Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jan 25, 2019 9:02:19 GMT -8
As Gavin kept his attention straight ahead, eyes focused upon the twilight terrain before him, he could still see the faint flashes of lightning. Already his influence over the environment was taking hold. It would be more than ready for when the time came to utilize it. If that didn't surprise her, he didn't know what would. The idea itself caused a small smirk to come to his face.
Suddenly, he felt Mariah's voice resonating within his mind. While familiar, there was something different about, something he couldn't quite place his finger on. Pushing the thought aside for now, he responded so as to keep her updated as to his plans. <<Apologies. Yes, I said a few miles, but it is closer to ten. Considering how faster we're moving, I didn't think it would be that noticeable. Then again, I'm holding back on our speed to keep it from being entirely uncomfortable for you. I'm not sure just how used to this you are. But we should only be a minute or so out now. Hang on.>> Hammering down on the throttle, the engine began to whirl faster and at a higher pitch as he began increasing their speed, looking to arrive sooner.
As he said, the remainder of the trip past in merely a minute. Bringing the bike to a stop, he waited for her to dismount before he followed suit. He powered down the systems as he stood next to the bike and watched it settle to the ground before grabbing hold of his bag. With a motion of his hand, he began walking. It was another minute or so before reached the area he had picked out. It was a large clearing devoid of any obstructions.
Setting the bag down, he looked back to her. "Here we are. I wanted a place that was flat and empty. That way this fight was a direct one on one encounter with no one gaining any particular advantage from the terrain. I want us on even ground with plenty of room to throw down. Believe it or not, finding the right spot was not that easy."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2019 20:20:17 GMT -8
Gavin's answer came, finally breaking his silence. She was more familiar than he realized, but what he didn't know wouldn’t kill him. Her growl was flown away behind her before it even had a chance to fill the air around her. A few miles at these speeds, however, and he should have arrived while she was still in meditation. At least now, he kicked up the speed and hastened their journey to his elected battleground, and the need to pry into his intentions was no longer a necessary measure. The moment he brought the speeder bike to a full stop, Mariah dismounted quickly, almost too gracefully and effortlessly as though she had done it a thousand times before. She spaced herself away from Gavin until he directed them to finish the trek on foot. In that minute of walking, she still remained quiet, as did he, until they reached the location. She wondered how he found this place. It was a distance from the Academy, so not one easily found, unless he had known of it prior. When he confirmed as much, the flicker of a half-smirk found her lips.
"Do you always put in that much effort when you know a woman is coming back to meet you?"
It was strange, how easily that question played off her lips, how easily their whole exchange within the training room took place. However, there was something more disconcerting to her: his choice of the location. Just as he said, it was flat and empty, and no way either of them could gain a particular advantage over the other. Primarily her. Then again, perhaps that was for the best. She didn't know what tricks he had up his sleeve, nor did she want him to get a good read on her. He may have stated in the training room that he wanted a place where they could both unleash a fuller extent of what they hid from prying eyes, but all the same, there were some things better left hidden until another time, another duel, if of course he proved to be worthy of it to her, and she with him. Despite all of her words playing otherwise, she knew better than to underestimate the opponent who brought her here.
Removing her cloak from her body, Mariah tossed it to off to the side, revealing the full armaments she brought with her. It had been nearly a year, yet she carried all of those familiar weapons she had shared with him that night. All were recognizable. All but one -- a bluish hilt, which hung on her belt next to her main saber. However, she didn't reach for any of them yet, and instead tread deeper towards the center of the clearing. What more, there was a different air about her, the way she carried herself, the whole of the way she looked in comparison to that single night. Old, war torn threads were replaced with a simplistic, yet still elegant attire, fitting for the battle ahead. And perhaps with the duel within her sights, she held a confidence and no longer attempted to remain hidden and stand within the shadows.
Turning her head to catch Gavin in her vision, Mariah turned slightly to face him. "So shall we cut to the chase?"
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,138
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jan 27, 2019 7:55:24 GMT -8
When Mariah made her comment regarding the effort regarding a woman, he turned his head to her. His gaze rested upon her for a few solid moments without a word or even a smirk. He hadn't even considered the possibility and began to contemplate if that was, indeed, a thing he did. Memories of women long past that he knew and interacted flashed within his mind. It wasn't long before he came up with the answer to the question, though he took a faint sharp breath when he actually stopped to see it. Offering her only a small smirk and the slightest of shrugs, he gave her the answer, though not the true depth he had just realized. "Not at all. Guess you're just a lucky girl."
His eyes then continued to watch her as his smirk faded. With her cloak gone, he saw that she had changed her attire from the ones prior. He could have only hoped she'd eventually find new ones that were so ravaged by time. Unlike before, though, his gaze remained on her for a few moments longer before turning to her weapons, whereas the weapons took his attention immediately the last time. All the same weapons adorned to her person, all except one. His head tilted a bit as he tried to examine it from where he stood. The main feature was the bluish tint to the hilt, something that wasn't a largely common feature by all the lightsaber he had seen in his time. Usually, they ranged from silver to black, occasionally possessing black chrome or even a white sheen. But a colored hilt was rare, especially one colored in blue. It made him wonder just where she got it or if she made it herself. Seeing the few that actually fell under her creation before, he doubted it was made by her hand. Little would he realize that it both was and wasn't.
When she spoke, his attention was directed straight back to her, noticing her gaze had shifted enough so that she could see him. Giving a nod, he followed behind her, leaving his bag of weapons behind for the moment. At the moment, it was clear to see that he kept none on his person, for now, keeping him completely disarmed. However, it didn't seem even remotely concerned about it. Taking a deep breath, he faced her, his left arm slipping behind his back and his right coming out low and off to the side. The stance was casual if not lazy in his appearance, almost seeming as if he was mocking her or not taking her seriously. After a moment, his head dropped slightly as his smirk grew. "Yes, do let's. But please, ladies first."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2019 11:06:21 GMT -8
More of his silence, and then something she could only assume was a half-hearted answer. Her eyes narrowed upon Gavin as she bit her lower lip thoughtfully. He really wasn't the same man she met at the Academy. She could only assume what plagued his mind now, and had the situation been any different, maybe she would have pushed to figure it out. Then again, wasn’t that uncharacteristic of her own self? And it wasn’t just the desire to find out what haunted him, but even the indulging in the word games and her own easiness with one she still stubbornly called a stranger. She did follow him over ten miles away from civilization, alone, where he very well could just attempt to bury her out in the clearing where no one would find her. Her gaze fell from Gavin, and with a deep breath, she pushed away those thoughts. Their current situation was this duel, and she wouldn’t allow him to get in her head in any way, even if it was her own doing in this moment.
