2714/WMAT B Qual Fiora vs Ezreal

WMAT B Qual Fiora vs Ezreal
Date of Scene:	02 August 2015
Location:	WMAT Arena - Gizard Wasteland
Synopsis:	Fiora, the Grand Duelist vs Ezreal, the Prodigal Explorer!
Thanks to:	Ezreal, for being such a good sport, and a fine opponent!
Cast of Characters:	659, 824

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Ezreal (659) has posed:
    The Prodigal Explorer, Ezreal. While he was a Champion in the League, a one on one fight was something that he was still not overly adept at. However, he had to show his strength outside of the League, without any sort of support or tank backing him up. And so he steps into the Gizard Wasteland, his boots kicking up dust as he walks. This was the battlefield where he would face down the most renown duelist in the League. A woman who not only had the experience he lacked, but was the master of the art they would soon engage in. It's a daunting thought.

    For most.

    For Ezreal, he smiles. If he was able to best Fiora Laurent in a duel, not only would his popularity increase back home, but he would show his strength as a Union ally as well. And if Project Pulsefire was ever going to come to fruition, he would need Union aid. The medallion on his gauntlet sparkles in the light, and he raises it to the sun and closes his fist. "Whenever you're ready!" he calls.

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    Is, indeed, no stranger to the trials of a tournament. Fiora's title, Grand Duelist, speaks volumes about who she is and what she's capable of. The League is, of course, one thing. The Multiverse is another. She's not about to underestimate her opponent, least of all one that she knows, from her own world. She's already whet her appetite for a challenge before this duel, with another. Just to keep her skill sharp. Naturally, she made sure that she won. And here, on an actual stage, her reputation is at stake.

    "As you wish. En guarde."

    The dusty, rocky environment is not all that dissimilar from numerous places within Demacia itself, seeing as how the Shuriman desert borders it. But, Ezreal has gone far further than that. While experience in combat is Fiora's edge, Ezreal's comfort level with the battlefield exceeds hers. He will have that advantage, at least. Raising her drawn blade in a brief salute, the woman kicks off the ground, swiping out with her sword, to strike at the explorer before he can use his amulet's magic to shift himself to a distance, where his range will be an advantage.

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    Ezreal scans the environment, taking in the topography of the area and looking for an advantageous position. His skills with cartography wouldn't help him fight, but it might give him positional advantages when the duel heats up. As a result, he isn't ready for Fiora's quick lunging strike. The blade lashes across his chest, and he leaps back wincing. A thin streak of blood appears across his chest, and he glares toward the Duelist for just a moment. Then his face splits into a smile.

    "Alright then. I can see you're fired up!" he says, chuckling. And then he does what Fiora was trying to avoid. He blinks away, leaving a bolt of magic hurtling toward the woman. He reappears atop a boulder for a moment, before he leaps behind it and presses his back to it. Seems the hunt may be on!

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    Tch! He's a slippery one. She knows what's coming, but the blast of arcane energy produced by the explorer shifting away catches her shoulder, as she gives chase. "Of course, dear! It would hardly be any fun, if I wasn't!" She replies, as she looks up at the boulder, catching a glimpse of him, just before he ducks behind it. Stalking that way, she aims a thrust at the boulder, and lunges forwards with her sword.

    The strike releases an intense vibration in her blade, but she manages to transfer it into the rock, and not her hand. The rock then splits apart in the front, but shatters the other half into hundreds of pieces. It might be a little hazardous to stay close, with those sharp fragments of rock flying around!

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    Ezreal is plotting his next move when he hears Fiora's blade strike the rock. "Oh, seriously?!" he calls, before he cries out in pain. Rocks fragment and launch into his body, and as he staggers away from the now-shattered cover it's with blood dripping from numerous wounds across his form. "I wasn't expecting you to just EXPLODE the damn thing, Fiora! What the hell?" He staggers away, before turning suddenly, a large wave of magical energy firing from his gauntlet. However, instead of aiming for Fiora...

    It's aiming for the ground in front of her. An explosion of dust and earth flies into the air, and Ezreal attempts to use the cloud to cover his movements. However, Fiora might be able to hear him, his boots pounding the ground as he runs... toward her? Yep.

    He leaps into the air, swinging his magical gauntlet straight toward Fiora's face. Before contact would be made, there's another pulse of the arcane, a bolt of magic flying from his fist to enhance his punch! Hopefully.

