worried about Yohan, for he seemed to have recovered quickly.

She returned her gaze to the duel just as Crypt charged at Yohan, feinting a blow to his opponent's right arm, which was so quick that it was a blur, hitting its target with a crack. She watched as he went for the Zith's lovely black wings which she still admired. She hope that her companion would not injure them too severely. If he did, well... she would have to stop them. Not that she objected necessarily to injuries. It was just that she felt her instincts edging closer to her conscious mind, on the brink of taking over. Hisoka unconsciously began leaning forwards, whether she was eager to join or halt it before they caused permanent damage, she could not fathom. Violence had that effect on Kelvic wolves.

[Yohan]

A devious smile crossed Yohans face as Crypt began his charge. Forgotten my wings eh? A vicious idea formed in Ziths mind. Well Crypt, I'll be sure you remember them in the future.

Crypt was on him now. His sword swiping towards his arm. The Zith jumped backwards, but the strike still hit. Yohan winced slightly, but his eyes never left Crypt. And so, Yohan noticed Crypts grab at his wings.

"Nice try!" Yohans low grumble of words escaped him a hard beat of his wings. As his body lifted into the air over Crypt, he drew his legs in close. When he could feel gravity once again take hold of him, he extended his legs slightly, placing one of his feet on each of Crypts shoulders. Once contact was made, he pushed down and backwards hard. He then lifted himself back into the sky, circling overhead before landing once again, a few feet away from his opponent.

[Crypt]

And a tight grasp on his - PETCH! Crypt cursed silently in his mind as Yohan used him as a platform from which to set off and fly. Even as Yohan flew over the Drykas, Crypt kept an alert eye on the Zith, watching and attempting to predict his flight path. Turning his body, Crypt faced Yohan as the latter landed on the ground a few feet away. "If you're going to do that all day - flying up high and not trying to attack me - we may as well stop this now." Crypt was starting to pant, taking shallower breaths than before at a higher frequency. The effort of using Flux for the few blows was starting to get to him. If he continued doing so, sooner or later his arm's muscles would be too strained to do anything except flop around uselessly by his side for the rest of the day (and probably more). Nevertheless, he would need any advantage against a foe with the advantage of flight. Standing firm in his stance, lowering his body's centre of gravity such that he would be more stable and hence less likely to fall over, Crypt waited for Yohan to make the next move, as said sparring partner was currently dictating the course of the match with his ability of flight.

[Hisoka]

Hisoka watched hoping that it wouldn't be much longer until the end of this 'duel', for if it did not, she would have to leave the clearing for a reprieve. She leaned against Maras and stroked his flank, for support or for comfort, she didn't know.

A small bird flitted by, twigs and something that resembled hair hanging from its beak. She watched during the lull in the fight before her. It was one of those birds that remained in the same area, even during winter. "Preparing for winter..." Hisoka wondered if she should do the same, find a den and settle down for the- No. She shook her head in attempt to clear the stray traces of instinct rising to her mind. She raised her gaze to where Yohan flew, observing his landing, and then analyzed the situation.

Her sensitive ears discerned the quick, shallow breaths emanating from Crypt's direction. "Exhaustion... weakness...", she thought as she began looking at the duel as a predator would assess prey. She was so absorbed that she did not even realize it, nor noticed when Maras' ears flicked and his nostrils flare. He seemed to have noticed something was off with her. Only when she felt the bump of his muzzle did she look at him. She paused for a moment, still as a statue, before slowly moving to the edge of the clearing. She regretted that though she was learning human/zith forms of fighting, she could not control herself better.

Finally, Hisoka sat, leaned against a tree, pulled her knees up, and rested her chin on her crossed arms. She heard Crypt's words, and heartened slightly, for they indicated that the duel would most like not last for much longer.
She prepared herself to bare through it till the end.

[Yohan]

The smile on Yohans face was gone now. Replacing it was focused stare. He listened to Crypts words, as well as his breathing. While he, too, was getting weary, he was not nearly as exhausted as the man across from him.

"Tired already my friend?" he said through a playful laugh. His eyes however, were not playful at all. This fight was started because Crypt challenged his strength back at the tavern. He underestimated him. A deadly mistake for many. But Yohan wanted to prove to him that he was not as strong as he believed.

Strength... Yohans deep blue eyes scanned his enemy thoroughly. Why is this man so strong? The man was able to see when he used his Hypnotism. Perhaps he had other secrets?

Yohan spoke as he circled around the man. Arrogant as he was, he discarded all form and stance. His voice, mirroring his arrogance.

"Tell me Crypt, before I finish this fight, what is your secret?" As he ended his sentence, he rushed the man, using his wings to once again propel him even faster forward. His arm closer to the mans sword went up, ready to defend himself. But his other hand lashed out, grasping for the mans throat.

"You strike with a force that a man of your stature should not be able to do. Why is that?"

[Crypt]

"Perhaps, perhaps..." Rotating slowly on the spot, Crypt continued to observe Yohan cautiously, watching for any movement - or even a twitch of the Zith's hands or wings. "My secret? Curious, that you should notice such a small increase. But my secret will remain a secret, sadly, for it would not be one if I told you." Already prepared for Yohan's next move, Crypt stood firm as the Zith approached him swiftly. Raising his wooden sword, Crypt brought it down firmly on the outstretched hand aiming for his throat, then dashed towards Yohan under the aforementioned hand, brushing it aside, lowering his body slightly such that he was able to 'slash' directly at Yohan's chest.