It was too noticeable that he followed her unarmed into the clearing. His relaxed stance was still a stance nonetheless, so when he pushed for her to make the first move, it was almost like instinct for her to draw Nihilo from her belt and reveal the bright red blade. It's ominous, crackling hum filled the silence that she had refused to break. She could only imagine that he wanted to prove a point to her, from her earlier disapproval in the training area. To prove that he could take down any armed opponent without a weapon of his own. However, those games were not why she was here.
Mariah drew her saber out wide to her left, and with her right hand, she reached out with the Force, not for him, but for his bag of weapons he had brought here with him. He had made the mistake of allowing her to familiarize herself with those weapons nearly a year ago, and such discussions were moments she couldn't forget. Even so, there was one in particular she had taken a liking to, one she was eager to see in action. She wasn't about to allow him the chance to stall until the last moment before finally revealing its fury to her. Had he been so unwise as to forget it, it would have been nearly unforgivable. It was the one she had handled, albeit briefly, but its own individual essence was unmistakable among the others. Pulling the black chrome saberstaff from the bag, she sent Kolk Illuminate careening towards his head. A first attack, perhaps, if he had allowed it to actually connect, but she anticipated that he would see it and break this lazy excuse of a stance to actually face her, weapon with weapon. He may have had plans for her, but as did she with him.
"Then let's cut to the chase," she murmured, meeting his smirk with one of her own, something that was beginning to be a more familiar appearance on her lips. She lowered her saber, though, and let the red blade die before it even had a chance to strike. "Or do you need to ease into things?"
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,138
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jan 27, 2019 11:38:48 GMT -8
His smirk only grew as she drew her blade and gave it life. Right from the start, she was ready to come at him full force with weapon in hand. He had been curious as to what course she'd choose in starting this battle and without wasting a moment, she showed her intentions. It was a far different approach than he had, but the appearance of Nihilo didn't draw a reaction from Gavin outside the ever-widening smirk upon his face. If this was what she wanted, then he'd be more than happy to demonstrate the lessons he was teaching his students as of late.
However, even with the steps taken away from his bag, it did not go unnoticed out of the corner of his eye. The faint sound of it unzipping, the movement of its walls as she sought to pull something out of it. And soon, it was revealed. Flying quickly at his head, he only leaned back as it started to pass him, lifting a hand to catch it. In all that, his eyes never once left her. It was only after he held the staff in his hand for a few moments that they shifted to the hilt before he lowered it, allowing it to rest at his side. He let go of his stance as he tilted her head at her, listening to her words. After another moment, he began to laugh. "Strange, I didn't imagine you'd be scared to face me in unarmed combat or even weapon against unarmed. Does it serve as less of an excuse if you were to lose against me with a weapon in my hand? Or are you the one carrying some moral obligation into this? Either way, you need to prove you're worth the effort to be worthy of facing Kolk Illuminate." In those words, his cocky attitude slipped back into play, hoping to draw her into his trap. As to further try and get into her mind, he held out the staff before him before letting go and catching it with his foot. Once balanced there, he slid it off to the side and onto the ground.
However, she wasn't fully off the mark in her question. Despite the constant training he did to keep himself in shape, it had been a long time since he had fought a skilled opponent. Any other weapon, he could have dived right on in, but the staff had not been used in a long while. It would take nothing to get back into it, but first, he sought to observe and judge her style. That was the truest reason as to why he wanted to start the way he did: for each to see and measure the other. Only then could the true battle commence.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2019 14:47:35 GMT -8
With hand outstretched in a clear display of her manipulation of the Force, Mariah had made her intentions more than obvious when reaching for Kolk Illuminate; however, she had at least expected for Gavin's gaze to leave her when she sent the hilt flying towards him. She had hoped for just a mere second for an opening, yet the weight of those piercing blue eyes never lifted. The petite warrior who stood before him, in turn, never moved, simply watching him, gauging him, waiting. He wanted her to initiate, yet there was a lingering lesson haunting her in the back of her mind: never rush a prepared opponent. He attempted to get into her head, spewing those same words of 'fear' as he had the last time. However, Mariah wouldn't allow that same accusation to have any of the same bearing on her now as it did nearly a year ago. It was nearly foolish of him to have tried the same trick twice. She could only assume what he meant by moral obligation. To her, the challenge was issued so that she could witness it, come face to face with such an intriguing weapon. All of that was disrupted, though, as some parts of his words managed to sneak through a crack in her guard. With it, her eyes narrowed upon him.
"A test to prove my worth," she laughed. A derisive and scathing sound, but a laugh, harboring some sense of amusement nonetheless. "Just like all of the other pitiful men who stumble into my life..."
The moment that the blackened chrome and silver hilt met Gavin's foot, Mariah made her move. He had held out his hand to tease her with the sight of Kolk Illuminate one final time; she didn’t allow him the chance to drop his hand back down to his side. Mariah pushed forward, her speed amplified by the Force in hopes to catch him before he was ready for her. He wanted her to be the first to initiate; she saw the sliver of an opening and took it. Her right hand grasped his wrist as she pulled him towards her with a quick jerk, hoping to shift him off-balance towards her.
"I guess I'll have to break you in," she cried out, releasing him and following up with a sweeping kick with her left leg, aiming to connect her foot to the right side of his face.
If his words were anything to go by, Mariah anticipated for his cockiness to continue preying into his mind, hoping he would only offer a simple duck or dodge without a meaningful countermeasure -- an attempt to play with her, to treat her like one of his students and not as a worthy opponent. It would just be a weakness in his own guard, and one she had no qualms with using to her advantage. The first kick was a feigned attack, to draw his focus and force a dodge. The moment she could establish her weight back upon her left foot, she moved fluidly into the next, truer attack and twisted her body, putting more power behind the jab of her right leg. She sent her heel screaming into his solar plexus, her true goal not only to knock him back but knock the wind out of him. With that, though, she halted her offensive assault -- at least if he would let her -- to affix Nihilo back onto her belt.
"Should you be forced to face me unarmed while a saber is in my hand, it will be by my doing, Gavin. I assure you, though, you'll get your fun eventually."
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,138
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jan 30, 2019 6:36:03 GMT -8
Even in that moment he let go of his saberstaff, Gavin never lowered his guard. He was waiting for her to make a move, knowing full well she'd tried to strike in a moment when he was distracted, even if a little, or his guard was down. One thing she'd quickly learn about it was that fact. In a fight, becoming distracted or allowing one's guard to falter meant too many openings for an opponent, an opening that could easily cost everything. As part of his teaching in the mastery of self, he trained to always be aware and alert in the middle of a fight. Even when his eyes were diverted elsewhere, his other natural senses had been trained to keep the proper picture painted in his mind.
