View source for WMAT C2 Artorias vs. Material-L

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/07/10
|Location=WMAT Arena - Diablo Desert
|Synopsis=Material-L and Artorias face off for the WMAT's C bracket's second round!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=15, 182, 185
|Tinyplot=WMAT 2014
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    The heat of the Diablo Desert would make any reasonable person in black, corroded armor sweat up a storm. Fortunately for those in the audience, we will probably never know if Artorias is dealing with the reasonable reaction to these things. Whether or not it's uncomfortable, that armor will never leave his body. Assuming he could even find anything in his size to wear.<br /><br />    The Abysswalker is currently waiting in the sandblown arena, his sword and shield in hand as he stands tall and imposing. The great knight isn't taking any sort of combat-ready stance, however; for now, he's relaxed, letting his sword rest over his shoulder and his shield settle on the dusty ground.<br /><br />    Somewhere in the stands, an abnormally large wolf howls encouragement, likely keeping a certain small assassin company as they watch.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Material-L is also here, braving the heat!<br />    And by braving we mean that, as she flies and lands on the sand ahead of Artorias, she immediatly begins complaining; clad in full blue and black, although it's really just a leotard with with a skirt, armored gloves, thigh-highs and armored boots. She's even got a cool cape on, dark blue on the outside, light blue inside.<br /><br />    "Who built this place? This is awful! I don't like the heat! They should have the designer fired! Or shot! Or shot out of a cannon to signify him being fired!" Huff.<br /><br />    The nine year old just pouts.<br /><br />    In one of her hands, Vulnificus, her Intelligent Device, currently in its default poleaxe/halberd form, chimes with a smooth, English, male voice:<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><IT HAS MAGIC FOR AIR CONDITION, SIR.></span><br />    "... oh yeah, I can make ice! Aheh... whoops..."<br /><br />    Levi produces a popsicle.<br />    "You want one, mister knight?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Up in the radio stand, a helpful person pushes the microphone down for Metta, the six inch diva Shinki stretching before she steps up to it. Then frowns, and taps at it. Tap. Tap. Tap. "Someone lower it--" Someone does. "Okay." <br /> <br /> "LAAAADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" <br /> <br /> Her perky voice echoes through the microphone. "Pokemon of all types! Magic users of immortality! Shinki bold and tiny! Round two of the WMAT continues as Levi the SLASHER takes on Artorias, the Wolf, the Abysswalker, deep within the rolling dunes and punishing heat of the Diablo Desert!" <br /> <br /> "Come down to the arena, or tune into 900.2/WMAT2 as I take on the hottest job of all: Commentating!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Ah, there's his opponent. Artorias watches as Levi descends, and his head tilts slightly to one side as she begins to pout in regards to the heat. Thankfully, where any normal person would probably point out that they're the /giant wearing pitch-black armor in the middle of the desert/, Artorias just gives a good-natured laugh, stabs his sword into the ground briefly, and leeeans down to accept the popsicle. "How generous of thee, Lady Levi! Thou hast my thanks, and I hope this match dost not melt thee. I wish thee luck!"<br /><br />    The popsicle is lifted to his helmet, where it...just vanishes into the shadows. Artorias tugs his greatsword free again, then stands in a braced posture with his shield held in front of him to prepare for the battle to come.<br /><br />    The moment his opponent is prepared and the match is called, he moves! Not with his sword, but with his shield, shoving it forward into Levi with an opening shield bash.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    The popsicle is great! It's probably some manner of berry flavor. Most likely blueberry or a mix thereof. Even the abyss won't be able to resist!<br /><br />    With food consumed and the heat at least momentarily told to buzz off by the consumption of frozen treats, Levi readies a battle stance as well, nodding intently. "Yep! I hope you're fun, too!"