[Hisoka]

Hisoka watched intently as they exchanged blows, her nails began digging into the sides of her knees as she began clenching and unclenching her hands around them. She took no notice fixed on the two before her. She growled under her breath when she saw how Yohan had aimed for Crypt's throat.
Though she admired the Zith's wings, she felt closer to the Drykas, for he had been the one to find her and had taken care of her. Luckly, her growl was muffled by her arms, though her body hummed with tension.

She closed her eyes briefly, pressing her closed eyes against her arms and released a deep breath. Hisoka opened them again to see the tip of the wooden sword whip up in front of Yohan, whether it had hit its intended target unclear to her, though she her ears picked up a faint sound. "What... was that?" she thought to herself, momentarily releasing all of her pent up tension as she froze, her clear blue eyes focused on Yohan's chest, flicking now and then to Crypt's wooden sword.

[Yohan]

OOCI hope you don't mind, I decided to get a few hits in before we finished the thread. Nothing too damaging though, I promise.

Yohan grew angry...fast. He did not like it when he did not get the answers he wanted. He allowed the wooden sword to once again strike his chest. For a moment, a thought flickered through his head.

This is the second time his sword has hit home. Had this been a real sword, he would have cut me in two in the first few moments of this fight. A wicked smile creased on his face. But this is not a real sword.

As quickly as the thought came, it was gone again, and his eyes glazed over. Something in his head snapped. Yohan was overcome with a primal fury, the likes of which he never experienced before. And with a bestial howl he began his assault.

With Crypt so close, Yohan reached down with his left hand, grabbing Crypts hair. He wretched him up from his crouched position and send a solid punch to side of his face. Following through he shifted his weight to bring the back of his hand along the opposite side of his head. Then, the hand that delivered the beating once again reached for his neck. He latched on and began to squeeze, lifting Crypt into the air over his head.

"You would do well to learn your place Human!" he shouted as he tossed the man away to his right. His back was now to Hisoka, but he did not care. He stepped forward, placing his foot squarely on the mans chest. Beneath the wrap on his left arm, his wrist glowed with the power of Leth as he sent a thought to the Kelvic. Approach me dog, and he dies.

The moment he sent the message to Hisoka, his eyes widened. Looking down, he realized what he had done and the things he said. He stepped back slowly, appalled by himself.

"This fight is over." He turned to leave, but before he lifted into the air he stopped. His back turned to the Drykas his voice was low. The regret in his tone was almost tangible.

"You said more like me dwell in the land of your people. Which way should I head to find them."

[Crypt]

OOCNo problem. I'll let Hisoka end the thread then. In what seemed like moments Yohan went berserk, assaulting Crypt with all the fury that one would have associated with the Myrians of Falyndar - or the bestial instincts of a Zith. Crypt had no way to respond, taking all the blows he could, rolling with them as best as he could, but in the end it overwhelmed the Drykas. Only one hit he could get in on the furious Zith. The hand that he had struck would be unable to function properly for a few days, as Crypt felt reasonably certain that he had sprained his wrist and given it a large bruise, painful to the touch. As Crypt lay on the leaf-covered ground in a supine position, panting heavily as he watched Yohan planted his foot on his chest, applying some pressure. And then his eyes cleared, and he stepped away from Crypt. He's finally calmed down - he's disappointed with himself. Do I perhaps detect a touch of anguish, of disgust? Crypt brushed away the leaves from his body, sitting up with a loud groan. Spitting away some blood (For he had bitten his cheek when Yohan punched his face), Crypt gazed at the appalled Zith, a serene and calm expression on his face. "Human? You are a Zith. We humans have been around longer than your race has; even before the Valterrian we ruled vast swathes of land." The pain was extremely annoying, not to mention distracting, but he had had worse. The Zith he did not fear, for he had faced more fearsome and terrifying foes than Yohan - an immense, gargantuan sea-serpent - the Balnag - two years ago. "Very well. You win. But not without sacrificing something. Is it the first time you have lost yourself in this Bloodrage? It appears that you have a habit of wanting to know others' secrets. Not an issue, for I do have that same habit, but it would be most prudent to learn the virtue of being able to accept defeat." Once Crypt had regained his breath, he got to his feet unsteadily, having to lean against a nearby oak tree for support. He bowed low to Yohan as a mark of respect. And perhaps a hint of mockery. "You must be a young Zith - if you were at least twenty you would have learnt to exert some measure of control over yourself. To enjoy battle is nothing wrong - the Myrians of Falydar do so nearly everyday, judging from what traders from Alvadas tell me. But to lose yourself so completely such that you also lose all rational thought? No, that would be unwise. But perhaps time spent among your people will do you some good. Go south of Syliras to the vast plains of grass that cover most of Cyphrus. But be extremely wary; the Sea of Grass is not for the faint-hearted. Wild animals, even dire animals, roam the Sea in search of their next meal. If you are not a Drykas, you will most certainly be found by my kin. And they dislike the Zith. Even if you were to slip pass the Webs of the Drykas, there is also a problem. Finding your kin. Granted, you may have senses that I do not, but to find the well-hidden dwellings of the Zith may be beyond you. Also, avoid the people with purple skin - they call themselves Akalak. They live in Riverfall, a city on the coast, and they detest Zith. I have heard rumors of a large settlement of Zith living in ruins located betwixt the Syliran region and Cyphrus, so you may want to look for it."