[OP-F1] Whispers In the Wind

[Zero 0]

Zero stood in the middle of an open field, it wasn't uncommon for him to come back to the first floor and train. He looked at his surrounding's finding them empty and opened his menu, browsing through it for a few seconds before selecting an item. He watched as his three swords materialized on his waist and unsheathed them, placing one in his mouth and the other two in his hands. "I haven't put this thing to full use yet... Some training should change that in no time." He muttered to himself crounchinh down and begin to execute a few Sword Skills. "Coordinated Edge's holder The Crimson Rain... Suits me..." He sheathed his blades with a sigh and sat down looking into the distance, his mind going through various thoughts. He didn't expect any company, not this down below in the floors or in the middle of nowhere, and kept no eye out for any approaching players.

[Saix 0]

Unique Skill... The ultimate personification of the elite warriors of Aincrad. To obtain a Unique Skill was a difficult task in and of itself. But to keep hold of it, when other jealous players would seek to steal it through outright challenge or dishonest methods was the true test. So, upon seeing <> in action, Vile paused long enough to evaluate the 3 swords and their strength, rather than simply wandering on in search of stronger prey.

This was a training session, that much he surmised instantly. The actions taken by the boy with the 3 swords suggested that he was unfamiliar with the full scope of his Unique Skill, and was seeking to ensure he knew every nuance of the combat capabilities for use in battle. It was smart. The Unique Skill itself was just a tool, if the wielder was not completely familiar with the different ways it might be used. Botching a costly attack would prove disastrous in battle.

Weighing his options, Vile made the only real choice and moved into range. Taking aim with <> he relished the slaughter to come, his dark armor gleaming menacingly under the warm sun, his murderous intent a palpable chill on the air. A screaming crossbow bolt burying itself between the seated Zero's legs served as a warning, that could have been your chest cavity, it seemed to say. Standing only a few meters away, with Caladbolg and Hellfang in hand, stood The Maverick King.

Though he didn't say a thing, the menace of each breath did a good job of revealing the danger at hand. The black armored figure's chest rose and fell as he waited, letting Zero drink in the sight of his doom, before the inevitable clash would begin.

<> vs <>

[Zero 0]

Zero sat quietly, lost in his thougts when the bolt suddenly landed in front of him. This would have frightened, startle or even driven off the average player, but not Zero, no he simpy stared at it then at its owner. He identified the armor immediately, and the presence around the figure before him only reaffirmed his assumption.

He'd heard of this one, the one in black armor, the one who'd targeted the Yudai's, King of Maverick's he would be called, the feared being called Vile. A name only fitting for a someone like him everyone would say, but not to his face as they feared him too much.

The boy passed his hand through his hair as the wind picked up and blew a trong breeze towards his left side. He carefully stood up patting his clothes and looked at Vile. He knew what the bolt meant and replied simply with his gaze. His three blades slowly unsheathed and placed into position, he looked at Vile with no hesitation. He wouldn't falter or hesitate in the face of an opponent like this, no way in Hell he would and he showed this by preparing for his enemies first attack.

[Saix 0]

For a moment the peaceful breeze of the plain washed the world in sunny color, evoking memories of happy youthful times. Then the black armored swordsman charged forward without a word. The naked broadsword in his hand gleamed with wicked intent, as Vile whipped the sword up and back with a grunt, cocking his impending strike with machine like precision. Down came the sword in a black blur, a vicious chopping motion that brought that keen blade down like a falling hammer.

Battle Dice: 4 + 3 = 7 - 2 = 5 (Fail)

Result: His nimble opponent was able to twist away from the brutal attack. Was Vile simply toying with Zero? Goading him to take the battle seriously?

[Zero 0]

Zero watched as the sword came down and missed him, only slightly though. He glanced at Vile and jumped back trying to gain some ground. He felt like his opponent wasn't taking him seriously, he felt slightly irritated because of this. The wind continued to blow causing the grass to move with it, and time seemed still as he gazed at his opponent, a movie from a classic action film some would claim it to be.

A showdown between a good guy and a bad guy, if only there was a good guy among the two. He looked at his opponents gear, it was very good gear and it would be difficult to beat him, but Zero wouldn't let that discourage him and charged at Vile at full speed, time finally resuming and everything moving at normal speed again. He crossed the baldes in his hand across his chest and held the one in his mouth tightly. He didn't realize he was overshooting his speed and ended up tripping cancelling the activation of his Sword Skill.

1+2= 3 Miss

Damage Dealt: 0

[Saix 0]

Vile continues to press the attack, refusing to let Zero gain ground. With the shield held up before him, and his sword held lazily to the right; it will be difficult finding a suitable angle of attack. When Zero attempts to use his skill, the agile Maverick King steps to the side, pulling his sword back as time seems to stand still, before violently thrusting Caladbolg forward.

