Re: The Grand Battle [Round Five: Battleopolis!]
01-04-2010, 06:16 PM
Originally posted on MSPA by Aryogaton.
It is difficult to walk through a pool of blood that goes up to one's ankle without becoming nauseous or attracting attention. It becomes even more difficult when police cars race through the streets accompanied by dozens of sirens, splashing more blood everywhere. Only Aeon's experience with illusions kept him from vomiting or otherwise giving up on his slow pursuit on Nathan, who continued to look as if he was mutilating every single person in his path.
Aeon was thoroughly convinced that Nathan was fully aware of his presence. However, there was little he could do to change the status quo at the moment. Aeon had to wait for Nathan to make a move--well, a publicly-visible move--before doing anything himself.
He took this moment to communicate with Amethyst. Unexpectedly, he heard sirens on the other end.
"What's going on over there?"
"The... authorities have been notified and are attempting to apprehend Eximo and myself. I am currently on the roof of a department store, and am formulating a plan of escape. What is the situation for you?"
"I've been following Nathan for a while. This illusion is getting more nauseating by the moment. Right now it looks as if the streets are filled with blood."
Amethyst paused for a moment before replying. "This seems strangely similar to the illusions you used before in the first round. I believe I remember you taking control of a poltergeist in that round. Can you do the same with the demon?"
"Uh, that's a bit complicated. I was able to gain a bit of control over the spirit--called the Lybrarian, I think--because it attempted to gain control over me. There's this rule in which all interfaces are dual-way. For example, if someone tries to read your mind it is always possible to read their mind at the same time. Also, I think the Lybrarian allowed me to have some control... I think it thought we did not belong there, and it believed I could find some way to get everyone else to leave."
"Alright. Then what do you need to do the same with the demon?"
"An interface. Some kind of mental connection between the demon and myself. But I think that's pretty risky, because-"
"Understood. Please stand by--we will be approaching your position within the next few minutes."
"'We'? What do you mean... Wait, you didn't let me finish... I don't think I have a few minutes... I don't think this will work... Amethyst?" There was no reply. Aeon cursed to himself and look at where Nathan was. Strangely, he stopped at an intersection, although the Walk sign was lit. In one single moment all of the blood disappeared, leaving no trace of it behind on Aeon's body or otherwise. Simultaneously the crowd erupted in a frenzied conglomeration of screaming and running, and it parted a neat circle, with Nathan in the center.
A few moments later, Nathan turned around slowly, his gaze fixated directly at Aeon. Reacting quickly, he removed the communications crystal from his mouth and placed it in his pocket, at the same time drawing his adaptive tool with his other hand, but otherwise doing little with it.
As soon as the entire intersection was devoid of people other than the two, Nathan made a move. There was no transition between him standing still and him running at full speed, making use of another illusion to gain the element of surprise. He ran in an erratic zig-zag path, at brief times even running backwards. This lasted for about three seconds before Nathan finally made an attack.
At once Aeon raised the shield, narrowly blocking a direct hit. Nathan retreated a full twenty feet with one step, then attacked again from another direction. Aeon, more prepared this time, easily sidestepped out of the way. As soon as Nathan retreated again, Aeon extended a thin fiber from his adaptive tool, with a small bulb on the end. This bulb moved about erratically, then attached itself on Nathan's knife and encased his hand and the knife in metal. Nathan did not seem to be perturbed by this, and continued to attack with his other hand, sending waves of energy as he did before.
Dammit! Aeon continued to dodge and block the attacks as he began thinking of some sort of counter, or at least some form of escape. As he thought, Nathan taunted at him.
"The sirens. The screams. My appearence. Fatigue. Lack of both eyes and hence lack of depth perception. All of these mean that your concentration is broken and you are in a severe disadvantage. I can see it already. Your movements are pure guesswork. You are relying on instinct and reflexes rather than your usual well-thought out strategy. How long can you keep this up? Let's find out!"
It is difficult to walk through a pool of blood that goes up to one's ankle without becoming nauseous or attracting attention. It becomes even more difficult when police cars race through the streets accompanied by dozens of sirens, splashing more blood everywhere. Only Aeon's experience with illusions kept him from vomiting or otherwise giving up on his slow pursuit on Nathan, who continued to look as if he was mutilating every single person in his path.
Aeon was thoroughly convinced that Nathan was fully aware of his presence. However, there was little he could do to change the status quo at the moment. Aeon had to wait for Nathan to make a move--well, a publicly-visible move--before doing anything himself.
He took this moment to communicate with Amethyst. Unexpectedly, he heard sirens on the other end.
"What's going on over there?"
"The... authorities have been notified and are attempting to apprehend Eximo and myself. I am currently on the roof of a department store, and am formulating a plan of escape. What is the situation for you?"
"I've been following Nathan for a while. This illusion is getting more nauseating by the moment. Right now it looks as if the streets are filled with blood."
Amethyst paused for a moment before replying. "This seems strangely similar to the illusions you used before in the first round. I believe I remember you taking control of a poltergeist in that round. Can you do the same with the demon?"
"Uh, that's a bit complicated. I was able to gain a bit of control over the spirit--called the Lybrarian, I think--because it attempted to gain control over me. There's this rule in which all interfaces are dual-way. For example, if someone tries to read your mind it is always possible to read their mind at the same time. Also, I think the Lybrarian allowed me to have some control... I think it thought we did not belong there, and it believed I could find some way to get everyone else to leave."
"Alright. Then what do you need to do the same with the demon?"
"An interface. Some kind of mental connection between the demon and myself. But I think that's pretty risky, because-"
"Understood. Please stand by--we will be approaching your position within the next few minutes."
"'We'? What do you mean... Wait, you didn't let me finish... I don't think I have a few minutes... I don't think this will work... Amethyst?" There was no reply. Aeon cursed to himself and look at where Nathan was. Strangely, he stopped at an intersection, although the Walk sign was lit. In one single moment all of the blood disappeared, leaving no trace of it behind on Aeon's body or otherwise. Simultaneously the crowd erupted in a frenzied conglomeration of screaming and running, and it parted a neat circle, with Nathan in the center.
A few moments later, Nathan turned around slowly, his gaze fixated directly at Aeon. Reacting quickly, he removed the communications crystal from his mouth and placed it in his pocket, at the same time drawing his adaptive tool with his other hand, but otherwise doing little with it.
As soon as the entire intersection was devoid of people other than the two, Nathan made a move. There was no transition between him standing still and him running at full speed, making use of another illusion to gain the element of surprise. He ran in an erratic zig-zag path, at brief times even running backwards. This lasted for about three seconds before Nathan finally made an attack.
At once Aeon raised the shield, narrowly blocking a direct hit. Nathan retreated a full twenty feet with one step, then attacked again from another direction. Aeon, more prepared this time, easily sidestepped out of the way. As soon as Nathan retreated again, Aeon extended a thin fiber from his adaptive tool, with a small bulb on the end. This bulb moved about erratically, then attached itself on Nathan's knife and encased his hand and the knife in metal. Nathan did not seem to be perturbed by this, and continued to attack with his other hand, sending waves of energy as he did before.
Dammit! Aeon continued to dodge and block the attacks as he began thinking of some sort of counter, or at least some form of escape. As he thought, Nathan taunted at him.
"The sirens. The screams. My appearence. Fatigue. Lack of both eyes and hence lack of depth perception. All of these mean that your concentration is broken and you are in a severe disadvantage. I can see it already. Your movements are pure guesswork. You are relying on instinct and reflexes rather than your usual well-thought out strategy. How long can you keep this up? Let's find out!"