Third Duel

[misplacedxsheath]

*Margulis is standing outside in a wide clearing, a saber held in his telekinetic grip. He swings the sword through a series of complicated patterns, designed more to hone control of one's weapon than to deal harm to an imaginary opponent, and then sheathes the weapon before looking at the scroll.*

I seem to have finally gotten enough practice with telekinetic control to wield my blade effectively. With that in mind, I think it's time I got some more practical experience using a weapon in this manner. And given the existence of a dojo, I doubt I'm the only one here with an interest in the art of combat.

If anyone's interested in sparring, come to the gap between the town and the forest. But be forewarned; my physical abilities far exceed those of an ordinary person of my build and I have access to several abilities comparable to combat magic, some of which I have yet to find anything similar to in my studies of the native magic. That said, even if you do find yourself outclassed, I'll do my best not to bring you any actual harm.

Comments

[misplacedxsheath]

I'm no stranger to the concept of children being capable in combat.

[tsunpony]

All right, I'll swing by when I'm done chores here then.

[misplacedxsheath]

Take your time, I already have another challenger that should keep me occupied for a time...unless you care to witness a demonstration before you take the field yourself.

[tsunpony]

I have to get the barn raked first, so I'll see you in an hour if you're ready then. It shouldn't take me too long.

[misplacedxsheath]

I doubt the fight will take that long. I'll see you then.

[tsunpony]

All right, see you then.

[In an hours time, she arrives.] Hey. You were looking for that sparring partner, right? I'm Ako.

[misplacedxsheath]

Margulis. From your earlier introduction, I presume you have no issue with me using elemental attacks?

[tsunpony]

Yeah, if you don't mind me using an attack here or there.

[Holding up her Cure Module, she commanded,] Come, Dodori!

[And in a flash of light, she was dressed in a frilled outfit. Skipping the introduction, Ako nodded.] I'm very sturdy in this form. Don't worry about hurting me.

[misplacedxsheath]

*He's not even phased by that. Though at this point, it's arguable if anything can surprise him.*

And I'm quite durable as well, so the same goes for you.

*He's already watching her movements, holding his sword between them as he looks for an opening. He'll let her have the first move, a way of judging her abilities and fighting style.*

[tsunpony]

[He said he had powers, so if they were ranged, the first thing was to take things into account. Ako darted forward after nodding to begin the attack, and she sweeps in with a frontal punching attack.]

[misplacedxsheath]

*He blocks with the side of his sword, flame flaring to life around the blade as it moves, and pushes back in an attempt to knock her off balance. If that's successful, he'll dart in with unnatural speed with a flaming punch of his own.*

[tsunpony]

[Flames huh, good call. Ako backs off with the push back but she doesn't get knocked off balance, only flashing into a quick motion to block his punch with a rainbow piano wall which makes a electronic keyboard sound when or if it impacts.]

Not bad. [Her free hoof glowed and a ball flared to life in the shape of a note as she thrust it at him.]

[misplacedxsheath]

You're decent, yourself.

*He counters with a fireball from his own free hoof, already starting the motion of leaping back from the inevitable clashing of the two attacks.*

But don't think you've seen the best I have to offer.

[tsunpony]

[Leaping back, Muse smirked as she nodded.] Well I've seen enough. You can probably dodge this too.

[Thrusting her hooves forward in a throwing manner, twenty tiny note spheres appeared and fired at Margulis, all of them at half strength of its usual explosive impact.]

[misplacedxsheath]

*He doesn't dodge, but instead sweeps his sword around. A wave of fire follows the blade, creating a temporary shield to set off the notes long before they reach him. He then stomps with both front hooves, sending bolts of electricity along the ground toward her.*

It'll take far more than that to even have a hope of injuring me.

[tsunpony]

[The wave of energy sent Ako into the air, but she flipped around and landed on a piano key platform.]

Injury was never my intent but since you asked.

[Flipping over her Cure Module, she blew into it and separated into four other copies for a total of five. Utilizing more numbers than anything else, Ako charged three of her shadows in while one flanked and fired a wave of note bubbles.]

[misplacedxsheath]

Oh, so we're playing that game, are we?

*He jumps straight up, far higher than he should be able to, and shifts into a backflip. When he lands, he waves one hoof in the air, as if tracing a sigil.*

Asman Verethragna Asura!

*Symbols appear on the floor under and next to him, and suddenly there's two of him, impossible to tell apart without magical senses. And both are sending out waves of fire.*

[tsunpony]

[Two of them defended with rainbow pianos while the third circled around, darting under a wave, and cracking her arm forward like a whip.

Moving the fourth and fifth into position, a keen eye might notice a five pointed star being assembled as lines traced between the opponents.]

If you want, better dodge this. Precure Shining Circle!

[The world abruptly turned golden. Better dodge, it's a huge aoe.]

[misplacedxsheath]

*With his perceptive nature and double vantage point, he does see what she's up to. He's making for the edges of that star even before her warning, both bodies moving in a blur too fast for the human eye to track. One of them might have lost a few tail hairs, though.*

[tsunpony]

[The barrier star goes up, and blasts energy up into the sky before Ako terminates the attack. She grins a little.]

You're pretty good.

[misplacedxsheath]

*One of the stallions just chuckles, while the other one actually speaks.*

I've been training in this since I was younger than you are. I'd have to be ashamed if I was unable to avoid such an attack. Now I believe it's my turn.

*The duplicates twirl their blades around and plunge them into the ground, causing arcs of electricity to lance up and cover the area between the two of them. No wonder they made for opposite edges of the attack.*

[tsunpony]

[There really wasn't any room to dodge to either side with that, so Ako went straight up, leaping a prodigious height far above the battlefield as her duplicates vanished.

Instead of waiting to come down, she fired a halo of bubble notes at the pair, hoping to cover the battlefield with them.]

[misplacedxsheath]

*Likewise, this doesn't look feasible to dodge. Instead, he has both bodies spread a sheet of flame above them, intending to burn the notes before they can reach either of him.*

[tsunpony]

[The notes erupted into massive clouds of smoke, obscuring the area as five opponents burst from all sides, Ako having done her duplication trick again and moving in for a hand to hand attack.]

[misplacedxsheath]

Paschar!

*In an instant, a pegasus materializes next to the body that has more opponents to deal with. She blocks one attack while both of Margulis' bodies move to avoid the rest of the attackers, barely avoiding injury.*