Still, she was quick with her movements, seeking to grasp every moment that appeared open to her. By using Force Speed in that moment, she was able to close the distance with no reaction from him. Certainly, a good start to be sure. However, he wasn't so thrown off by that movement that he was unprepared for what happened next. His eyes shifted back to her as he felt a grip upon his wrist. She had gotten close enough to him that she was able to reach across her torso with her right hand to grab his. The twist required to pull at him as well as the step back helped build the momentum to pull him out of place. But it didn't take long to regain himself. The first step with his right with the initial pull. Second step with his left as she moved back upon releasing his wrist in order to properly land her kicks without being too close. As she made her kick with her left foot, he did exactly what she thought. He ducked down under the kick as he made his third step with his right, planting it a bit in front of him with the toe turned inward.
All might have seemed to be going according to Mariah's plan at first if not for his next maneuver. As her left leg found purchase upon the ground once more, allowing her to make the kick with her right straight into his solar plexus, he put the weight of his body onto his right foot and turned to the left. In a swift movement that his students were still unable to see happen, he spun around her in a crouched form of his Kouho Haiho technique. The spin allowed him to move forward pst her slightly which allowed him to stand up and bring them back to back. But he made no attack at the moment though fully prepared for another one from her. All that could be heard was a cocky laugh from behind her. Trying to use vital strikes on me, Riah? You're a little green, aren't you?"
He gave off another laugh as he walked four steps away. Turning to face her, he decided to push his Dun Moch skills to the physical instead of just words. He hoped his little evasion worked things along, but just to add more fuel to the fire that was Mariah, he slipped his hands into his pockets. With a wide smirk plastered upon his face, he tilted his head as his tone dripped heavy with arrogance. "Well, unlike other men prove you're capable and I'll make it worth your time. Show me that you can handle this and I'll show you a good time." He then laughed a little more as he gave her a wink.
As he stood there with a cocky, uncaring stance, the last thing he was doing was underestimating her. His arrogance was nothing but a show meant to get under the skin of anyone that fought him. Be it a friendly spar or a fight for survival, he had no moral obligation to not mock his opponents, even if it was all lies. That was the point, to see who he could break down, who would remain unaffected, and who would become more because of it. It was his belief that an opponent should be respected and never underestimated, no matter who they were, be they master or rookie. Even when he faced off with Duvrax after only four months of training, he treated the Zabrak with the same respect even if the facade showed otherwise.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2019 19:37:57 GMT -8
Mariah had expected as much, for her strikes to sweep through the air without truly connecting. From the moment she had entered the training room, where she witnessed the progress of those so young who learned under him, she knew that this duel would be worth her while. That was, if she could get him to fight. She had exposed herself with her strikes, and she had planned to lure him out, to make him capitalize on those openings. Yet all he did was dodge and sweep round her in such a manner. She knew he blatantly ignored that opportunity to not only push his own offensive, but to easily and quickly put her on the ground at the start of the fight. All for what? That laughter. The pet name. The attempts crawl under her skin. In lieu of striking back and continuing this duel she came here for, he simply... walked away. Within the crimson warrior's mind, the crunch of those four footsteps within the sand turned to the sound of his spine as she shattered it. She wanted nothing more than to ravage him for the ridicule he weighed upon her.
It was like an instantaneous reaction; Mariah extended both of her arms out, and with the motion, her two shotos heeded the silent call. The golden one to her left, the silvery one to her right. She had planned to humor him with his desire for unarmed combat, but he clearly had no desire for even that now. Like all of those others who had mocked her in the past, she would put him in his grave. Before she could act on that instinct derived from her wrath, however, a quiet thought from her now-shaken composure managed to rise above. ~Show him that you can handle this.~ His words weren't empty mockeries, but rather his choice of fight. She had prepared for it, for him to sneak past her guard as he had in the past. He would only continue to wreak havoc on her clarity of mind, on her focus, should she allow his attacks to connect. He wasn't like those within the slums she had effortlessly put an end to. That wasn't why she was here. She couldn't rush him again. It only ensured his victory. ~Make him come to you.~
With a deep inhale, she lowered her hands back to her sides and re-centered her mind. Mariah allowed his words and laughter to be remembered and forgotten as quickly and easily as a dream now woken from. Expelling that breath, she lowered herself to her knees and placed both hilts within her lap. Her fingers gingerly wrapped around each one, ready to ignite them at a moment’s notice, but no longer turning to them as her answer in this fight he pursued. At a glance alone, she was seemingly left at his mercy, should he finally decide to push the offensive she originally sought. Her back was still turned to him, yet there was an eerie serenity that washed over the woman.
"Your move, Phoenix." No longer her typical murmurings, her words rang out with clarity but revealed neither the anger nor frustration she had earlier displayed. However, she was done playing along with his games, which she made more than clear with her stern tones. "When you're ready. I came back only for you and for this challenge, so I have all the time in the galaxy."
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,138
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 1, 2019 7:59:24 GMT -8
Gavin watched, the smirk never once leaving his face as the shotos were summoned to her hands. An aggressive stance that stated his words and actions were working their way through her mind. It was almost too easy, but that was the true honest way of manipulation and breaking wills and control. One couldn't spout off random words based on a simple encounter. No, to best work one's way into the mind was to know aspects of the person, their past, and how it related to the present. While he had yet to step into the things he did learn of her the last time they were together, he was playing the surface level of things based on how she carried herself. But soon, he'd push that level if he had to, though he rather hoped it didn't come to that.
Suddenly, he lifted his head as his smirk faded. Out of nowhere, the surge of anger that he could feel flowing through her became quiet. It was still present, though faint and well controlled. A genuine smile came across his face as he examined her. Far quicker than he expected, she was able to center herself and overcome his words. Like himself, she was reaching that place where the influence of words meant nothing, no matter what was touched on. He could only hope as the fight began to shift to where he wanted it to be.
However, he wasn't fully convinced she had reached that level yet. And with that, the test would continue. "Aww, for me? You're going to make me blush. Aren't I the lucky guy?" His laugh echoed around him as his voice carried on in its cocky tone. "Sadly, I'm disappointed. Only three attacks and you're on your knees? You put up a far greater fight the last time. I think even my students have more life in them. Worthless and pathetic. No wonder you've been left alone all this time. Everyone just walking away, leaving you behind for a better life and companionship. Broody, weak, stubborn, not at all the strong independent woman I thought you were that night. Guess it was just the drugs making you seem like more than you were. Shame." In that moment, the lively cockiness faded to an arrogant condescending tone. He began to brush to the truths she had told him that night. If she could push past them, then the fight could truly begin. Now it was time to see how she'd handle those words tied with his next move.
