Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 19:02:42 GMT -8
Supplies were one thing, but the lay of the land was also important. Cain carefully stepped his way through the rubble of a destroyed building, taking great pains to keep himself from making too much noise.
No point in drawing unwanted attention to himself just yet.
Crouching behind the remnants of a window, he took a moment to brush the hair out of his eyes. He hadn't brought anything with him, as this was no supply run. No, today was exploration for its own sake, and finding just what sorts of bandits and organizations were left in this area.
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Mar 20, 2013 21:25:50 GMT -8
Mathew strode alone through the streets of Dragon territory. This was his land, his home. There was nothing for him to fear here as he was the master of his own domain. Stopping in the middle of the street he glanced around. His eyes moving past the window that Destiny hid behind. It was lucky for him that he was still so Mathew did not pick up vibrations from him through the stone.
Dropping down he slammed his hands to the ground and the Earth rumbled in protest. The buildings around him shook and trembled but the one that collapsed was on the other side of the street of the one that their visitor was hiding in. Slowly Mathew stood up and cracked his neck as he looked over the rubble. Deliberate steps taking him closer to the rubble. He wanted to see how much of it he could use, and how much needed to be disposed of.
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Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 21:38:18 GMT -8
Cain watched the man silently, unsure of what to make of the fact he was on his own. It wasn't until the earth itself started to shake that his eyes widened considerably.
This was showing great promise. This was why he was here.
Shifting slightly, but careful not to make noise, he took a moment to stand more, peeking around the window to get a better look.
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Mar 20, 2013 21:45:50 GMT -8
Mathew did not hear the shifting but he felt it. Tiny vibrations in the ground. Heavier than a mouse or a cat. But small. He was being watched. A small smile crept across his face as he wondered what it could be. Another assassin? A spy perhaps? Maybe a lost Crow that was checking on their defenses? No matter, he would make a show of power.
Instead of going through the rubble for usable crap he would shift his arms and take a deep breath focusing his energy in to his feet before slamming his right foot in to the stone. His hands coming together as he did so. Once more the ground shook and protested as the rubble from the building sunk in to the ground itself, being engulfed by the stone until there was nothing but smooth stone where a building once stood. The process would take several minutes, but it would be complete engulfment. Mathew would return later for the scraps.
Without even taking his eyes off of the spot that the building once stood he would speak up. Loud enough to make sure that whoever was watching would be able to hear.
"If you are here to try and kill me you are doing a shitty job of it. Why don't you come on out and show your face."
If the young man complied Mathew would turn to face him. The claw marks that Delilah left on his face were fading and no longer sore. But the four slashes ran down from his left eye to the right side of his jaw. He was no stranger to battle.
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Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 21:58:54 GMT -8
Cain would watch with naked interest on his face as the rubble is dealt with. The lack of apparent effort it took interested him almost as much as the act itself, and a small smile spread across his face.
At least, until the man spoke.
Chasing away the smile into something that looked far more neutral, Cain stepped out from the window, slowly but casually. A nod toward the area the rubble used to be would indicate exactly what Cain found interesting.
"How did you do that?"
Geniune curiousity.
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Mar 20, 2013 22:07:00 GMT -8
He looked over the man. Deliberately taking time to appraise him and stare at him in silence. He wondered if the guy knew where he was. Probably not if he was asking how he did that. Because if he knew where he was he would know who Mathew was. And then he would know about Qi. It was interesting, and showed potential. He could always use another tool. Though it was also possible that the guy was faking it to lure him in to a comfort zone. They would see though, he would not let the man leave untested.
"I harnessed my inner energy, or soul if you believe in that, in to a point at my feet. From there I used the impact to inject it in to the stone and forced it to move according to my desires."
Because Stone had to be pushed and forced. It did not want to move easy. He imagined water would be very different. Because Water was always moving, and always taking the path of least resistance.
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Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 22:13:39 GMT -8
The smile returned to Cain's face. Yes, this was perfect, indeed.