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    "Fufufu~. Don't think me weak, just because I use a sword.." Fiora retorts, but she's soon on the defensive. That wave of energy? The Trueshot Barrage? Would he pull that out, so soon? But it isn't! He has managed to surprise her a bit, as that dirt and sand most definitely obscure her vision. Hearing aside, him charging in is also unexpected. With her arm up to block the dirt from getting in her eyes, Ezreal feels and hears the satisfying sound of the blow landing, "Ooof!"

    She staggers backward, a few steps, and shakes her head a couple of times. "Hoh. Never thought you'd be the type for up close and personal.. But you did catch me off guard." She stands again, flipping her hair lightly from her face. "But you have wandered into my domain, as well." She lunges, herself, but not with her sword. A feint move, as she does bring it up, as if to strike with it, but draws back, and lashes out with her shin, kicking at the explorer. She spins, quickly, and tries to follow up with a stab with her sword, as well.

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    Ezreal smirks as his attack connects, but Fiora is correct. He's inside her circle of control now, and he's certainly going to pay for doing so. However, his gauntlet's medallion shines as the dust clears in the wake of his punch. "Sometimes, to win, you have to mix thing u--" He evades the feint, then is caught straight away by a shin to the gut. He doubles over, feeling the point of Fiora's sword stab into his side. He groans, then staggers away again. His vision wavers a bit from the pain, but he shakes his head, straightening up. "You... certainly are living up to your name," he says, "You've spent years crafting your art, haven't you?" He smirks, eyes riveting to the Duelist. "I guess that's the difference. Maybe that's what I need to do in order to be stronger, huh? No time for that now, though."

    He rolls away, then blinks. Where did he go this time?

    Behind Fiora. He steps in, aiming to kick at the back of her legs before punching his fist forward. This time, however, his bow forms in his hand, and his second signature attack, the Mystic Shot, forms and fires. "Maybe it's not too late though."

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    Fiora nods, "I have. Honing it, like the edge of a blade. It's not just your weapon you need to sharpen. Body and mind, as well. All are important." She blinks, as the blond marksman shifts again, and ends up behind her. The kick to her legs staggers her again, and then the near point-blank mystic shot? That certainly is enough to floor the duelist, Fiora sent tumbling forwards. Thankfully, she's able to roll back to her feet, and once she is, she's more than ready to try for a counter-attack. Kicking off the rock, she just about vanishes herself.

    A lunge, lightning fast, difficult indeed to actually track with the naked eye. The woman is a blur of silver and steel, as she rushes back into melee range. Even if the lunge doesn't hit, she follows up, drawing her parrying dagger and slashing out with that, as well.

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    There's a look in Ezreal's eyes as he sends Fiora flying. The success of the attack, so far out of his normal attack pattern, gets him thinking. Could he adapt new things to his repetoire? He was smart, perhaps smarter than many in Valoran, but he had a tendency to shirk away from anything strenuous. But now? Things were different. Jinx was a force around here. Fiora was around, still sharp as ever. If he continued to be the same, he might be left behind by both of them. Could he allow that?

    No.

    He gives Fiora a hard look, then blinks his eyes as she travels. It was fast, faster than most could track. Faster than most could deal with.

    Ezreal isn't most, however. He knows Fiora is a close range fighter, and will close the gap. His feet move, almost on instinct, and he throws himself to one side. He feels the sting of blade against his side. However, it's a glancing hit. Cloth rips away and a thin line of blood appears in the wake of the attack, but he avoids the follow-up, smirking as he does.

    "Damn, you're quick! Strong and fast... no wonder you're the Grand Duelist. But there's one thing people forget about my title." He steps forward, drawing his gauntleted hand back. Magic energy pools in his palm, before he thrusts his arm forward in a palm strike toward her center. "I am the PRODIGAL Explorer. There's no situation I can't adapt to!"

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    The blast hits her squarely, sending her back once more. She rights herself quickly, and chuckles, "No.. There's something to be said about adaptability. A battlefield is an ever-changing place. Fluid, shifting, never staying the same." Fiora rolls her shoulders, and takes a breath, "Strength, speed.. they're tools I put to good use. But my most valuable asset.. precision! Knowing where to strike, and when.. You can cripple foes, before they know how to respond!"