Battle Dice: 1 + 1 = Fail

Result: The thrust missed, Zero's momentum carrying him forward too quickly, enabling him to scrape by with another narrow dodge. If Vile were growing flustered or impatient, it certainly did not show. He simply continued his menacing breathing and turned to continue his advance on his opponent, as though he were a machine set to a task.

[Zero 0]

Zero let slight sigh out when he turned to face Vile, and looked at his weapon. He'd managed to dodge it by sheer luck and knew he wouldn't be so lucky bext time. He took at stepped back before dashing at his opponent like before, and began to prepare his sword skill again. He wasn't going to continue wasting time and intended to hit fast and hard. He used the Sword Skill he was most familiar with, and cut diagonally across Vile's chest with the blades in his hands and horizontally across with the blade in his mouth.

(Sword Skill used: Demon Slash cooldown's for 2 turns)

9+2= 11 Critical hit

Damage Dealt: 4 (Bleeding -1 HP 2/2)

Vile: ???/???

Zero: 17/17

[Saix 0]

For the first time since arriving, Vile finally made a sound. The armored figure lowered his guard, and threw back his head and released a long laugh. Zero had hit him with almost everything he had, and the armored figure merely laughed? What had began as no more than a whim was shaping into something that was moderately interesting. Zero had managed to scratch him, that was more than Vile had ever anticipated. Now he didn't have to hold back, and when he finished his long laugh, and the red visor fixed on Zero again, Vile's killing intent struck like an almost physical blow. The sheer longing in his eyes to thrust blade into flesh felt like razor's scraping skin. This was a true Maverick. Rushing forward, far faster than before, Vile draws back his blade and prepares to use full force for the first time.

Battle Dice: 7 + 1 = 8 Success!

Damage:

Cursed Blade Activated! Inflict -1 Combat Dice on enemy for next turn!

Shield Ability Activated! Negate damage next turn! (Take 1 damage from Crit)

Result: Caladbolg traced a deadly arc through the air, slamming across the young Coordinated Edge user's chest in a scarlet line.

Vile: ???/??? (Has taken 4 damage)

Zero: 13/17

[Zero 0]

Zero watched as he was struck and looksd at Vile, since pain wasn't existent he didn't react to the cut. He slightly grinned at how pleased Vile looked with himself and hopped away from him. He placed his two blades agaisnt the one in his mouth, the sharp edges facing forward, and dashed at Vile intent on hitting him again. He tripped again like before passing right by his target and cancelling the Sword Skill.

4-1+2= 5 Miss

Damage Dealt: 0

Vile: ???/???

Zero: 13/17

[Saix 0]

Again avoiding damage with a quick side step, Vile repeated his earlier attempted thrust; keeping his shield between himself and the speedy young Coordinated Edge user, providing a constant barrier of defense. The great black blade of Caladbolg paused for only a moment, before thrusting forward like a bullet at the young Coordinated Edge user's ribcage.

Battle Dice: 4 + 1 = Fail

Damage:

Result: Again the Coordinated Edge user proved to be too fast, and the great black blade missed it's mark. But again Vile showed no sign of frustration, he simply continued his forward march. He was unstoppable, a terrifying juggernaut, and worst of all... It revealed that the damage Zero had managed to do thus far was not enough to even give the shadow of hesitation.

Vile: ???/??? (Has taken 6 damage)

Zero: 13/17

[Zero 0]

Zero had once again managed to barely dodge Vile's attacks, but this did not phase Zero. He would not let himself be consumed by self doubt and hesitate, for it would be his end to hesitate. He took the same position as before and looked at Vile determined to go on. He stepped back and dashed at Vile at full force bringing his swords down quickly, slashing right past him and turning to him quickly noticing he had been hit by the shield.

(Sword Skill used: Beast Hunt cooldown for 2 turns)

6+2= 8 Hit

Damage Dealt: 3 (Bleeding -1 HP 2/2)

Vile: ???/???

Zero: 11/17

[Saix 0]

The cruel blades of Hellfang did havoc to his would be attacker, dealing almost half the damage right back to him. Vile chuckled, a low menace laden laugh that was as chilling as it was mechanical. There was no warmth, no joy, just absent expression. It was as though Vile knew that the chuckle should convey pleasure, but the pleasure itself was too dark to notice. Stepping forward, he launched a vicious backslash with Caladbolg.

Battle Dice: 7 + 1 = 8 Success!

Damage: 4

Cursed Blade Activated! Inflict -1 Combat Dice on enemy for next turn!