<br /><br />    Artorias slams into the Material with his shield almost immediatly; the much tinier opponent brings her Device up, letting the steel impact the shaft of her polearm. The impact is pretty devastating-- though she stands her ground, by virtue of strength alone, Artorias would know from experience that blow would have shattered a man's arms, and magical or not, the construct before him must not be too different in that respect. She strains to actually keep the shield back. She obviously wouldn't be able to hold him like that for much longer.<br /><br />    "You're strong! And HUGE!"<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><SLICER FORM.></span><br /><br />    The poleaxe's blade tips over ninety degrees, opening up and forming a bright blue scythe using magic and mana as the blade. She suddenly surges forward, pushing into the shield and swinging the scythe, trying to cut through with enough force to push the massive knight back from his assault.<br /><br />    As with all other magic Levi utilizes in the tournament, it is completely nonlethal. It'll cut and melt or burn through clothes and armor, but never skin! It can leave bruises, though, and it'll hurt just as bad. It does allow doing things like "cutting straight through someone" without actually leaving them bisected messes, at least. Makes tournament officials happy!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "Oh! Ouch! I felt that one! The good Ser Artorias has mooved forward with a vicious shield bash! I felt that one rattle my bones, and I don't even have bones! Heck, that shield bash would've flattened me! The lady Levi must /really/ be feeling that one! But no--" <br /> <br /> "She doesn't let it stop her at all, using her poleaxe - No, no, is that MAGIC? Oh, she's got a scythe, and -- ooooh, that looks nasty. Perhaps the Lady Levi is really the bringer of death, rather than the slasher as her titles let it go!" Metta's by now got her wings equipped and is floating between a series of microphones as she shouts and cheers.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    While Artorias wasn't necessarily /expecting/ Levi to hold her ground against that powerful hit, he isn't exactly taken by surprise. The Multiverse has shown many, many strange things already, so a tiny girl managing to hold back the crushing swing of a shield far larger than she seems par for the course by now.<br /><br />    "Such is my reputation, indeed! Thou art remarkably strong as well, young one." He sounds a little muffled. Probably talking around what's left of that /delicious/ popsicle.<br /><br />    And then she /does/ surprise him, pushing back against his shield with remarkable strength. Artorias is renowned for the difficulty people have in making the Wolf just flinch, let alone stumble; Levi strikes him with nearly enough strength to do just that, turning his shield away enough for her scythe to come around and cleave along his side. The Abysswalker winces in pain, but doesn't falter just yet. He has a good opening here, after all.<br /><br />    Just before he leaps back to open the distance, Artorias twists down to give Levi a sturdy clonk on the head with the pommel of his greatsword, immediately afterward leaping back with a rolling tumble that's far more agile than anyone with his size and equipment should be able to pull off.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    "Huh-uh! I'm the Material of Power, it's my thing!"<br />    She's not really bragging, it's really her thing! Like, her entire purpose in the three-way program. Wisdom, power and lordship! Well, leadership. Rulership. You could use a few words for it.<br /><br />    Rather than allow herself to get smacked on the head by the much larger and much stronger man, she decides to duck-- she undershoots it a bit, and Artorias still nicks the top of her skull, which probably rings her way more than she'd let on. It takes her a moment to realize that is, in fact, the massive knight just roll-tumbling back and not a tumbleweed or something.<br /><br />    "So how come you don't have a face?"<br /><br />    Straight to the point.<br /><br />    She stands back up straight, extending Vulnificus to her side fully. About half a dozen orbs of blue lightning appear, just floating there.<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><PHOTON LANCER.></span><br />    "Nuh-uh! I don't wanna Photon Lancer! I wanna Denjinsho!"<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><LIGHTNING BLADE SHOCK.></span><br />    The purple orbs reshape into arrows.<br />    "Thank you~. Shoot!"<br /><br />    And streak for Artorias. Their shape is completely irrelevant, they'd be lightning bolts when shooting for him either way, really.