"Is that the extent of it?"
Then, as if an afterthought.
"Or rather, does anyone else have that same sort of ability?"
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Mar 20, 2013 22:16:22 GMT -8
"No, it's not the extent of it. And everyone has the potential for something like this. It depends on if you are strong and smart enough to reach that potential."
He shrugged. He knew he wasn't the only Earth Bender. Qi's were not unique in the world, but he also knew that there was a wide variety of them, and elementalist like himself were only one small fraction of the potential in the world. He wondered what this boy's potential was. And if he had what it took to reach it.
"Do you know where you are?"
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Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 22:24:11 GMT -8
"Hm."
Cain rubbed his chin slightly, as if in thought, but was inwardly very pleased to hear this. However, before he could continue on with his questioning, it seemed the man had one of his own. Cain gave a bit of a shrug.
"...southwest from where I used to live, is about as specific as I could tell you. I've been on the road for quite some time."
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Mar 20, 2013 22:27:30 GMT -8
He looked at Cain with hard eyes, but his lips tugged upwards in to a dark smile. Out of town then, he wouldn't know where he stood, or who he was talking to. It was kind of funny, the man stumbled in to the presence of one of the most powerful people in the state. He was very lucky. Or horribly unlucky.
"Here there be Dragons. You've stumbled into their Lair."
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Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 22:30:59 GMT -8
"Dragons?"
Cain's smile only grew.
"I've fought men who call themselves devils, demons, but never dragons."
He kept his stance neutral, however.
"How did you get that power?"
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Mar 20, 2013 22:34:05 GMT -8
His smirk remained as the man spoke about demons and devils. He didn't doubt it. They were only titles. Mathew himself was also a God. Ares God of War to be exact, but unlike the majority of the other Gods he had no delusions of what he really was. He was still man, but he was just better than most.
His arm shot outward toward the man, the stone that he kept coiled around his body shooting out of his sleeve as a blunted pillar. It was aiming to slam right in to the man's stomach. A test of his reactions.
"I grasped it."
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Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 22:49:54 GMT -8
Cain threw himself horizontally, causing the pillar to strike a glancing blow against his side. With a grunt of pain, he pushed himself back to his feet, then threw himself into a sprint towards the man.
Given the Dragon's power, there was no way Cain could escape if he didn't want him to. Instead, he would have to find a different solution. Still, he had no delusions as to how this particular fight would end.
Should he manage to close the distance unmolested, Cain would throw a fist directly at the man's face.
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Post by Mathew Amtrum on Mar 20, 2013 22:55:22 GMT -8
Impressive, he managed to react to the pillar. Most people were surprised by the extra reach the first time. That meant he was perceptive, he was smart. And he was choosing to push the offensive rather than run. Reckless at first glance, but if he ran Mathew could just stab him in the back. He was out classed. So in the situation he was doing what Mathew would do. Either fight to impress, or make it as hard as you can to die.
He would find himself unmolested and the fist slammed in to Mathew's face, though he did not seem to feel it. He would learn that Dragons were never without their own individual tricks.
Mathew's right hand moved to try and grab Cain's fist and lift it up before slamming his left hand in to his armpit, his fingers pressed together like a spear.
ED set nulls used 1/3
Backlashes used 0/1
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Destiny
Adept
Justice demands retribution.
Posts: 154
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Post by Destiny on Mar 20, 2013 23:04:31 GMT -8
The lack of reaction to the punch, even as it struck, was enough to cause Cain's eyes to widen in alarm. Yet, perhaps more horrifying was being grabbed by the hand. It was simple logic: grappling with someone who was resistant to your blows was trouble, plain and simple.
Cain threw himself backwards, using the dragon's own grip to support his weight and lift his legs off the ground. While this didn't protect him fully from the attack, it would barely be enough to let the fingers slice across his chest instead.
Cain would then drive his legs out in a double kick, attempting to strike the man in the chest with both feet.
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