Letting the Force flow through him, his body lifted itself off the ground a few inches. He wanted to move with levitation knowing that with his feet off the ground, she couldn't hear him coming. She'd have no choice but to truly utilize her deeper senses to know what was coming next. After sitting there in the air for a moment, he zipped across the air, closing the ground between them quickly. As he came upon her, his right foot came around to make a sweep at her head. But he fully anticipated her to duck or make a move her with sabers. With that thought, he let his body spin with the kick so that his back was to her then flipped over her, his feet never one touching the ground. His movements were swift and fluid as the movements flowed easily into the other, looking as if it was all one move.
Letting himself flip high enough over her so to be ready to dodge her attacks, he landed behind her, feet finally touching with his right foot coming up to ram straight into her. If she ducked or turned in a crouched position, the kick would be aimed at her head. If she stood, it would be either at her lower abdomen or lower back.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 12:32:13 GMT -8
In this moment, Mariah was serenity within the eye of the storm. The careless words he spat at her wouldn't have the same effect as it had prior. She waited for the chance for her silence to prove the weight of her words, to push Gavin towards an actual offensive. Something in his tone shifted, however, and the nature of his words grew much more sinister. There was a flaw in his tactic, though. It wasn't his words that carried the disruption of her peace. She had heard it all before, many times, but that now turned him truly into just like all the others she had come face to face with over the years. However, it was that detail that fogged her clarity. That rare spark of trust she allowed between she and this stranger, now snuffed out. It was a mistake she would remedy by the time this challenge had been fulfilled.
His movements were silent from his levitation, but with an exhale, Mariah steadied her mind. The dull pang in her chest was a cause for distraction, but she drifted her senses to attune with the Force, feeling the trailing essence portending the strike for her head. Mariah leaned back, arcing herself with the sweeping movement. Another attack was sure to come, and with that realization, her eyes snapped open. She finally drew him out. Mariah didn't stand nor crouch, and instead leaned even further back until she was folded with her back against the ground. His second kick came out over top of her, both with his right foot. A thought, that perhaps he favored it. If so, it could prove to be a weak point, if she could manage to take it from him. Where he dodged and walked away from her offensive, she would counterattack and push her own offensive.
Releasing the silvery hilt, she wrapped her right arm to grasp onto his leg, his foot in front of her, and to lock it with a fierce grasp against her otherwise petite frame. However, it would've been simple enough to pull back and send her back with the movement. She wasn't a large or intimidating foe, if appearances were concerned. Her next move was synchronized with her first, though, a firm palm slamming into the outside of his ankle. With it, the Force pulsed within her hand upon contact, sending a concentrated reverberation through the bone in hopes of shattering it, or at the very least, inflicting enough injury that he would be forced to favor his other foot throughout the rest of this encounter. After whatever damage she could inflict, Mariah broke her grasp she might have had and moved right hand behind her, the Force heeding her call to push Gavin further away from her. It was only with distance put between the two that she leaned back onto her shoulders, freeing her feet from under her, and kicked herself swiftly back up. The hilts fell from her lap and onto the ground, and like his staff, there they would remain for the time being.
"And you're nothing like the man I thought you were," Mariah said, spewing her own venom back at him as she turned to face him. "You worked so hard to earn a little thing you called trust... just to play it as a pawn in your little scheme today? You're one of the worst kinds of beings I've had the pleasure to take down in a long while..."
Her tones were sharp and filled with conviction, as though she was truly beginning to believe those words. Now on her feet, Mariah wasted no more time and pushed forward towards her opponent. When she was within striking distance, her left foot snuck next to his right and acted like a pivoting point. She lowered herself, shrinking her zones he could target while her back was turned to him, and swept round until her right foot was planted behind him. She aimed for a quick jab of her left heel to the outside of his right knee, before she stepped back and rocked her weight to cartwheel over him, her movement enhanced with the Force. She needed to keep moving, to see just how well he could keep up.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,138
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 3, 2019 9:32:16 GMT -8
Gavin smirked as Mariah leaned back under his initial kick. As he had hoped, despite his words against her, she was finding her center or, at the very least, controlling her emotions and sharpening her focus. It was further enhanced by her ability to slip into the Force and feel its ebbs and flows. It would be the only way she would have been able to dodge that first kick.
When she grabbed hold of his ankle, he didn't move at first, displaying a cocky attitude, making it seem as if he thought she either wouldn't do anything or couldn't do anything. However, it was quite the opposite. He wanted to see what she'd do, how she'd respond. It came with great risk, to be sure, but it was a risk he was willing to take. And when she acted, she certainly didn't disappoint. She attempted to put him out commission by taking out his foot. A wise strategy, to be sure. He felt the Force resonate through his ankle and up his leg. She didn't succeed in damaging the bone, but it brought a fair bit of pain with it. Had she released any more energy, she would have made it useless due to the pain alone.
Not having time to respond, she was able to push him back with the Force, sending him flying back a few feet, his body leaning back parallel to the ground. His back hit the ground first, but he was ready, immediately rolling back to his feet and sliding to a stop. He stood as her words came. In truth, they added insult to injury. Despite using words and actions to break the spirit of his opponent, he actually hated the steps he was taking with Mariah. His students were one thing as was an enemy. Had Mariah been a much closer friend, it probably wouldn't have bothered him as much as though the words might have worked in the moment, they would have easily known it was just words meant to rile the other up. But this was only their second encounter and he was paying the line that made him appear as if everything was a game to him, that trust was something to be gained then broken for whatever use it served. Once all was said and done, he'd have to work had to regain what he was currently destroying.
With not even a second after her words came, so did her next attack. With the flow of her motions, she was able to put herself in the position to nail the side of his right knee. It seemed to be the running strategy for her: take out what she guessed to be is favored leg or at least take out one leg to slow him down. It would make him a target. But using the basics of what he taught his students in defense, he let his right leg give, removing nearly all the impact as his body shifted to accommodate. It resulted in his body falling to the ground, which was only further aided by her cartwheel over him. Down to a knee, he let his breaths fall heavy as if she was succeeding in breaking him down. After a moment, he looked to her. "You've heard the phrase appearances can be deceiving, haven't you? It just shows that in your loneliness you've become naive." He then pushed himself to his feet, still appearing as if the hits had taken their toll. "But if that's all the strength you can muster, then taking me down will be a dream forever out of your reach."
He then let his facade fade as he stood tall, his breath became easy once more, and he slammed his right foot hard into the ground without seeming to affect him. Slamming his foot played a two-part role. The first was a show, to demonstrate that her attacks had little effect and that he wasn't going to be slowed down. Secondly was to use the pain she had inflicted. Another part of mastering himself was overcoming pain and using it in battle. He utilized the same truth as the Sith, use pain and emotion to strengthen him. But he took it to a much higher level, mastering control and refinement of sensations far greater than would normally be felt.