    With that, the woman dashes again, but to the side.. And then she goes, in, a wide slash with her sword, a spin.. then a thrust with her dagger. It truly is a dance, as she's able to just change direction by pushing off with one foot, dashing in once more from the opposite side with an identical attack, a slash with her sword and thrust with the dagger.

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    The Explorer chuckles a bit, rolling his shoulders a bit. "That's right," he says, "But I'm no slouch in those departments myself, Fiora." His faces falls as she moves in again. While he's covered in wounds, she seems to keep going, moving back into a bladed dance with both sword and dagger. Ezreal's body rolls with every strike, his body starting to grow slower and heavier with every strike. He can feel himself tiring, weakening, but he straightens up after weathering Fiora's assault. He's covered in lacerations and a couple of stab wounds, but he offers a smirk to the Duelist regardless.

    "Is that it?" he asks. He's falling back to taunts, a childish move perhaps, but one he hopes to use to throw Fiora off her rhythm. He lowers his body, sinking to a kneel. Is he... submitting?

    No way.

    He slams his gauntlet into the ground, pulsing his magical energy into the earth. Beneath Fiora, the ground begins to shift and shake violently before a column suddenly rockets straight upward, hoping to catch the Duelist and send her flying skyward!

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    Fiora lets out a huff, at that little remark. "You don't change, do you?" She realized, of course, he has something up his sleeve. After fighting alongside Toph the other day, she should've seen this one coming, really. It's straight out of her book. The duelist is launched up into the air, struck rather hard by the pillar of rock. She loses her dagger in the process, but thankfully not her sword. Being airborne doesn't seem to dissuade her, however, and she manages to twist herself around so that when she does come down, she'll be ready to fight. In fact, the moment a foot touches the ground, she lunges forward, sharply and quickly. Another blinding burst of speed, and a very quick counter-attack.

But, all Ezreal will feel as she passes is air. An afterimage? Can she really move that quickly? Proven, perhaps by the fact that she really is behind him, and has already reversed direction entirely, for an identical attack from behind!

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    Ezreal smirks. His brash nature was not something he tried to hide, after all. It was well-known among members of the League how cocky he could be. However... to use it as a tool? That might be new. He stands up, watching Fiora carefully. He knows she's fast, but to be able to be on the move immediately on touchdown catches him offguard.

    Or does it?

    As the afterimage passes through and Fiora approaches from behind, she would feel her sword hit him. However, not to the degree she was looking for. It slashes across his back, but doesn't bite in before he flickers and blinks away. He reappears a short distance away, back to Fiora's original position, facing her new one. He winces, the pain clearly mounting, but he doesn't seem ready to call it yet. Instead, he opens his gauntlet and points it toward the Duelist. "No one can stay static forever, Fiora. Not even me! Especially not me!" There's a flash of light, and then a large volley of Ezreal's basic bolts begins pouring from the gauntlet, all lancing toward Fiora and slicing through the air. It's not the Trueshot, but it's certainly a...

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    Fiora can parry several of the attacks, but not all of them. Not close enough. Several of them hit, enough to stagger her and throw her back again, the woman short of breath, for sure. She's definitely at something of a disadvantage, now, if she can't land any solid blows on him. She'll need to do the same. Think outside of her box. So, that's just what she decides to do. "Mm.. You've grown some, since last we met.. But it would be foolish, to think I haven't done the same." Perhaps a little improvising is in order. She dashes, and fast. Very fast. Straight at the explorer. But only just a very short distance, sword outstretched. But, she does it so quickly..

    That a loud /boom/ echoes amongst the rocky outcroppings of the Gizzard Wastes, shuddering through the one they're standing on, and sending a very solid blast of air straight at him. What's more, the very leading edge of the blast is sharp. Enough that it carves into the rock beneath her feet. Who knows how well he might handle getting /hit/ by this?

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    Ezreal closes his fist, drawing into a defensive stance as his volley flies. Her words cause him to smirk, but it's a sad one. "I know you have, Fiora," he says, "And I haven't enough. Not yet." He can almost sense a change in the air, but he stands there, watching the Duelist with bright eyes. He's trying to study, watch, and predict her next move. Unfortunately, however, he can't figure her out soon enough, and even his best guess doesn't begin to prepare him for her actual strike. There's a boom. Why... why is there a boom?