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Metta's wings buzz furiously as she dashes across her reporting area. ""Oh and look at Lord Artorias go! Is he surprised? Such is the way of a device like the one Lady Levi wield! And look at him go! Lord Artorias could've just had it all there! Cause he's rollin, rollin' in the deep!" <br /> <br /> "I'm - oh she ducks! Small grace, ladies and gentlemen! It's always going to have it's part against a larger opponent like Lord Artorias is to the Lady Levi! Is that blue lightning? It's shiny. But -- she wants to wha-- ohhhhhhhh. That's a lightning bolt. You might say he just got hit by an... ELECTRIFYING~ attack, ladies and gentlemen!" <br /> <br /> She laughs. At her own pun. Metta's that type.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    "I hath a face!" Artorias straightens up and immediately lifts his shield in front of him. "'Tis simply so remarkably dashing that I must hide it at all times, lest a plague of swooning falleth upon the populace. We would not want our duel to end so abruptly, would we?"<br /><br />    Yeah he's full of shit.<br /><br />    Even though he has no idea what anything Levi is saying means, he can guess that it has something to do with shooting him. And response to that is to lift his shield higher and brace it more strongly against his arm to prepare for whatever shooty thing Levi has planned for him.<br /><br />    Good for him that his shield is not only strong, but apparently enchanted. That lightning cracks against his shield, but most of the effects are dispersed as he blocks it, mitigating the damage to more of a blunt strain against his blocking arm.<br /><br />    A moment is taken to shout to the announcer's box. "That would be /Sir/ Artorias, milady! I am not yet any sort of Lord!"<br /><br />    And then he's suddenly rushing at Levi's again, only...this time he seems to just be /sliding/ along the ground, pulling his greatsword back so that he can thrust it into Levi's chest when he comes near!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    "E-Eh?! You're too beautiful to show your face?"<br /><br />    Levi is kind of :O right now.<br />    "That sucks! I wanna see!"<br /><br />    She believes him, because she can pretty much buy that being a real thing. It must be awful, living like that. Being so good-looking you can never show yourself anywhere, just, oh nooooo!<br /><br />    She should probably think about the fight for now though. With the lightning orbs pretty much bouncing off his shield, she'll have to think of ways to get around. And here he comes, too, with surprising speed. That sword is pretty much as large as she is, so she will admit a growing desire not to have it stuck inside her.<br /><br />    The Material sidesteps, although not enough to avoid the weapon. It digs into her side and a part of her right arm-- it tears clean through, but doesn't drawn blood. Instead, Levi's form is blurry and pixelated where hit, as if a solid hologram losing its consistency. The missing chunk of arm doesn't seem to make the rest of her arm disconnect, either, but it hurts like hell anyway.<br /><br />    "Aww shucks. That hurts! You're as mean as you must be beautiful!"<br /><br />    The magical girl flies backwards-- she hovers above the ground one or two feet, pulling the scythe back over her head. "Well I can be mean too! KOYOKUZAN!"<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><LIGHT WING SLASH.></span><br /><br />    She swings the scythe, and the blade launches off, a large spinning crescent going straight for Artorias. It'll explode on impact with anything, which includes a shield, the big reason she's using it. 'course, with how sturdy Artorias is, it might not matter.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "Plague of swooning, bull." Metta mutters off radio, mostly to herself. "If we wore masks for beauty Miss Levi and I would both need hoods!" Then she realizes, oops, commentating, and she gets a big indignant at Artorias' correction. <br /> <br /> "Well I never!" <br /> <br /> "However, that in mind, that shield is *Sir* Artorias' salvation as he lifts it up in a block. 'ware that might greatsword though - that is something designed to bring down dragons, not just young fighters in a tournament! But what skill! What beautiful footwork he is showing! I wonder how much Master could get for such a blade... er, well, back to the action." <br /> <br /> Metta floats right back over to the next microphone, pink eyes widening as she gasps. <br /> <br /> "In the words of some of my heros, 'Big bada boom?' BIG BADDA BOOM!" Metta coughs. "Anyways, I don't know quite what Miss Levi is, but she's clearly some sort of magical girl as the sword goes straight through that arm! She lifts into the air, and the scythe goes off, impacting with a slash and blast that'd make anyone proud!