Shield Ability Activated! Negate damage next turn! (Take 1 damage from Crit)

Result: With a hollow sound like something striking dead wood, the great black blade cleaved across Zero's chest, leaving a brilliant scarlet damage marker as the cursed blade tore into his HP.

Vile: ???/??? (Has taken 10 damage)

Zero: 7/17

[Zero 0]

Zero gripped his swords tightly and stared down at Vile, stepping away from him allowing there to be a large amount of ground between them. He tightly clenched his teeth on the blade in his mouth and stepped back crouching down slightly. He sprinted forward raising his right sword above his head, leaning the back of the blade against his back, and his left sword against the right side of his waist, pointing the tip of the sword to the back. He slashed simultaneously at Vile with all three swords, but only hit the armor, and hit the shields spikes. He retreated quickly breathing heavily.

(Sword Skill used: Ziz Twister cooldown for 3 turns)

8-1+2= 9 Hit!

Damage Done: 4 (Negated by enemy armor and bleeding inflicted for 3 turns, -1 HP)

Vile: ???/???

Zero: 5/17

[Saix 0]

The gaping wolf's maw that was set into the face of his shield, Hellfang, did it's work again as the cruel teeth ripped into Zero's arm as he attacked. Those who tried to damage the Maverick King only succeeded in damaging themselves, and as Zero recoiled from the painful attack, Vile was quick to step forward with Caladbolg at the ready. With a quick flick of the wrist, he drove the blade right into his opponent's sternum with zero hesitation.

Battle Dice: 6 + 1 = 7 Success

Damage: 4

Result: The great black blade slid cleanly through his opponent's sternum with a hollow thunk, buried halfway to the hilt in the Coordinated Edge user's chest.

Vile: ???/??? (Has taken 14 damage)

Zero: 1/17

[Zero 0]

Zero glanced at the blade and looked at his health bar realizing where it was. One more hit, that's all it took, and Zero was gone. He felt the grip on his swords weaken and dropped them to the ground, one after the other hitting the grass. He hadn't felt defeat like thos before, it was worse than simply loosing, it showed him just how weak he was compared to Vile. He looked at the dark figure and stared into his eyes, or in reality the red vizor. He didn't move or show any reaction to his dafeat except for a stare he had in his eyes. A stare of a broken man. Checkmate

[Saix 0]

Hellfang dropped to the ground with a clatter before dematerializing into his inventory, as Vile savored the moment of victory. The huge ebon blade pulled back, retracting from Zero's chest as vile clamped his hand over the young man's throat, preparing to finish it all. But the final strike didn't come. Vile held his broken gaze for several long minutes, before releasing him to lay in the dirt like the worm he was. With a sound of disgust, Vile turned away and sheathed his sword. "So in the end you weren't worthy prey after all. Lay there and crawl in the dirt like the worm you are, you who didn't even have the courage to die with your swords in hand. You are nothing to me, not even worth killing." And with that message voiced, the black armored figure simply walked away.

[Zero 0]

Zero fell to his knees when Vile released him and stared at the ground, specifically his swords. He felt stuck and frozen in place, unable to snap out of the state of shock. He felt like he'd just been broken in the inside and hollowed out, a dusk of a man. Checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate! CHECKMATE! He gripped his head and lowered it down close to the ground.

[Saix 0]

"Well... I'm assuming you had a bad encounter." Said a nearby voice, as a slim man in black leather holding a cloth wrapped crimson spear stepped onto the open plane. "I had heard he was in the area, looks like I didn't make it time..." Says the man, revealing a strikingly handsome stranger with strange golden eyes. "Gotta say though, you managed to survive an encounter with him, that's pretty impressive." He continued, as he reached Zero's side and brought a <> out of his inventory and held it out for Zero to take. "Name's Nero kid, and I'm the guy who's here to rescue you. I got a place nearby, let's you and me go have ourselves a talk." He said, a serious expression on his face in the aftermath of the disastrous battle that he had caught only the last fleeting glimpse of. "We should hurry, before that bastard decides to change his mind and come back... Or any other of these little wanna be Mavericks decide to try and make an appearance. Killing off a Unique Skill User would be quite a prize for one of those little pricks."

[Zero 0]

Zero looked up at the crystal then at the person holding it. He regretfully took the crystal and used it on himself. "I'm Zero... Thank you for the crystal, I'll repay you..." He looked at the man's face and felt a strange familiarity in it. He felt this wasn't an average playe, just like Vile there was something quite different about him. "Don't patronize me... I coward out in the end and dropped my blades..." He slowly stood up and nodded hearing Nero. "Yeah... Being out here in the open isn't smart... Lead the way..."