Ready to move, he made his attack. Running full speed towards her, he let the Force run through his system as it sped up his movements at the last possible moment to throw off her perception of his distance. Striking out his right fist, he sent it straight at her, though it was clear that it was off, meant to pass right by her head without even dodging. But it was meant as a mere distraction to get him closer. He then slammed his head into her's, then slammed up into her gut with his left knee, brought both hands down in a diagonal chop at the base of her neck where the collarbone started, then slammed both fists into her ribs and abdomen, seeking to impact both her solar plexus and diaphragm. As his hands retreated, the fists opened to stretched palms as he released a Force Push at the same region at near point blank range.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2019 19:04:26 GMT -8
Although Gavin was successful with the first string of mental attacks, the pride of the figurative first blood drawn was like a fire that drowned out whatever dull ache had lingered moments before. She had no use for it, and now, no desire to wonder where or why it had formed to begin with. In this very moment, he was her foe, her opponent, and one who was already starting to fall apart before her. His continued condescending words laced through his labored breathing only brought about a smirk of her own. His words were almost comical; his attempts at breaking through her mental guard now near impossible. Dun Möch was a powerful weapon, but without her respect, he had no more leverage over her. What she lacked in respect for him, though, she gained in wariness. As far as she was concerned, he was filled with nothing but tricks and deception, so it didn't shake the crimson haired warrior when his facade was washed away so easily. However, the slamming of his foot into the ground forced the smirk off her lips. She knew she had done damage to that foot, yet he was nearly taunting her like it was all for nothing. Her teeth clenched tightly together, and in answer to his impending assault, her right foot swept behind her as she at least attempted to minimize where he could impact her.
Before she could even properly adjust her weight between her feet, he was there like a sudden flicker, his fist swinging shy of her head. She thought of it as an opportunity, to grapple onto his upper arm, force herself closer, and move forward for her own attack, but a sharp pain split into her skull almost immediately, leaving her nearly blind to the colored shock in her vision. Before she had a moment to regain herself, his onslaught continued, a pressure slamming into her stomach and sending a sickening pain throughout her torso. She knew it would only continue; she needed to act before she gave him too much of an upper hand, to silence the screaming pain and will her body onward. It was like a reflex, the Force washing over her again to amplify her speed, but for a different purpose. The world around her was warped, slower, giving her just that extra moment of perception to deal with him and his furious onslaught. Instinctively keeping her elbows folded close to her body, Mariah stepped away and swept her right hand in a deft, upwards sweep to redirect the blow against her collarbone. Next, Gavin moved fluidly into his next attack with both fists into ribs and abdomen together, sacrificing the strength of a single blow with the attempts of striking two vital areas at once. It was a similar block with her left arm, catching his fists in her forearm and redirecting the blows outside the left side of her body with a downward arc. It nearly guided the lower wrist into her hand, which would lead her into a countermeasure of her own. Before she could send a furious upwards jerk to turn him about, exposing his back to her, though, the Force came slamming against her and sending her backwards, snapping her grasp on him.
Her body went sprawling back, but this fight was far from over. Mariah swallowed the failure of her defense with the agony that still beat in her head and stomach and continued moving. Airborne, she tucked her knees close to her chest and arched her back, flipping herself backwards with the momentum. Her left hand touched down to mix of sand, dust, and dirt of their battleground and guided her body back to her feet with an elegant, acrobatic grace that should've been near impossible after the flurry of blows she just received. And it almost was impossible, her body screaming against her, although she refused to reveal as much to him. With her feet touched back down to the earth, Mariah snapped up her crimson gaze to find her foe. Her expression revealed nothing, not even the pain that wreaked havoc. If anything, the gaze she shot down at Gavin would have struck him down immediately, if looks alone could kill.
"I'm the naive one?" she called out, her voice a rasp, but it seemed now that every time she spoke, there was more and more conviction in her words than the moment before. "I told you then that you didn't have enough on me to do any real damage. You're the fool who decided to try anyway."
While Gavin used his physical pain to to overcome and use in battle, Mariah used a different sense of pain, and Gavin was growing very close to pushing her to the edge of utilizing it. Even now with her body under duress, Mariah forced herself forward despite the pain that throbbed from his connected attacks. She had other plans for their duel now. She didn't use the Force to alter her speed this time, making her appear much slower and much easier to dodge when she would finally clear the gap between she and him. It was a snap of a reflex when she was two steps away. Her right foot hit the ground and her left hand reached for the silvery hilt on her belt. Her left foot struck, and the hum of her red-bladed saber clashed with a fierce growl that tore its way free from Mariah's throat. She might have entered this duel with some sense of moral obligations, but that had since been lost.
She attempted a reckless, single-handed swing, rising the blade up from her right hip in a sharp, upwards arc to strike through his upper arm, clearing the neck and even his head with the momentum. Sure that he would dodge the clear attempt on his life, her right foot followed the twist of her body and was poised to connect with his jaw. The sweeping maneuver brought her back to face him, and Mariah propelled herself back into the air, flipping herself backwards over-top of him. As she came down, both hands met the hilt as she bore down with a powerful downwards arc clean over his left shoulder. However, even as her feet came down to meet the ground again, her blade continued its motion as she struck out with a horizontal slash towards his midsection, the power she was pushing behind each of her attacks carrying through with her momentum as she spun, ready to carry into the next.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 5, 2019 6:50:58 GMT -8
It was an amazing feat, watching her break free from his onslaught. Though not enhanced with the Force, his attacks were swift, fluid, and graceful. Yet, she only took two of the hits, the impact to the head and the knee to the gut, though it seemed she was unaffected by the latter's influence. That was all he could manage as she was able to redirect the Force through her once more, speeding up her movements to catch up and barely surpass his, more than enough to make her blocks. As she flew back, unable to avoid the Force Push against her, he simply watched as she quickly regained her footing and control, completely impressed.
Excitement grew within him as he knew that she give him the fight he had been searching for so long. It still ate away at him slightly that he had to play his mind games with her, all to ensure that she'd fight him with all her power as if striking down an enemy. They had both looked forward to the duel, so much so that he felt that they would have played games with each other, holding back and giving a good fight, but not as good of one if they were seriously at each other. He was ready to bring this part of the fight to an end, but Mariah had other plans.
Coming at him, ready for another attack, all he could do was step back on his right foot to brace himself for the next onslaught. It was all he could do to lean as far to his right as possible to clear the blade. And to be free of the kick made him throw all of his weight back as he used his waist to pivot and bring his torso to his left side while staying parallel to the ground. The moment she made the jump over him, he saw his chance to get away, using the Force to aid his jump as he tucked down and jumped straight forward to clear her attacks.
Rolling across the ground a bit, he finally came to a knee facing the crimson-haired woman. He took a few heavier breaths before standing and giving a nod. "We have finally arrived. This is where I hoped our duel would take us." He then began walking towards his bag, eyes never once leaving her in case she tried attacking again. "You are everything I thought you to be that night: strong, powerful, determined, unwavering, lethal. It's been so long since I've felt this rush, the feeling of a true challenge, one that hovers the line of life and death. Now, it is time to give you what you came for, a true fight with no restraints and no games. You deserve it."