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Artorias yanks his arm back again once his strike hits, or at least when it cuts into her arm. Strange, he hasn't met an entity that didn't bleed /something/ before. If Levi's reaction is a sign of anything, though, it still hurt, and that's all he really needs to know.<br /><br />    Also that there's an explosive scythe blade hurtling toward him now, that might help to be aware of.<br /><br />    He attempts to lift his shield, but he's not quite fast enough with getting it into position. The blade strikes right on its edge, catching Artorias in the explosion and actually making him take a step back with a pained wince. Wow, that hurt. Still, he gets his composure back quickly enough, clutching his sword tightly in his hand. "I am afraid I must disappoint thee, milady; only one shalt ever know what lieth behind these shadows!"<br /><br />    The Wolf crouches, then leaps toward Levi, abruptly closing the distance between them. In the middle of his jump, he flips forward in midair, more to build momentum than to look flashy. When he reaches Levi and comes back up from his flip, his sword is raised up into the air to come /slamming/ down onto the girl with his landing, strong enough to make the ground shudder with the impact.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    "Aww, that's no fun!"<br /><br />    Maybe if she cuts the hood off...<br />    There's an idea.<br /><br />    An idea interrupted by ARTORIAS SMASH. He comes down with his massive weapon, taking a leap that puts him even above the hovering Material. And boy he isn't pulling his punches either. Levi uses her scythe to block again, too busy gawking at the speed such a huge opponent can have.<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><DEFENSER.></span><br />    More than just the Device's shaft, there's a bright blue Mid-Childan circle of magic forming itself and tanking the blow. Its presence is short-lived, since it shatters like glass under the strain and then Levi is driven into the ground anyway.<br /><br />    Now on her back, and essentially under the knight, she lets go of Vulnificus with one arm, the other flickering like her injuries areas as it attempts to hold the sword at bay. Her free hand balls up, crackling with lightning.<br /><br />    "THUNDER ARM!"<br /><br />    And up she goes, suddenly-- rather than trying to keep pushing the sword back, she attempts to uppercut Artorias-- well, in the stomach, since she can't actually reach his face-- while mustering some strength to stand again.<br /><br />    If that does not free her he is going to have quite an opening to more or less literally put his foot down on her and keep her from going anywhere.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Metta continues swinging back and forth between her microphones, before dropping down to the desk to pace it as she talks. "Ah, it seems it's enough to catch Artorias and he takes a step back, certainly a monumental amount for the small girl fighting such a large man! Oh, he jumps- what agility! Di-- did he just FLIP!? What madness is this?! He comes down with a nasty sword slam!" <br /> <br /> Metta winces. "Ugh! I'm hurtin', and she probably is too, folks." <br /> <br /> Metta squints at Levi, then strikes a pose, one hand in the air. A little bit of music plays, then she sings part of her next comments gleefully: "cause the thunder rolls - dah, dah, and the Slasher strikes, dah nah! The WMAT fight goes on, in this endless night! And they'll fight on, out of control!" <br /> <br /> Then, back to normal: "Oh, that's going to leave a nasty shock and a burn for him to deal with in the morning! The Lady Levi truly proving that even without her blade she is just as dangerous!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Artorias barely manages to lift his sword again before Levi retaliates. And /boy/ is it a retaliation. Levi's strength is ridiculous for someone so small, and that uppercut slams into his stomach with a sensation Artorias would compare to Gough trying to cure his Abyssal corruption through determined punching. The Wolf grunts in pain and takes another step back, clearing the way for Levi to at least stand.<br /><br />    But the Abysswalker barely leaves himself open for a moment. His sword arm is raised from the recoil of that hit, but with such a large weapon, it's easy to make use of a position like that to his advantage. So, with a shout of effort, Artorias swings it down in a horizontal arc...that sweeps over Levi's head.