    The air itself rends Ezreal, causing him to scream out as he's blasted back. He bounces across the ground, rolling along the dust until finally falling to a stop. He doesn't immediately reclaim his feet, though he does stir. He's still able to move, but as he stands up it's clear he's starting to get worn out. However, his eyes are still bright. There's a cut across his entire face, showing the trail of Fiora's wind slash. He doesn't seem to notice, however, eyes focusing on Fiora.

    "When did you think of that one?" he asks, before he smirks. "Never expected a ranged attack from you. But it won't be enough!" He draws his gauntleted hand down, magic energy shining around the fist, before he launches it straight up into the air. There's another explosion as a massive ball of mana rockets straight above the Explorer. It stops about three stories over his head, before it becomes unstable. Ezreal glances up at it, smirking before it silently detonates, energy rocketing in a slanted path toward the Duelist, aiming to blast the entire area around her!

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    Fiora glances up, as Ezreal charges his next attack. For her, though, now is the time to act. Will she stay still? Of course not! But, even if she tries to evade, it won't matter. That's a powerful blast, right there. So, she does the next best thing. "Won't it?" She takes the same exact stance, and readies to lunge with her sword. "I've come up with this sort of thing, just for the Tournament." A short lunge, just as that unstable mass of energy reaches the apex of her striking distance. And out it comes. That wall of air, the precise aim of her sword. The very tip of it finding whatever foci the energy is useing to stay.. Solid? Intact? Either way, only a couple of arcs hit the duelist herself.

    It grazes some of her armor, but little else. The rest of it? Well, all of that disrupted energy has to go somewhere. And that slash of air, the blast that had previously just been a sharp gust, is now roiling with all that redirected energy, too. "A duelist always knows when to meet force head on!"

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    Riposte. Damnit.

    Ezreal should've expected the move to come out at some point, but not for that attack. This one, in particular, took a lot of magical power to form, and now it's rolling through the air, turned back on him by the sheer force of Fiora's will and prowess. As the wave washes over him, his scream is lost in the sound of wind around him. An explosion of dust rises around him, hiding his form. But, it doesn't matter. Surely an attack of that caliber, combined with his already weakened state, had cleaned the boy's clock. Right?

    Right?

    Wrong!

    Tapping into his sheer desire to best Fiora, there's a sound of rushing mana, and a bright blue bow forms in the dust cloud. It grows incredibly wide, and the energy being channeled sunders the earth around Ezreal, creating a localized earthquake. This... was his final gambit. The famed attack that League members feared on the Fields of Justice, those low on life knowing that Ezreal had his sights set on them. From anywhere.

    "TRUESHOT BARRAGE!"

    The arc of golden light races from his person, clearing the air and racing toward Fiora. The ultimate display of his skill, Ezreal sinks to a knee once the attack is fired, panting heavily.

Fiora Laurent (824) has posed:
    No parrying this one. No dodging it, either. Not at this range. All Fiora has now, is to rely on her grit, and hope she has the strength to weather the blast. And, in the end, she does manage to do so, but just barely. Her breastplate is gone, and there's numerous tears in the leather outfit beneath it. Her jacket and the cape on her shoulder are in a similar state. Even her hair is mussed up. How dreadful! But, in the end, the duelist is still standing.

"Ugh.. huff.." Very, very barely. Favoring one side to the other, she approaches her kneeling foe. "Pfah.. Nearly.. Nearly had me.." She manages to spit out, very much out of breath, now. Her honor demands she win, and thus, she'll do. She stands back a pace, and once more brings up her sword to her face. A salute, to a well-fought battle. "But, you surprised me. I hope that your strength grows, as I know mine will. May we meet again, on the Fields of Justice." Her arm whips out, like a snake, and is soon a blur of silver and steel, as multiple stabs are thrown out in the span of only a few seconds. Nothing that would overdo it. But enough that it should take the fight out of the explorer, for now.

Ezreal (659) has posed:
    Ezreal smirks as Fiora withstands the entire force of his Trueshot. It was his last attempt at victory, and as she approaches him he closes his eyes. He doesn't try to reclaim his feet. It'd be a futile effort now, for sure. He shakes his head, then smiles a bit wider. "I guess I've come a small way, but not as far as you or Jinx," he says, "But... to be able to take you this far? I have no regrets. Well fought and well won, Fiora. Your title is as true as your strikes."

    As the blade whips across him, he only feels the first slash before his mind sinks into the fog of unconsciousness. He pitches forward, all semblance of awareness absent as his face hits the dirt.