[1 v 1 ] A Wild Horseman Appeared! [Invi + Shun][FIN]

[demon_pachabel]

He'd passed the boil a couple of times - the Stealth Trials, training outside, sometimes he'd heard the boil in the Gym while Invictus sat in the lair of the heirs with the girls. Hardworking, stubborn, even. There was simply something about Shun that had told the horseman that he was working hard.

And Hard work always deserved an opponent of skill to rank oneself against. It wasn't that Invictus thought himself the almighty lord and god of the battledome, but he did know that he had a certain extra degree of skill from experience many students at the school had been unable to topple yet. For that, he was at least a doorpost to measure against.

A letter was written - clean and pristine handwriting, carefully folded, placed in an envelope which was then sealed..... it was very similar to the issued challenge of the Forest Fortress that he'd had the students walk for him (it had since been altered), only this time it called for the Gym instead - a form extension of a challenge to battle.

However, Invictus wasn't about to assume he would win this fight - there would eventually be one with good bite and luck.

He would wait there and then see what happened.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Shun was rather surprised to receive another letter. He recognized the handwriting, but again, he needed Mitsu's help with reading what the contents were exactly. Once they were deciphered, he was rather intrigued to hear what it said. He wasn't sure what called for this sort of challenge exactly, but he wasn't about to pass it up.

Grabbing his jacket, he made his way to the gym, mentally preparing himself as he moved on along. No doubt, this would be a difficult battle for him. He had felt Invictus's power once before. Granted, that time, he was a little less prepared to feel it. Regardless, he was going to give this his all, and see just how well he matched up to a horsemen heir.

Once he was at the gym, he spotted Conquest there, waiting for him. He didn't say anything, but he did slowly bow before summoning his daggers and crouching down to get into his usual stance.  

[Blade Kuroda]

Letting out a breath, Shun watched Invictus for a moment, then quickly darted forth to make the first strike. He was keeping a sharp eye out for any hints of Invi's own movements as he neared in. Once he was within range, his left hand shot out slash at the heir's midsection.

HP: 40
Damage: 6  

[demon_pachabel]

Prompt and he didn't waste time. Excellent - Invictus was liking Shun more and more for that, actually, Someone who didn't mince words or time was always good in the Horseman's book, and while a blade in the abdomen was a bad idea, it was enough enough to step away, earning a nice slice through his clothing - and into his skin - for the attack, while he prepared his own.

The bow was summoned and a projectile made - which was soon launched in turn back at the Reaper, Invictus's face remaining unchanging.

HP: 54/60
Damage: 7  

[Blade Kuroda]

While Shun was aware the horsemen had weapons, it was still a little strange to be fighting a non reaper with one. Who also wasn't a hunter for that matter. It came off a little as a surprise in a way too, and as a result, the arrow launched struck him pretty good in the shoulder.

Gritting his teeth, he let out a hiss while trying to ignore the sudden pain. No, he couldn't let it deter him. And so he moved forth. It did seem that the arrow did slow him down some, as he made another swipe at the horseman.

HP: 33
Damage: 1  

[demon_pachabel]

Another attack, another swipe. Invictus did not fear those blades, but he still pulled from them, again forming projectile - small, round, almost like a bullet- before he used his pull of gravity to just fling it at the reaper - hard, fast.

Smaller was always better if you could aim it properly and make a solid hit somewhere entirely sensitive and painful. He'd learned that far too late in life, yet so long ago, and thus it was still put to good use.

HP: 53/60
Damage: 14  

[Blade Kuroda]

Shun saw Invi doing something, but he was having some trouble seeing what that was exactly. It then came rocketing towards him; far faster than he could really react against. He essentially saw a glint of light, then felt something tear straight through his abdomen. Letting out a cry, his step faltered and he dropped down onto one knee. Several drops of blood splattered against the gym floor as this happened.

"Kusoo.." he hissed, while trying to deal with the pain.

Controlling his breathing, he shut his eyes tightly for a few moments, attempting to clear his mind. He needed to focus on his opponent. Not on how much that last strike hurt. Getting back up, he slowly reopened his eyes, and got back into position, staring hard at Conquest.