<br /><br />    Before the girl can wonder how bad Artorias's aim has suddenly become, the knight swiftly spins in place and sinks down slightly, and in the next moment that sword is coming along /again/, only this time it's low enough to cleave along Levi's hip if she doesn't move!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Artorias feints! Or was it just a way to get his momentum going for a second pass? Either way, the trick is successful. Levi ducks-- unnecessarily, and sticks her tongue out at the much larger man. "Nyaha~! I'm tiny, aim low-- OOF--"<br /><br />    Only to be caught by the second pass. Well, not entirely caught-- more her should, at which point she dives backwards, not wishing to keep adding injuries. The result is that Artorias ends up with a fair chunk of her cape on his sword, which tore off in the retreat, and Levi's got a jumbled pixelated mess for a shoulder. Adding to the arm and ribs that are already looking like that.<br /><br />    "Vulnificus~ pleeeeease~"<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc">CALCULATING FASTS PER HOUR. SONIC MOVE.</span><br />    Material-L turns into a literal bolt of blue lightning, and suddenly hurls herself towards Artorias. The speed suggests she can do so before he can even finish a rotation of his sword-- and as she unblurs, she's swinging the scythe in a wide arc, the blade growing much larger for a split second.<br /><br />    "HAKEN SLASH!"<br />    Swipe swipe. It's probably big enough to cut clean through the knight, but it won't leave any marks on him except the feeling of having been cut through, even if it's successful.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "Oh, he uses his blade to help balance himself, I do believe, and he swings-- but-- wa-wait, did he just /miss/?" Metta sounds incredulous. "No, he couldn't have-- OH it's a reverse hit! Oh, that's going to be nasty with the power behind it!"<br /> <br /> Metta flutters to her next microphone, making sure not to keep her eyes off of the action behind them. Then her jaw drops. "Did -- did it just say 'FASTS PER HOUR'?? How is that even a phrase? How does that even -- HOW DOES THIS EVEN WORK. I am a six inch tiny robot capable of using some sort of weird transdimensional storage space and I know things can happen, but--" <br /> <br /> "but /she just became lightning/, what is this, I don't even-- holy crap, that was a good hit though!" Metta may be having a mental breakdown in the announcer area.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Artorias straightens up again once his second swing finishes, chuckling slightly to himself. "'Tis not easy to fight one of thine size, but I think I hath plenty of experience by now regardless!"<br /><br />    Fighting people who turn into literal lightning bolts, though? That's new. So much so that Artorias isn't even given time to think about how to respond, and even if he did, there's the question of whether his shield could even properly /block/ that. No, in that split-second he moves to dodge, tumbling to the side to keep that scythe from slicing right through him. For the most part, he succeeds: the blade doesn't go through him exactly, but it does cleave along his sword arm mid-tumble. It /hurts/, but the stoic knight endures, rolling to his feet again when he lands. Artorias grunts his pain and rolls his shoulder, but he knows he's not going to have much of any time to recover with an opponent this fast. He may be agile himself, but he can't /turn into lightning/.<br /><br />    So the Wolf charges in, holding his black greatsword behind him. As soon as he comes near Levi, he attacks, bringing his sword down on her with a resounding crash! He doesn't stop there, however, as he quickly follows up with two strong horizontal slashes before crouching down and sweeping his sword up to toss Levi into the air. That last strike is matched with a leap as Artorias tosses /himself/ up with the slash's momentum, flipping up and back several yards to open up the distance between them once more.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    The flurry is devastating; if Levi's defenses can hold, barely, against a single attack, a series of slashes with Artorias' strength, when she's already pretty battered and slower as a result, could make all the difference in this match. Levi pouts a little bit; her Device reacts the best way it can think, and evens the field.<br /><br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><LOAD CARTRIDGE. BRAVER FORM.