Reaching his bag, he knelt down, though he didn't dig through his bag. His hand rested upon his right ankle where Mariah had hit him and touching the Force, let its healing energies flow through him. It didn't need much, maybe thirty seconds before it was back up to at least ninety percent, which was more than enough. He then rummaged through his bag, pulling out all his weapons. Deepstrike and Blockade for homes in holsters made into his pants, Guardian Light and Dark Shocker hung on the belt that carried his tend throwing knives, while Scadav Soulu was strapped to the back side of his belt. All weapons mounted and accounted for. He then stood before removing the baggy, long sleeve shirt and tossing it to the side. Well defined from decades of training, his chest, arms, and abs appeared as if they were almost chiseled from stone. Just something else he kept hidden away. To some, it would tell the tale of his experience. For others, they'd just get attracted to him. Neither were things he expected Mariah to care about. All that could possibly run through her mind was that for all his experience and knowledge, there wasn't a single scar on him. That and the patch of scales running down his back.
Moving back towards the center of their battleground, he let his hand reach out to grab Kolk Illuminate and draw it to his hand as he let the cloak that covered his presence completely fade, revealing the full strength of his presence, though it still felt as neutral as ever. You wanted to see it, so I'll show you. The combat form crafted specifically for Kolk Illuminate's creation: Khaotic Reign. He spun the staff around before holding it out and igniting the two silver blades as he awaited the woman's response.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 4:11:42 GMT -8
Gavin offered fluid dodges and nothing more, like that of the past. Gavin didn't even seem shaken by Mariah's shift, the bloodthirsty glare in her eyes which reflected the intensity of her red blade. When he spoke, she was ready for another string of those meaningless words, and she was prepared to cut them down before they had a chance to take flight into the air. However, they weren't the same, demeaning comments. Whatever Gavin was trying to achieve this time, Mariah wasn't buying it. He had already revealed himself as a master of deception, and these were tricks she wouldn't fall for.
"Your silver tongue won't save you now, Phoenix. Shut it..."
Despite those opinions, the crimson warrior didn't further her offensive. Even if halting her for a second was the only effect of his words, it was enough. Without the focus of battle to draw her mind towards her goal, those sickening, crunching blows weighed down on her body. Gavin took the moment he carved into their duel to prepare for the next chapter. There was a burning desire to disrupt him, to force him to fight with the injuries she inflicted upon him, but it would also mean that she, too, would need to fight against the effects his blows achieved. Had she fought him like this the day they first met, she would have rushed him recklessly, having no other option. After nearly a year away and under Ifrit's tutelage, however, she opened up similar avenues, to ensure the fight she came here for would be worth the time and effort it took to get to this point.
With a hushed growl as she fought against her instinct, Mariah doubled over slightly and wrapped an arm around her stomach. The sound of her saber extinguishing resolved, and releasing her hold on the silvery hilt, she let it clatter to the earth. She muttered something under her breath, only occasionally pausing as she grit her teeth together and fought past the pain. It was a simple incantation, but it would be enough. Enough to heal whatever bruising might of occurred and wash away the nauseating pain. In answer to the spell, there a shimmering, although faint white light that seemed to radiate around her briefly, fading away when her words did. The colors in her vision had already ceased, leaving a dull ache, but one she could easily fight against. It was then that she heard him speak out to her again, which brought her crimson eyes back up to him. With his weapons now on his person and shedding himself of a layer of clothing, Mariah narrowed her gaze skeptically upon him and stood back to her full height.
"I came to see Kolk Illuminate in action, not a show I could find anywhere in the slums of the Red Light Sector."
Such things were typically unfazed by Mariah, nor appealed to her favor in any way. Nonetheless, it seemed like a superfluous step in his preparations, and something she couldn't help speaking out against. It was odd that a man who seemed to carry such knowledge of combat carried no scars of his battles. She didn’t spend any extra time dwelling on it, however, and without time to waste, Mariah stretched out her hands, the two shotos rising up vertically from their resting place before careening towards Mariah. Nimbly catching them in either hand, she returned them to her person. She had a feeling the time would come when she would need them at a moment's notice, but for now, she wanted to see just how deadly this Khaotic Reign truly was, if he was even worthy of her own styles she had developed over the years.
Gavin ignited his blades yet waited. She supposed, again, he expected her to close the gap, to initiate. With a roll of her eyes perhaps loud enough to be seen from their distance, she summoned Nihilo to float next to her left side. She would humor him, hopefully for the last time before a victor would emerge. Mariah inhaled deeply, her right hand twitching next to her, and with that slight movement, Nihilo’s red blade was summoned once more.
"So you are the type of guy who waits for the woman to make the first move. Typical."
Her muttered words hadn't even finished completion when Mariah manipulated the Force to send Nihilo screaming towards Gavin like a javelin. However the blade was clearly off mark and would fly past his right shoulder. It was only when she was sure that a trained eye would realize this before she rushed Gavin, unarmed. It would be curious to see which he paid attention towards more. She had already revealed her typical style, so she was positive he was prepared for that. The moment she was within reach of the staff, she stretched out her left hand and sent a minor shockwave in the Force, enough to manipulate any defensive maneuvers against her with his weapon. Her body then slipped down as she slid past his right side. With a powerful motion of her right arm, Mariah sent Nihilo, who she had hoped was ignored with her nearing presence, back once more to pierce through his upper right shoulder. Moving gracefully back up to her feet with the forward momentum, Mariah hoped to impact not only his shoulder with her blade, but she sent a Push aimed at his lower back, before she ripped Nihilo free from her grasp in the Force and sent the hilt back into both of her hands for a truer, more open offensive to come.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 11, 2019 6:38:43 GMT -8
Only the slightest smirks emerged upon his face when she responded of the show. He was curious as to whether she'd say anything about the removal of his shirt or not. But it wasn't meant to grant him an advantage through distraction, but to ensure he had a completely free range of movement for what was to come. Hell be damned if he was going to allow any slip-ups simply due to his shirt hanging him up.
In a quick moment, the slight smirk faded as his expression returned to a serious one. No more words escaped his lips as he was ready to give Mariah the full attention she sought free of games and facade. He would treat this as a life or death battle, and she his enemy. That what she sought from him, just as he from her and he was going to deliver.
With her final statement, Gavin began to widen his stance as her saber came flying towards him. Not wantng to allow a single strike to slip past, he moved past his typical mindset that told him it was a distraction, to leave it be. He wouldn't take chances that each attack was dilberate and could be used in a later succession. Lifting his staff, the blade stretched out towards his left came up as his left hand tok hold of the lower end, blade stretching up to meet Nihilo's. It seemed to be a simple block meant to deflect the weapon away, but it was more than that. Noticing Mariah's approach, his goal was to catch her blade against his and give it the right swing that forced it slingshot around his and back at its owner.
