NPF Avatars 6, Chapter 7: The world was so much smaller back then...

[Steel Shadow]

Any moment now. Annny moment. There would be a small clunk sound, then a boom as the mecha-monstrosity fell over. Then there would be victory dances and sweet, sweet experience. Or maybe he could swipe a new weapon off it's corpse. He needed something with a range longer than 5 feet after all. Annny moment.

Dum de dum...

Any time now...

"What is taking so long!?" Steel yelled as he turned around, looking for the robot. It wasn't there. Also, his shadow was getting remarkably big.

'Boink'

"That was an old trick, and I'm really embaresed it almost worked," Steel said, letting his shield drop and rubbing the back of his head nervously, "So can we just pretend it didn't happen? Thanks. Now, why aren't you scrap metal? Normaly my sword can cut through anything like this. Did I break it?" He pondered that for a few seconds, lazily leaning out of the way of another fireball (Whoom! went the library). Maybe a test was in order?

He looked around for a suitable test subject. Ah, a giant statue monument to someone who had saved this city a few times. Perfect! He drifted over, doging another volley of grenades (Boom! when the orphanage), and landed at it's base. With one smooth movment he sliced through the stone and then studied his handiwork.

"Hmm. Yeah, I guess it is broken. I don't see anything." He frowned, then reached out and tapped it. It rocked slightly. He raised an eyebrow, then looked behind him. The robot was firing grenades at where he'd been 10 seconds ago. He looked at the statue. then back to the robot. Statue. Robot. "I think they get it now." Robot. Statue. "Really, stop it." Statue, Robot. Robtue, Stabot. "Enough!"

Fuming slightly over the sheer amount of padding in this episode, "Seriously, what is this, DBZ?" Steel zipped around the statue and pushed it over. In case you couldn't see where this was going, it landed on the robot (And the local hospital/fire brigade hut, but we wont pay attention to that).

The Robot flashed for a second, catching Steels eye. "Oh, so it's head is it's weak spot? Wow, what is this, a first level boss?" He sighed, "Alright then, I guess I'll just aim for that then."

And with that he walked over the the remains of an unfortunate building and picked up a hand full of pebbly rubble, before flying over another fireball. "And while I could rush in there and slice it sensless with my sword... I think I'll just throw rocks at it." And so he did. And the boss began to flash white again and again as the rocks tinked against it's metal head. After all, it doesn't matter how you hit a boss, it's just the number of times, right?

[Loyal]

((OOC: This post contains overly dramatic writing, and heavy usage of WarCraft III material. It may help you to put on some sort of church-battleground music while reading. Ye've been warned.))

"So I'm fighting a Paladin? Figures I'd eventually get one sent after me."

Loyal half-stepped into a pillar of light, casting his face into an intimidating twilight and declared, "Arius the Seeker, hm? I'm Loyal. I must say, I'm honored that someone would consider me important enough to send the likes of you."

"Think naught of it as an honor, knave!" Arius replied, clear and loud. "I am here to bring you to justice, and by the Light I shall!"

"Of course you will. Just like all the other headhunters who've come after me. Just like all those who thought to match my skill. All have failed, but I must give you credit for making the battleground of your own choosing.

"You are a force of the Light, and it's not my place to kill a holy man... but do you think yourself to be a match for me, old timer? Let's get ourselves a better look at you."

Loyal focused his magic into the Lightbinder for a moment, and then thrust the sword skyward as he shouted, "Bright!", flooding the cathedral with light. Now in a much more even light, Loyal got a better look at his foe.

Arius had a stern, tough-looking face with a full beard and mustache. His hair was starting to show signs of gray in some parts, but he looked no less capable for it. His entire body, save his arms and head, was covered in sturdy looking armor. His chest had a halfplate, engraved with the mark of some forgotten kingdom. His shoulders bore impossibly huge pauldrons on them, which served to support the scarf-like cloak he wore on his back, billowing in non-existant wind.

To complete the image, a heavy libram that contained his holy spells, suspended by chains, hung from the left side of his body. In his right hand was an ornately-decorated maul of incredible strength and weight. No doubt it had seen countless battles, and surely any lesser foe who had suffered its wrath crumpled under a single blow.

But then... Loyal was neither a lesser man, nor one prone to taking hits in the first place. He couldn't help but give a small laugh as he said, "I'm actually rather looking forward to this! We've both got our powers of the Light, so it ought to be mostly a match of who is the better fighter. Do you still wish to continue?"

