Tobias vs. Mirai - The Battle of the Sages

[Mirai Hogosha]

The sun sets, closing yet another beautiful day, casting its last few beams of light on the rolling clouds in the sky. The wind cools the land from the heat of summer.

As shadows fall and the area plunges deeper into darkness of night, stadium lights spring to life, illuminating an open coliseum made from metal and rock. Carved out of the hillside, the center of the arena sits at the apex of a crater--a fine place for a battle.

A black silhouette walks down the stairs leading to the arena, boots clinking on the steps. In one hand he holds a small black box; in the other, a boombox. About half-way down the stands he stops and sets down the stereo in a seat. As he sits down beside it, he opens the box to reveal several CDs. After finding the one he wants and loading it into the stereo, he smiles as he continues walking down to the arena. "It's been a long time since I've been a DJ. Seems fitting that I'm the DJ in my own battle."

Mirai reaches the center of the arena as he surveys the surroundings and absorbs the atmosphere. "It's good to know that this battle is one of preparation, of training... but at the same time, it's also good to know that this battle... is a test."

After spending a few minutes warming up and stretching out, he sits in the middle of the arena in meditation, waiting for his opponent.

[Tobias]

He wandered into the arena...like he usually did. Gazing at his opponent, he felt a sort of connection. It had been a while since he had fought an actual sage. He thought that they only existed on Eden...guess he was wrong. Stepping into the bleachers behind Mirai, he listened to the music and pulled his hat further over his eyes. He smiles: "Well...whenever your ready."

He sits casually, and in slack

[Mirai Hogosha]

Mirai looks up at his opponent. He smiles as he remembers the few battles they have fought together. As he stands up and adjusts his armor vest, he calls out, "Sir Wanderer, if I may, I have an idea."

He unsheaths Mura and Same from his back and walks to a seat in the bleachers. He carefully places the katanas on the seat, almost as if performing a ritual. "I propose we fight without weapons. It seems that I've relied too much on my blades, and I feel that my natural abilities have suffered because of that."

As he walked back toward the center of the arena, he pointed at the stereo and released a small charge of electricity, causing it to play some Eurobeat music. Taking a defensive stance while facing Tobias, he says, "If you're game, I'm ready."

[Tobias]

Tobias smiles: "Unarmed combat...something that i do enjoy every once in a while." He stands across from Mirai and unclamps Eden from his back, then proceeds to throw it across the arena into the wall. Tobias remains slack, his left side facing Mirai. He casts his trenchcoat off, leaving his arms exposed save for the gauntlets around his fists. He wasn't a very big person, but he had amazing muscular energy...especially since he had lightning energy flowing through him.

Tipping his hat, Tobias gets into a stance, and starts move with the beat. After a couple of moments, Tobias charges towards his opponent with impressive force.

[Mirai Hogosha]

Mirai smiles. At last, he thinks, the test begins...

He charges his formidable apponent at incredible speed, drawing Tobias quickly towards him. The two sages race to the center of the arena, each leaving clouds of dust in the wake of their paths. Each warrior stares at the other, neither blinking nor flinching, as if their very minds are daring the other to waver.

As the focal point draws nearer with each tenth of a second, Mirai plots his attack on The Wanderer. Wait for it, he says to himself. Timing is crucial, and I can’t screw this up. He rears his right arm back, his fist clenched and sparking, as they nearly reach the center, when--

BAM!!!

A bright flash of blue and white lightning explodes in Mirai’s place just inches from Tobias, and just as suddenly Mirai materializes behind Tobias, successfully planting his fist in The Wanderer’s back.

[Tobias]

crud...

He took the punch, luckily, the momentum forward helped reduce the damage somewhat. He hits the ground hard, sliding for a moment, then vaulting himself up off the ground. He hits the ground hard, landing on one knee. He speaks softly:

"Lets do this..."

At first, a bright blue glow surrounds him...the next second, he's gone, a cloud of dust remaining in his wake. He appears the next moment in front of Mirai, his fist firmly planted deep in the young sage's stomach.

[Mirai Hogosha]

The incredible speed of Tobias catches Mirai unawares and sends him tumbling across the arena, releasing another trail of dust clouds into the air.

Mirai, now panting from getting the wind knocked out of his lungs, sits up and starts brushing the dry grains off of him, saying, "Excellent. I knew from our first encounter that you had already amassed great power. I consider myself lucky sharing this battling stage with you."

He stands up, trying not to let the forces of gravity take him into an unconscious stupor; that should be reserved for his opponent. Blue halos then form around his gauntlets as he gathers his strength and his energy. The cerulean color quickly washes over him, illuminating the arena with a brilliant shade of blue. Satisfied with his quick meditation, Mirai gives a quick spin and--almost as if synchronized with the music--defends himself for the next attack.

"Let the storms of the heavens intertwine /
As our fates in this battle are sent to the divine."

[Tobias]

Tobias slowly rises, staring back at his now fully prepared opponent. The sage's gauntlets flash a quick blue, the infused steel reacting to the accumulation of the power. His eyes become visible for the first time, gleaming like two sapphire gems as if tearing into reality. A haze of blue travels around the Wanderer: "Ive wandered many a years and many a worlds...the power that you control in your soul is impressive already...Im quite honored to have this fight as well...It has been too long since ive felt this type of energy before...lets truely test it's limits."

The static energy between both warriors caused a storm to form overhead. The Lightning forked across from cloud to cloud, a dry Thunderstorm. The Haze around the sage starts to course faster and faster, his mind now setting and focusing completely. The music silences...the world dissapears. All that is left in front of him is his adversary, and the storm overhead.

"A storm's coming..."

A bolt of lightning touches down between both combatants. Tobias bursts into an irridescent blue light, and without hesitation, tears directly towards Mirai.

3/4 of the way through the run, Tobias almost vanishes, only to appear approaching from Mirai's left, Aiming 2 punches followed by a quick roundhouse, all Midsection.

[Mirai Hogosha]

The unmeasurable speed of The Wanderer is almost too much for The Protector to calculate. Catching his target out of the corner of his eye, Mirai turns toward his attacker just as Tobias's fists made contact. Unblockable, the blows knock him back slightly, almost tipping him over.

Mirai quickly notcies the roundhouse finish-up and spins counterclockwise, parrying the kick. Mirai then uses the momentum as an advantage to increase his own kinetic energy. In mid-twirl, he kicks off from the ground, using the thrust to turn him horizontal, and continues his spin. He points his toes outward and separates his feet slightly as the boots each make contact to Tobias's cranium.

Mirai feels his feet attack, then continues on his spin as he outstretches his arms. His hands catch the ground and push off again, throwing him into an upright position. As his feet regain contact with the ground, he skids a few feet in the dust to a stop, readying himself again.

Mirai looks down to his singed vest where The Wanderer's fists released his electricity, gives a disgruntled snort, and abandons it, tossing it behind him. He then looks over at Tobias, and without a second thought charges a concentrated ball of lightning and flings it at The Wanderer, calling out, "Bolt Grenade!!"

[Tobias]

Tobias leans back as much as possible from his previous attack, yet still gets clipped by Mirai's feet. Stumbling back a bit, he finally regains his footing, when he hears Mirai yell out his attack, and launch his attack.

Without enough time, he crosses his arms over his head and receives the blast full on. The blast sends him crashing back towards the wall.