However, as he made his attempt, the shockwave sent off by Mariah, disrupted his flow and caused her weapon to be sent off towards his right. With a grunt, his eyes diverted to the woman who slid under his guard on his right. With his flow broken, he was unable to move fluidly as he wished into his attack, but he still carried enough focus to regain control and drive the blade back behind him where he could she the flow of crimson hair. With his eyes turnd to his right, it wouldn't go unntoiced that she sought to regain control of Nihilo and send it back at him, hoping to still make her attack. In the proper moment, he'd drop to his knees to let it sail over his head as he turned to face the woman, his second blade coming around to slash at her.
She wanted to see Khaotic Reign and it would come, but to fully set it up as he wished, there was one moment he needed to put it all in motion.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2019 9:55:54 GMT -8
The two warriors may have finally reached the point where they would take one another seriously, but treating this fight as though it was a matter of life or death came at a cost. Mariah knew she needed to tread carefully, and he with her, while both fighting more fiercely than ever. Although she would never reveal such things with words, she knew that when this time would come, it wouldn't be like those challenges of the past. The stunning neutrality of his essence only reaffirmed that belief. It was a delicate line, though, to remain cautious yet confident with her every move, yet there was a thrill -- to dance upon that line -- that she hadn't experienced in quite some time. Only in Gavin's silence was Mariah able to truly revel in that realization.
He refused to let her set up for her own attack, a wise move on his part. While he may have attempted to fling the blade back, he no doubt felt a firm resistance of the Force within the motion, as though her steady grasp remained. She guided the blade to pierce into the ground next to her with her movement forward, although nothing else changed from her planned string of attacks. As Gavin went down to dodge the second strike from her saber, Mariah's Push was focused upon nothing but air. His slash came for her, and lifting herself into the air, Mariah backflipped away from him, giving herself just enough distance to avoid the staff's reach.
Whatever this Khaotic Reign entailed, Mariah had yet to see it, and thus, she continued onward with her own offensive, hoping to stall him or delay him further. As much as she had spoken of wanting to experience the fighting style of Kolk Illuminate, she had yet to deem if it would be worthy against her own developed styles over the years. She had her own tests for him and gave him a piece of what that would mean with the careening saber that sought him out with a pristine telekinetic force. There would be much more awaiting him if he could handle this minor assault.
A sweeping motion of her left foot, toe digging into the earth, spiraled the woman in a counterclockwise movement that sent dust and debris to create a haze within the immediate area. As Mariah came round, she pushed forward so that Gavin would again be within reach of Nihilo's radius, but she within Kolk Illuminate's as well. The crimson blade casting an ominous glow off the dust cloud, her saber was arced to send a horizontal slice for Gavin's right arm. However, it was a superficial attempt, but something she hoped to keep Gavin more focused on a defensive than his own offensive. With his body on the ground from her last string of attacks, she prepared for a blow against the blade to knock it back or even another dodge of some sort so that he could regain his ground. Before she had fully dedicated to the follow through of the full swing, the woman pulled her blade back, poised defensively in front of her body as she took advantage of Gavin's low position on the ground. Leaping over him, Mariah rounded her feet over her, her shoulders locked as the axis point and thus keeping her saber between her body and him -- and Kolk Illuminate. As she came down behind Gavin, her right hand removed itself from her saber only briefly as she adjusted her grasp on the hilt so that the blade arced over her head and bore down towards his left shoulder with a strong, two-handed swing.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,138
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 16, 2019 13:52:29 GMT -8
As he turned and dropped to a knee with his swipe, he could only watch as she flipped away, gaining some distance so to prepare for her next attack. He was sure she felt it now, the serious intent in his actions, no longer any games. His ice blue eyes focused hard upon her in an intense gaze, waiting for her strike, not once standing until it came.
She didn't give him long to wait as her saber came flying at him with deadly accuracy and force. Bringing his staff in front of him, his left hand took hold of the hilt with his right and began to spin it with a smooth and intense flow of practiced precision, letting the staff spin before him in a barrier and moved to deflect the oncoming blade. In that time, Mariah sought to further her advantage by creating a haze of dust and dirt. immediately, his eyes shut and the Force flowed through him as he activated his Force Sight, granting him a clear picture of the area around him. Through the glowing aura his new sight offered him, he watched as the woman closed in, ready to begin her next assault.
Bringing his staff over, he blocked the attack from Nihilo and immediately felt the give that shifted the position of her blade. However, it was too late as she leaped over him without any resistance. But the time spent flipping over him gave him time enough to turn. Standing tall, he could see the coming attack, the perfect opportunity presenting itself. She had wanted to see the capabilities of Kolk Illuminate and Khaotic Reign, but he was waiting for the right moment. And with it now arriving, Gavin knew he had to move fast and accurately to pull off his plans. She was quick, skilled, and no doubt instinctual in her actions. The next move he knew would cause hesitation for even the most instinctive fighters, but only for a moment.
As he stood tall, he gripped the staff with both hands as the rightmost blade came around to meet her's, the leftmost blade pointing down at an angle to his left. The very moment their blades met, he knew she would see him with his eyes closed, and given her time with Ifrit, would easily pick up on what he was doing. But that wasn't the point. The very moment their blades touched, he hit the switch on the hilt that engaged the four blades that rested on the hilt. In a quick snap, they shot up and locked around their blades, binding them together. It was this feature that most were unprepared for. In most cases, surprise would set in, leaving them open for a good while before they sought to wrestle their blade free. Doing so would prove fruitless, however. Either utilizing one of her other weapons or deactivating her current weapon would grant her freedom and he expected the revelation to come quick. As such, once the four claws clamped down upon the beams of light, he used the Force to twist the hilt in the center, breaking the staff in two with each end connected by a thin chain. With precision, he quickly maneuvered the free hilt behind her like a snake and shot to blade upwards towards her back, coming in at a slight angle from her right to left so that not only would it pierce her heart, it would emerge from her without Gavin needing to move in the slightest.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2019 6:25:10 GMT -8
Gavin's two blocks came, which she hoped would keep him on the defensive. Dark amusement washed over her at the sight of him acting with his eyes closed. Even without her time with Ifrit, she would have known that he gave over that sense to the Force, although her time with Ifrit certainly offered her more experience in that realm. It seemed that he, like her, had his own ways of carving an offensive. While not wholly unexpected, the means that Gavin used was. That wicked glimmer cast in her crimson eyes faded as quickly as it came as the prongs clamped down upon her saber, locking the blades in place. Their crackling cries resounded as small energies of lightning cast a rose silvery light where the silver and red blades clashed. Mariah pulled back to try to slip Nihilo free from its prison but was only met with the unyielding resistance from Kolk Illuminate's hold. To make matters all the more urgent, Mariah witnessed the staff break apart to the two separate blades as the other crept out of her vision.