"I am not afraid!" Arius replied stoically. "My strength is the holy Light, and while I commend you for choosing to face me with honor, by illuminating this desecrated ground, the outcome will remain the same, and my resolve no less absolute!"

Arius stood tall and swung his weapon down in front of him with terrible might, shattering the marble floor with which it connected, before pulling it up with both hands and readying it. He stood sideways, eyes fixed on Loyal, with the maul's head pointed behind him. "Justice is come!"

((To be continued.))

[Flarecobra]

I did land and not get wet. That was the good thing.

The bad thing? My legs broke, and I was passed out in a bush.

[PyrosNine]

Big mac (whom I have control over because he gave me control over even though he said tonight, but I'm assuming he lives in another timezone and therefore am free to do this with awesome) went over to the fallen Flare, and Despite being Daimo, dropped her a healing potion, then Kicked her to into the water to wake her up.

"I have no time for those who'd be simply too weak to enter in the noble sport of combat! Either you fight, or you lie broken on the sidelines! And I'm not even happy about the second option!"

Flare came up when the spring she was in froze.

"Ooh, do I have to do the chinese dialect again? Is it in my contract? Well, you fell into the spring of the drowned IceNaga, who was apparently very sad that all the fire nagas made fun of her and kept melting her ice home, and tried to drown herself here but failed because the hotsprings froze. It's a very sad story, I know!"

She then pointed to Phil. "Oh, and you're a Chupa-thingy! Yay!"
* * *

Jeremy Rose brandished his swords defensively. "I've never turned back a fight, and I don't aim to now. If you're thinking I'm just some sort of newbie right out of Kendo classes, you're wrong. Just make your move, and I'll make you regret it."

* * *

Steel's tactics only proved to rile up the Mech, who proceeded to jump up again...and send a shockwave ripping through the earth.

It destroyed a small preschool before finally ravaging the rubble of the building, turning it into a fine powder...then carried on and attempted to do the same to Steel!

* * *

"Our Next match will be: Wizardcat vs. Oiroke Ninja Lawyers!"

Before Wizzle knew it, he was seized into the shadow, popping up in a dojo within the midst of an old, Japanese Style house.

Three Kunai hit the floor before him, before "poofing" into three Ninjas, clad in black and looking fierce.

Before Wizardcat could think about how deadly they were, they took off some of the black wrappings on them....and they looked even deadlier...with those guns!

It was a Trio of Ninja Chicks, one armed with a kunai, another with ofuda's, and the the third seemed ready to use her fists...

[Thadius]

"Very well. Lesson one of assassin school: Don't be seen!"

With that, Thadius reached into his pocket and pulled out a ninja smoke bomb that he'd swiped a while ago. He threw in into the ground and it exploded, giving him the shadows he needed to hide. Performing one of his patented ridiculously powerful jumps, Thadius landed on one of the masts, digging his scissor hands in to hold himself there. He waited to see what Jeremy's next move would be.

[phil_]

"Oh, and you're a Chupa-thingy! Yay!"

"Wait, so... you're saying I suck? That's..." Phil dejectedly shuffled over to sit unwisely close to the monitor displaying Steel Shadow's fight and curled up in front of it, henshin-ing into some swimming trunks and summoning a flaming metal drum to dry off. It had taken him a moment to realize he was soaked again, and his feelings had been hurt.

"I just wanted to know what my curse was. She didn't have to say I suck... I want a little goat to pet... just as soon as I'm dry," Phil sniffled to himself, failing at his attempt to be enthralled by the pretty colors of Steel's fight.

[Steel Shadow]

Hovering peacefully in the air, Steel watched as the shockwave passed under him harmlessly, lazily chucking another rock. He yawned.

"You know, I never thought I'd say it and mean it, but this is just to easy. Can't you try a little harder?" He asked, mostly talking to himself.

HARD MODE ACTIVATED

Steel looked up as hidden speakers broadcast the words across the city. That didn't sound go-

ZoomKlong!!

The Robot slammed into him out of nowhere, sending him flying. He crashed down onto the road, skidding a little ways before rolling to a stop. He tried to lift himself back up, his arm shaking under him.

"What the hell?" He mutttered, before his eyes widened at the sight of a hail of grenades flying at him. He barely got his shield up in time. Of course, once it dropped the Robot was plunging towards him again. He grunted as he shoved himself to his feet and ran like crazy, trying to get out of the 'Bots way while dodging the suddenly greatly increased firepower it had at it's disposal. He just managed to clear it's landing zone as it crashed down, shattering the pavment and sending another shockwave after him. This time his escape into the air was alot less comfortable.