></span><br />    With two mechanical, loud clicks, the head of the scythe goes up, and then slams back down with a hiss of steam. Mana surges through it, and its form changes entirely, from a scythe to the hilt of a massive two-handed sword. The beam of blue light that forms the sword itself afterwards is probably about the size of Artorias' own greatsword, though in the hands of the Material might look completely out of place.<br /><br />    She blocks the first hit-- barely. The second hit causes her to lose balance, and the final hits in the flurry catch her legs, ripping through them. They don't bleed, or lop off, so much as distort and make the girl wince and whine in pain.<br /><br />    But she doesn't fall-- and rather, keeps floating in the air, grabbing her now giant sword Device much tighter than before. "Meany meany meany! You won't even show me your face! I'll just cut your hood off, then I'll see it! Nyyaaaaa! BLITZ FURY~!"<br /><br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><BLITZ ACTION.></span><br /><br />    Mana blade in hand, it is Levi's turn to start slashing wildly at Artorias, with quite a lot of those blows trying to aim at his head and neck-- none of which are lethal, or would physically harm him, but which would be able to cut through the steel and cloth of his armor and clothes, and hopefully take that hood off!<br /><br />    Sadly most of the slashes are taken so quickly that it'd be hard to see exactly what she's doing; she might as well be lightning again.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Artorias lands with a heavy crash, crouching and kicking up sand with his impact, but he doesn't even have a moment to breathe before Levi is assaulting him again. The girl's tenacious, he has to give her that.<br /><br />    The first few swings are blocked well enough with his shield, but this battle is really beginning to wear on Artorias. He can feel his strength in his arm wavering, and so he tries to pull back, suffering a cut across his armored chest in the process. The next hit strikes true; not quick enough to avoid Levi's swing, Artorias finds the blade cleaving right through his neck. He shouts in agonizing pain and the faded blue of his hood is sliced through, revealing a brief flash of white-<br /><br />    But he thinks quickly, ducking down and pressing his sword hand onto his helmet to keep it shading his head. In the process, he spins, and as he rises up out of that corkscrew, his enchanted greatshield is suddenly /hurled/ at Levi like a giant discus.<br /><br />    His now-free hand is then placed on his head to keep his helmet on, ensuring that the torn hood is kept low to hide whatever that brief glimpse of white was. The Wolf pants, catching his breath from that brief thrill of panic before he gives another good-natured chuckle. "Close, close! But as I told thee, young lady, thou art not the one who may see what lieth beneath this helm of mine."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    "Whiiiine! Why not? Who's allowed?!"<br /><br />    With a huff and annoyed sound, Levi extends her free hand forward, and symbols and circles form a large protective shield ahead of it; with a chime from her Device, it's made even sturdier.<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><DEFENSER PLUS.></span><br /><br />    Artorias blade crashes into it, and it requires effort from the Material to actually push against her own shield to send the sword back towards the knight, but not in a way that'll make it harmful. It's more clumsily flying back, probably to lodge itself into the ground next to him or be caught dramatically.<br /><br />    "I wanna know! I WANNA KNOW NOW!"<br /><br />    She's getting a bit annoyed.<br /><br />    Hand still extended, she shouts: "TENHA! RAIJINTSUI!"<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><HEAVEN-RENDING THUNDER GOD HAMMER.></span><br /><br />    Ice cold lightning suddenly crackles into existence all around Artorias, and starts linking together into a cruel chain of electricity and ice. It tries to wrap around him-- to squeeze, to electrocute, to frostbite. And then it detonates into a bright blast of magic, still nonlethal, but hardly fun to take to the face. The sand under the knight will probably be frozen solid as a result, but surely a bit of slippery ground won't bother him.