"...Kriff..."
Letting go of Nihilo only came as instinct, a rare one at that; however, the moment that Mariah knew she couldn't force her blade free, she released her hold on the hilt without a beat of hesitation or doubt. The blade dissipated with a hiss as the hilt clattered to the ground. In the instant between the drop of the hilt, the crimson warrior had also dropped, somersaulting to the left and out of the blade's path that sought out her heart, yet Mariah still lingering within Gavin's radius of attack, and keeping him within hers.
Despite this new realization to Kolk Illuminate's tricks, nothing about the woman's tactics seemed to shift as she continued to come at Gavin, full fury, each movement winding into the next in string of offensive attacks. Still low, Mariah reached out on either side of her to recall the golden shoto to her left hand and its silvery partner to her right in a reverse grip. Two shotos against this odd yet fluent weapon might have appeared on the surface that she was handing Gavin this duel. However, Mariah still held herself with an eerie confidence, her determination as unwavering as his weapon's grip on hers moments ago.
Synchronized with the purple blades bursting from their resting place, Mariah pushed her assault with her left blade striking out at Gavin's right leg, just above the knee, hoping for a hasty block on his part with his wielded half. As she followed through with the horizontal slice, she extended her focus on his other half, which sought to pierce through her heart. Sending a Push in its direction, she hoped to break Gavin's flow and momentarily disrupt his telekinetic hold. It was only then that Mariah stood back to her full height, her right saber poised in an upwards slash across his abdomen, ending the fluid motion with a sudden backwards force to stab her blade into his ribs, only piercing a lung at best. What she chose to sacrifice in strength in her change of weapons, she gained in speed. She had no intention of trying to out-power both Gavin and Kolk Illuminate, so she would need to carve her own edge in this battle, especially while she was still gauging what other tricks he had hidden.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 18, 2019 9:55:55 GMT -8
As he expected, her instinct and experience aided her greatly despite his swift and confined movements. His eyes could only follow her behind his eyelids as she somersaulted away from the coming strike. Down and the piercing blade, not a single beat was missed on her own part. It was also interesting to see the choice she made, dropping her weapon for the sake of an escape. However, it meant little in regards to her as she still carried with her other pieces in her arsenal, allowing her to return to the offensive without hesitation.
And that exactly what she did. Her flip only moved her out of the range of the attack, but not his radius. Not letting herself be affected by the new tricks his staff carried only kept her focus sharp as her shotos came to her hand and she pressed her attack. As the first strike came against his knee, his right hand came down to meet it with an effortless block. His left hand took hold of the chain that was carried with the left hilt, seeking to bring it down upon Mariah, though the distance between them would have made it a weak attack that would mostly work to force her to retreat. Yet, once again, he felt the small exertion of the Force upon the hilt, keeping him from bringing it plummeting down at that moment.
Instead, he focused the Force between the right hilt's retractor and locked it in place as Gavin pulled the chain taut with his left. Leaning back, he could feel the heat of the saber as it moved upwards, leaving a faint scar up to the point where his ribs started. A grunt of pain and frustration emerged from him in knowing her speed was able to keep him from fully evading the attack. A graze or not, it was an unforgivable breach that he wouldn't let happen again. As she made her attack against him, his left hand and moved further away from his right, stretching it along the path of her upwards slash, putting it clear in the path of her blade at its lowest point. As it moved further up, finding its peak to change its direction to plunge into his chest, his left hand crossed under the blade as his left shoulder turned behind him to avoid the strike and effectively catching her in the phrik chain.
Not wasting another moment, knowing how she'd respond to being caught again, he slammed his head once again into hers before leaning back to deliver a weak kick from his right foot into left hip. To finish off, his attack, he pulled the chain free from her purple blade as he regained control of the second hilt. Bringing his arm back then curving it towards his chest, he manipulated the staff to flow behind him, then come around him to make a wide, powerful arc at her right side fueled by the strong swing and the Force.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2019 8:01:02 GMT -8
The crimson warrior had managed to keep within his guard and thus managed to at least graze him with the upwards slash. However, it wasn't nearly enough. Her speed could only do so much for her, especially against the power that she had a feeling was lurking. Sure enough, her tactics needed to shift, but within his radius and unable to land a truly successful attack, she was now at his mercy. The chain effectively wrapped itself around her blade, locking her in place. Before she had a chance to jump to the offensive with her free blade, the sharp pain of his head smashing into hers resounded a skull-crunching sound in her ears and more colors to take over her vision, blinding her for a split moment until everything could come back into focus. It was already much too late, though, as his weak kick into her left hip caused her entire body to shift, her back now facing where that powerful blow of his saber would come.
Without a moment to spare, Mariah had no other option but to give over more than a few senses to the Force, before this spar turned into a true death battle. His movements created waves in the Force around her, and sensing the direction of his attack, Mariah had only one option to stop the power of that Force-imbued blow. Turning with the momentum his kick had created, the woman felt as though she had no other option but to turn her back to her opponent, if but for a chance to catch the blade with her own. However, she needed to use both blades, held parallel to the other, to fully halt the fury of his final blow of his string of attacks.
Mariah felt the warmth of the stream of scarlet fall over her face, the damage from the consistent bashing of his into her own. With a snarl, she pushed back upon his blade, hoping to free her two before he attempted to lock one of them down yet again in Kolk Illuminate's clutches. She was never the type to utilize a retreat, but then again, it was a rare occasion where she found herself in need of doing so. A silent testament to his abilities, although that was something she she would remedy soon enough... Pushing herself back with a powerful leap in the Force, she put some distance between she and Gavin now, effectively putting herself out of his weapon's immediate range. She needed a moment to reevaluate, a way to get past his guard and do more damage than just a simple graze.
Without putting a hold to the duel, however, and thus hopefully keeping Gavin in the dark to her truer intentions, Mariah released the two shotos, the one with the golden hilt floating elegantly in front of her while the other was poised behind her, just off to her right side. It took some focus to achieve it with both at one time, but a dark smile managed to break through on the woman's lips. With a deep exhale, she brought her hands together before her in a mudra similar to those used in meditation. However with it and a deep exhale from the crimson haired woman, the blade behind her arced around her and swung wide towards Gavin's right side. In direct succession, the blade in front followed its sister, coming in for a screaming assault directed to pierce the center of his chest.
It would be a risky move, to keep herself now wholly open for whatever offensive he might try to counter with, but with her crimson eyes piercing into him, she kept herself poised in the distance for whatever onslaught that might ensue next... and to hopefully find a hole in his defense she could manipulate.
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