He glared at the suddenly competant Robot. "That. Hurt." His sword began to sparkle once more. The Robot answered with a much more acurate hail of grenades, with a couple of tracking fireballs added on the side. Steel ground his teeth together as he flew in an arc over the projectiles, eyes locked onto the Robot. It's eyes weren't all that expressive, but it was probably glaring right back.

Now, as any Steel fan could tell you, Steel was not normally this confrontational. He prefered the cowardlyTactical aproach. But this time it was different. This boss had challenged him! This lousy first level filler boss had dared to actually take more than three minuets of his time, and more than that, had actually caused him significant damage! Old gamer instincs within him were crying out in rage. This would not stand! The damn thing was going down, and it was going down hard!

He zoomed around the bullets, narrowly dodging past the grenades as they flew at him, heading straight for the Robot's head. It jumped up, intending to crush him on the way back down. He followed it up, swiveling around it's legs as it reached the peak of it's path. The gun turrent swung around, trying to lock him in it's sights, but he was faster. He reached out with his powers and froze the gun, and a small portion of the head, holding time still.

As another leg swung at him he spun the time zone he controlled upside down. Anywhere else this could have done several things, but as Pyros said, Mad Scientist craftsmanship is very sturdy. Instead of ripping the turrent out the enitre Robot suddenly found itself upside down and falling back down to earth (Incidentlay falling right towards a small harmless looking laboritory that had not yet been touched by the destruction).

Steel hesitated by the turrent just long enough to jam his sword into the turrent mechanism before leaving it to it's drop, dodging around the incoming legs and backing out into the open air once again.

[Bailey]

Originally Posted by phil_

"Oh, and you're a Chupa-thingy! Yay!"

"Wait, so... you're saying I suck? That's..." Phil dejectedly shuffled over to sit unwisely close to the monitor displaying Steel Shadow's fight and curled up in front of it, henshin-ing into some swimming trunks and summoning a flaming metal drum to dry off. It had taken him a moment to realize he was soaked again, and his feelings had been hurt.

"I just wanted to know what my curse was. She didn't have to say I suck... I want a little goat to pet... just as soon as I'm dry," Phil sniffled to himself, failing at his attempt to be enthralled by the pretty colors of Steel's fight.

Newb, suddenly perched weightlessly on Phil's shoulder, spoke up. "Actually, I think she meant chupacabra. It's a kind of demon that likes goats."

[phil_]

Phil tried to brush Newb off his shoulder, as, weightless or not, cats have claws and do not belong on shoulders. That's what bad kitties do. Not turning away from the screen, Phil responded, "If she meant chupacabra, then she should have said 'chupacabra,' not 'chupa-thingy.' And, ignoring that, I'm still wet again. I have every right to mope and watch cartoons, Newb."

Phil was quiet for a moment. "And, if I were a chupacabra, I'd be trying to suck on some goats right now. And that ain't happening, is it? Stupid Haruhi probably got it confused with the spring of drowned summoner hobbit or something."

[Intern Nin]

Oninzuka came walking back from the stadium looking extremely angry.

"Stupid robot, my class wasn't at that stadium and there wasn't any fight either. The only thing there was the Chinese version of Disney on Ice. Man, if I ever see that robot again-"

The De Lorean suddenly appeared out of nowhere and and came to a screeching halt in front of Oninzuka. The doors opened to reveal Thorn at the wheel. He stepped out to greet the confused teacher.

"Oh, hello again."

"R-robot?! Where did you come from?"

"Now and then. Here and there."

"What? You know what, forget that. You lied to me! You told me my class was at that stadium and all I found there was some people in silly costumes prancing around an ice rink!"

"Oh, I apologize. I'm a time traveler, you see. I had lost track of when I was and was thinking of a later date. Right now, most of your class should be over there." Thorn pointed to a spot in the springs that had a giant robot and Arhra towering above the trees.

"How did I miss that? Well anyways, thanks for clearing that up. Nice car by the way." Teacher Nin ran off to join with his students. Thorn stood and watched him as he ran off.

It's just as I was told. His two halves don't remember each other's experiences. This makes manipulating him so much easier. Still, there's the chance that after this challenge, he may be restored to his regular self.

Thorn grabbed an empty bottle out of the car and turned his attention to one of the springs.