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "Load... load cartridge. Braver form. Oh dear. I'm terrified, and I'm not even /fighting/. Ladies and gentlemen, that is no longer a scythe, that is a massive sword that nearly matches the Sir Artorias' own! She moves so she blacks, and she takes some nasty hits, but then she -- blitz fury. Blitz fury indeed. Ow! That one's going to hurt." <br /> <br /> Metta says, "The tenaciousness Miss Levi is showing is amazing! Ser Artorias however does not let go, although there's -- there was something there, did she just cut through his hood! It seems his worry about who might see under his helm means that while he throws his blade, it just scrapes past her! O! This fight has just gotten /intriguing/!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Artorias quickly steps aside so that the hurtling shield doesn't slam right into him. Instead it crashes into the sand, embedding itself there for now. He's really concerned about hiding his face, because that hand doesn't move from its spot on his helmet. "Ah, that is for me to know and for thee to learn, milady. Patience!" Artorias gives a brief laugh, though it's cut off by a light wince as the pain of his injuries strikes him again. Right, he really needs to get this fight over with, and fast.<br /><br />    Though the fight might be ending in a way he'd prefer it doesn't if he's not careful. Lightning and ice burst around him, and he's suddenly faced with an elemental chain that binds tightly around his form before /exploding/. The knight cries out in pain, and he's actually frozen for a few seconds by that blast. Only for a few seconds, however, for with a sudden strain of effort he bursts free again, shattering ice in all directions.<br /><br />    "...my, thou art a determined one," he remarks, wincing his pain slightly as he steps back. "I believe 'tis time to end this as soon as possible!"<br /><br />    With that, Artorias crouches, then leaps! It's not like his earlier jumps, however; no, the knight could probably clear a house with that jump, casting him high up into the air in a dark mass with remarkable speed. And just as quickly, he's coming down on Levi again with his sword pointed downward, putting his entire speeding weight behind the blade's impact! Such a strike would be lethal against a normal human, but Levi certainly isn't normal, is she?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    "I DON'T WANNA WAIT! I WANNA KNOW NOW! NOW NOW NOW!"<br /><br />    She huffs, she puffs, she rages.<br />    The tiny girl has lost her temper and her cool, and in her childish tantrum allowed Artorias to maneuver in with his leap and aim perfectly. He might as well be a dragoon now!<br /><br />    His landing sees his massive blade slam into the Material, whose form is torn to shreds. There's no blood or gore, just a mass of magic dispersing, and attempting, sloppily, to reform. Anyone else would have become a red smear on the desert sand.<br /><br />    Fortunately Levi is not human.<br /><br />    With a few screeching noises and the flickering lightshow of every single particle of mana still lingerie in the air appearing and gathering together into a cluster, Material-L reforms, sans her cape, with her Barrier Jacket almost ruined, and simulations of blood all over her body. Whether that's actual blood made of magic or just some effect she's adding for the show is a mystery, although she looks absolutely pissed.<br /><br />    "YOU'RE ANNOYING! ANNOYING ANNOYING ANNOYING!"<br /><br />    Vulnificus is swung back over her shoulder and she shoots up in the air, about twenty feet over Artorias. A few dozen blades of blue lightning appear all around her, chained together by arcs of electricity at their hilts.<br /><br />    "RAIJIN! FUUSATSU!"<br />    <span class=" bold_fg_c bg_n ++ hc"><STINGER BLADE. ANNIHILATION SHIFT.></span><br />    With the same mechanical slams and steam as before, the Device loads three cartridges in, and then starts channeling all that power elsewhere.<br /><br />    She swings the sword down.<br /><br />    The hail of electrified, mana-made blades begins, and each and every one of those swords cracks down like a lightning bolt trying to skewer Artorias; a bright orb of light gathers under Levi too, and she's evidently not done.<br /><br />    "BAKUNETSU KEN!"<br /><br />    Cue giant magical girl laser heading down.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Metta does nothing but goes 'eeeee' for a few seconds. It's not high-pitched but it's definitely a noise of surprise/shock/awe. <br /> <br /> then, after that: "The lor... m'good Sir Artorias proving that he is no mere knight. He's up, he's up, and then he's coming down, in an attack I am one hundred percent would be lethal against someone that was Miss Levi and a non-elite of the multiverse! Oh my /god/-" <br /> <br /> Metta stops as Levi reacts. <br /> <br /> Metta, deadpan: "This just in, Miss Levi is impati-- did it just say /annihilation shift/."