War Forge (Ares)

[Mathew Amtrum]

With Mathew's body twisting the flame strike would not score a direct hit in Mathew's face, but rather slam against the side of his face causing him to stumble back with the second blow as his flesh seared ever so slightly from the brief contact of the first. Snarling in frustration at how sluggish his arm was Mathew moved in to close the distance.

Stone arm raising up as a little hop in Mathew's step shot his knee up to try and slam into John, lifting him up into the stone arm that would be coming down. It wasn't elegant or smooth. But could it be effective?

[John]

It was! John was unprepared for the new speed of an attack like the knee strike, then the hammer strike of the earth arm would throw John to the ground, landing on his three limbs he knew was a bad spot, even from the slight blur of pain in his vision he would roll away, and push to his feet.

John would finally take his muay thai stand bouncing his right knee in front of him, advancing slowly before stepping in on a bounce of his right foot, twisting he'd shoot the foot out heel first from low to high attempting to catch Mathew in the jaw. This would leave John vulnerable from the sides and the kick itself was vulnerable. The kick would be drawn back if not interrupted in some way using its retracting momentum like a spring to shoot out his fire elbow in a back spin aimed for Mathew's stomach.

[Mathew Amtrum]

Again, it wasn't a matter of could Mathew dodge or stop the blow. He could in a few ways. But could he do it with the arm. Could he use it? Bringing the stone arm up to try and block the blow, just to slow to prevent it from catching Mathew's Jaw, snapping his head back up he reached out to grab it. Once again to slow, if only just.

By the time the back spin came however his arm was already extended which made it easier to react to. His stone arm snapping to the side in an attempt to slam into John's side before the elbow would hit Mathew's stomach.

[John]

The hit would land on John's exposed ribs, luckily though John was wearing his upper body protection which would soften the blow if only slight. I mean, how soft can you really make solid stone feel. The force was immense alone pushing him in a slide away, causing John to lose balance enough to have to drop to a knee , reaching down with his real arm and gripping the dirt and digging in his toes so he didn't go very far he'd use this new grip to launch himself at Mathew and into the air from low and diagonally to high reaching out with both the real hand and the flame hand to grip Mathew's head and pull it into the knee he was throwing now.

[Mathew Amtrum]

He was moving forward as John leapt up and over Mathew's head, both hands grabbing his face, and the flame hand searing his flesh again as the knee slammed into his face head on. His lips swelling as blood filled his mouth, but like so many opponents that took to the air Mathew would likely have him in his gasp. Literally.

The stone arm has moved forward and upward to try and grab John as he moved overhead. And if he managed to get a grip on the man he would hurl his stone hand down to give John a quick lesson in gravity.

[John]

John was actually at this point attempting to plant himself up there getting ready to drop some flaming elbows on the top of Mathews head, but Mathew would get a hold of John, throwing him to the ground violently. There was no bounce just a dull thud.

John would hold his breath and twist to kick Mathew at the knee's to try and bring him down and away from John himself so he could roll and try to catch his breath.

[Mathew Amtrum]

The blow to the knee connected and caused his leg to buckle. And the added weight of the stone arm didn't do much for balance. He had to let go of John, the arm lengthening to slam into the ground before Mathew fell down to more than a knee.

This would give John his roll and chance to catch his breath as Mathew picked himself up, leaning on his stone arm that was melded with the stone below.

"Well that is handy."

He said with a small snort as he drew his hand out of the stone, momentarily distracted as he watched his hand reform into a normal looking hand. Other than being stone that is.

[John]

John would get off his stomach and hands and knee's. Wipe some blood mixed saliva from his chin, and charge once more, bringing the flaming arm around and slashing it outwards, snapping it back at the last second extending it like a whip. Aiming for Mathews center as a distraction so when he finally did get close enough his left right jab combo would be able to go in. Both aimed for the head.

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew brought the stone arm down at the whip, but then it was gone and the attacks were coming for his head! His arm was still slow and awkward to move so instead he ducked down to duck under the blows and slam his shoulder into John.

[John]

John wasn't expecting the shoulder charge from Mathew, especially with how slow he'd been moving up till this point with the arm. Though he was able to hook his arms onto Mathew's head, dropping a few elbows into the upper back/head area as he was driven back.

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew grunted with the blows to the back of his head and neck. Spots dancing in front of his eyes with each blow as he continued to charge forward to ram John into the side of the forge!

[John]

John's back slammed hard into the forge and his grip went completely, losing the concentrations the fire arm vanishing for a few seconds before coming back as he tried to breath inward and shoot the arm up at Mathew as it formed.

[Mathew Amtrum]

Instinctively Mathew hopped back from the fire arm as it shot out at him granting John breathing room as Mathew's face almost got scorched by his flame. However the moment of doubt cleared quickly and Mathew lunged forward, both hands reaching out to try and grab the God and throw him to the ground.

A move that if successful would have Mathew dropping down on him, sending a rain of punches down on the smithy with both flesh and stone arms.

[John]

John would hit the ground pretty hard, losing more air from the lungs that he needed right now. Noting that Mathew intended to ground and pound, John would spread the fire out like a shield arm in front of him blocking best he could.

"Alright, I give!"

No need to get injured. Just a test.

[Mathew Amtrum]

The first few were blocked pretty damn well! And when the smith gave in Mathew would relent, picking himself up and even offering a hand to the young God to help him up. There was no shame in how the fight had gone for Summers. Quite the opposite. It showed that his work and craftsmanship was quite impressive. Moving the arm was much easier now.

"You do good work smithy."

He said with a small bow of his head. The man had given him a gift after all. Even if it was part of his job. But that did not mean that Mathew did not appreciate the work that he put into it. He could have half assed it.