Focus.

Another breath.

The Reaper suddenly disappeared, leaving inky shadows in his wake. These dark wisps reappeared as he shadow stepped from spot to spot around Invictus. With each one, he struck out at the heir, aiming to cut into him from different angles. Another moment or so passed before he appeared a few feet away, breathing a little heavily from the exertion.

HP: 19
Damage: 17 (16.8 rounded up)  

[demon_pachabel]

That had hit solidly, and somehow....somehow Invictus just didn't feel guilty for it. It wasn't a malice thing, it was a matter of the fact that the boil was still ready to keep going. In fact, he was more than ready to keep going - he lashed back at him - quite painfully, at that.

But Invictus did not try to shield himself from the attacks - that would only hinder his ability to counter attack, a move he made even as his clothing and skin was cut into, leaving sleeves cut up and small trickles of blood dripping down the slices, staining the cloth and dripping to the floor as he moved.

However, he had already prepared it. One hand drawn flat out in front of him, the other drawn back as though he was pulling a bowstring. Sharp looking, yet stone seeming, projectiles solidified in the palm of the Horseman before he 'released' with his drawing hand and sent them all flying in unison, just as he had the one prior.

HP:36/60
Damage: SWIFT STRIKES - 11  

[Blade Kuroda]

Shun continued to focus on the heir, watching his movements carefully. It looked as if he was going to do another bow attack, and he was ready to try and anticipate when the shot was going to be made. He kind of was able to do that. However, he didn't expect a whole volley of arrows to come at him instead of just one. That was considerably harder to dodge. While he did shift to the side, he mostly brought his arms up to try and block his torso. It was the most he could really do against so many arrows at once.

He could feel the arrows slicing against his arms, legs, and even his sides, but it thankfully didn't last for long.

The reaper didn't think he could keep up this fight for much longer, but he wasn't ready to give in yet. More blood dripped on down as he relaxed once that attack had finished. He waited just a moment before narrowing in on Conquest.

His body wasn't working for him as well after all the damage he had sustained in such a short amount of time, despite his determination to keep fighting. Shun could tell he wasn't moving as quickly as he should right now.

HP: 8
Damage:1  

[demon_pachabel]

He'd actually expected Shun to go down from that, so when the reaper moved and attacked again, he wasn't actually ready to strike again, pulling back and away from Shun to prepare himself for the next blow he would make, more blood dripping down his arm, making his hands slick. It was probably for the best he didn't actually handle his bow with his hands.

HP: 35/60
Damage: Robert  

[Blade Kuroda]

Gripping onto his daggers tightly, Shun worked on staying close. After all, if he didn't, he would be the one at a disadvantage due to the difference in ranges of their weapons. He could see Invictus preparing to attack once more with the bow, so as a result, he lashed out for the heir's hands or wrist in an attempt to hinder Conquest.

HP: 8
Damage: 3  

[demon_pachabel]

Even blood could work as a weapon for him, again bringing his hands together to reform that small projectile he'd created and then unleashed earlier, despite Shun being right there to see what it was up close.

"Proximity isn't always good." Invictus finally said, pressing his hand to the boil's torso and then releasing the 'bullet' to fly again.

HP: 32/60
Damage: 14  

[Blade Kuroda]

Shun had just been about to try and attack once more, when he felt Invi's hand pressed against his chest. Wait..

Before he could do much about it, he felt something rip through his body once again, knocking down several feet away as well. Wheezing, he gritted his teeth and started to push himself back to his feet, despite how shaky his body was right now. Maybe..just maybe he could continue. He did manage to stand... for maybe a second. Shortly after he had gotten up, his vision and mind went dark and he collapsed back to the ground. The daggers in his hands vanished, and he just laid there, bloodied and still.

HP: -6  

[demon_pachabel]

He had options - either dissipate the boil, or take him to the Nurse to recuperate. As it stood, Invictus himself was needing to make the second visit as it was, so it was probably with the most hilarious image to be seen that Shun was picked up and taken along with the Heir to Conquest to the visit to Nurse Cricket.

Even if he left a mess of blood in his wake.

Oops.