<br /> <br /> Metta goes silent again except for another bit of 'eeeeee'. Then, once she realizes what's going on, she cries out. "MAGICAL GIRL CANNON. We have a magical girl cannon emergency announcement in the Diablo Desert! Hide your kids! Hide your shinki! Brace yourself! That hurt!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    The giant knight has to yank his sword out of the ground from how deeply it's been embedded. When he stands as Levi reforms, even he with his legendary endurance is slightly stooped. The fact that he /still/ hasn't defeated her yet brings a weight of resignation to his chest. How much can this girl /take/? Artorias has fought /dragons/ who gave in with less than it's taken to bring down Levi!<br /><br />    The girl's tantrum is also enough to rival most dragons. Levi summons so many electric blades, and Artorias's grip on his sword tightens. This is it. He can't give in yet. No matter how much he has to push himself, he has to give it his all!<br /><br />    Even without his shield in hand, Artorias's last burst of energy aids him under that storm of blades. He rushes toward Levi, ducking and rolling and twisting through the assaults. Some graze him, but plenty more strike him solidly; it's only thanks to the Wolf Ring's power that he doesn't crash to the ground, but only stumbles in his rush to meet Levi and give one last /strike/ to finish the battle!<br /><br />    At last, he leaps one more time, just a moment before Levi's last laser crashes down at him. He doesn't clear it; the blast consumes his legs in that rush of power, but still he flies through the air, sword lifted! With one more tremendous /howl/ of effort, he puts his remaining strength in a last downward swing of his greatsword to cast Levi back down to the ground.<br /><br />    His own landing probably won't be much more comfortable.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:15|Material-L (15)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Oh god how is he leaping that high up.<br />    She thought flying would give her the edge!<br />    Artorias is like, NOPE.<br /><br />    As he smashes into her-- and then grounds her, painfully, it becomes obvious that the Material will not be getting back up. She avoids-- narrowly-- being dispersed into mana again, although she is still essentially used as a landing pad by the knight, and his weight is nothing to scoff at.<br /><br />    As she lay under him, she produces a tiny white flag.<br />    She waves it around with her free hand.<br />    "Wuuuuuuh."<br />    Her eyes are doing loops all @_@ like.<br /><br />    She is completely out of it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:185|Metta (185)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "Oh! Oh! The Wolf, the lord, Sir Artorias has just enough power, just enough energy, and that howl echoes through the sky as he throws himself and his greatsword at Levi, just enough to do what seems like to send her out of the competition!"<br /> <br /> Metta pauses for a few seconds. "Yup. That's a white flag. The Lady Levi is out! She is out of it! Congratulations to Sir Artorias!" <br /> <br /> She flips to the broadband comm. "LAAADIES AND GENTLEFOLK! Pokemon, shinkis, and everyone else inbetween! In the Diablo Desert, a scythe fight, a knife fight, a sword fight, and a competition of magic burst out between our two competitors, Levi the Slasher and Sir Artorias! With cunning skill and great endurance, Sir Artorias has won!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:182|Artorias (182)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>    Thankfully for Levi, Artorias doesn't stay on top of her for long after that cloud of sand bursts up around them. With a groan, the knight rolls off once, twice, flopping onto his stomach on the ground. It takes him a few moments to be able to move properly, but he finally manages to shove his sword into the ground and use it as a crutch to slowly, carefully climb up to his knees. Standing's gonna take a bit.<br /><br />    Despite his heavy breathing, he still turns to Levi and lowers his hand from his helmet to rest a fist over his heart. "...excellently fought. Impatient though thou may be, thou were't truly a remarkable opponent. I am only relieved 'twas not a battle for more dire straits!"<br /><br />    He winces, then. Yeah, gonna be a little while before he can get out of there. At least nothing's technically broken.<br> <br>


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