Post by Vio on Aug 26, 2014 12:10:46 GMT -5
He tried to parry it? Foolish child... Raising his sword free from the cracked earth, the damage unleashed by such a simple technique was certainly a testament to the kind of raw power that Marcus Rhodes possessed. Rubble and debris thrown aside, the attack itself had not only cleaved through the air, but it had left a tell tale tear in the paved street itself; a small rift approximately two or three inches deep and an inch wide. Years and years of training had turned every swing into the equivalent of a Giant's punch, but the officer had honed himself beyond the norm and had achieved something more akin to the superhuman fighting styles of the Grand Line. As long as the likes of him remained a part of the Holy Remunun Empire, then they were unlikely to fall any time soon.
"Somebody check his body! I doubt he's dead, but I don't see him moving any time soon." Resting the tip of his weapon upon the ground before his feet, the Commander rested both hands upon the golden hilt and watched with inquisitive blue hues as one of his men approached the youth. A pointless attempt at defending against an almighty attack had left the likes of the Lion Cub half-implanted in the brickwork of a nearby building, smouldering rubble laying about his slumped body. He was down, but was he out? Often it was hard to tell, but considering what the youngster had tried to do against the previous attack, it was unlikely he was going to rise again. Most people struck directly by the 'Ploughman' technique ended up with broken bones.
"I can't tell, sir! He doesn't seem to be breathing, but, I'll have to check his pulse." Sighing to himself, Rhodes watched as his subordinate approached the fallen form of Leonard le Clerc, a hand approaching the side of his neck. From where he stood, his opponent did not look too bloodied, but he had still been launched a fair distance into a solid wall. Even the most resilient of warriors would be hard pressed to take that sort of hit and come out with just a few scratches, but it was always better to be safe than sorry, much like the coliseum attendant who went around bopping fallen gladiators and such over the head with a hammer to make sure they were out for the count.
"Wait. Sir, I think he's still- GAH!" The flicker of steel amongst embers caused the eyes of the Remunun to widen a little, a spray of red accompanying the fall of one of his comrades as the Lion Cub's blade cleaved through him with reinvigorated intent. Definitely not out for the count just yet, the bladesman in black quickly got to his feet, allowing his victim to fall to the floor in a state of unconsciousness brought about by shock. Eyes once more narrowing as he focused upon the form before him, there was one thing that Marcus could see clearly. The swordsman emanated an aura not too dissimilar from that felt by Remunun soldiers during what would be their final moments, a fierce shadow that clung to its wielder and constricted the air like a hungry anaconda.
Well, I haven't seen that in a while... Perhaps a little impressed by what he saw, or maybe just a little bit excited, a small smile and curious smile formed upon the wizened soldier's lips as he studied the now standing form of Leonard. The Lion Cub was definitely worse for wear, subtle motions betraying any attempts at hiding internal injuries, but despite that it did not seem to have stopped him. Sure, in a few minutes he would most definitely collapse from exhaustion and agony as the seriousness of his wounds caught up with him, but for now he was running at peak efficiency. All outside influences abandoned, this was that state of blood lust which allowed people to ignore their ails for just long enough to escape certain death. Kill or be killed.
"Quite the monster within, aren't you?" Chuckling as he watched, Marcus reacted swiftly to the actions of his adversary, moving his own sword to try and counter the incoming attack. Such speed demonstrated by the likes of Le Clerc were a true show of what a normal human being could do when pushed to their limits, but the aptly nicknamed Lion Cub still had a lot to learn about limits. Commander Rhodes was one of many who had been able to walk that extra mile and attain something beyond the norm, and if Mister Clerc wanted to become a pirate, then he needed to learn fast if he dared to venture onto the Grand Line. On that sea, monsters were commonplace, and most of them were once average people.
"Khh... Well, well. Looks like you've got some bite after all!" Underestimating the speed of the incoming attack, Leonard was actually able to draw blood with his attack. The shining steel arcing through the air so quickly drawing a crescent moon in the air, the Commander had failed to react quickly enough to the vengeful blow and was only able to defend against it at the last second. Leaping back a yard or two to force some distance between himself and his opponent, Marcus placed a free hand upon his chest, a neat tear in his shirt stained with a hint of red revealing the slight incision that his opponent's blade had managed to leave behind before being repelled by his own sword.
Perfect... Eyes locking with the blackness of his foes' own hues, Marcus launched himself forwards for the first time since this rather one-sided battle had begun. Beforehand he had just been defending and launched counter offensives, but now the rival swordsman had brought out the beast inside himself, and the Commander was not about to let such a beast go untamed. Swinging his blade with far more grace than his opponent had done, the Remunun launched a series of quick alternating slashes as he charged forth, picking up a breeze that lifted bits of dust into the air as he did so...
"Somebody check his body! I doubt he's dead, but I don't see him moving any time soon." Resting the tip of his weapon upon the ground before his feet, the Commander rested both hands upon the golden hilt and watched with inquisitive blue hues as one of his men approached the youth. A pointless attempt at defending against an almighty attack had left the likes of the Lion Cub half-implanted in the brickwork of a nearby building, smouldering rubble laying about his slumped body. He was down, but was he out? Often it was hard to tell, but considering what the youngster had tried to do against the previous attack, it was unlikely he was going to rise again. Most people struck directly by the 'Ploughman' technique ended up with broken bones.
"I can't tell, sir! He doesn't seem to be breathing, but, I'll have to check his pulse." Sighing to himself, Rhodes watched as his subordinate approached the fallen form of Leonard le Clerc, a hand approaching the side of his neck. From where he stood, his opponent did not look too bloodied, but he had still been launched a fair distance into a solid wall. Even the most resilient of warriors would be hard pressed to take that sort of hit and come out with just a few scratches, but it was always better to be safe than sorry, much like the coliseum attendant who went around bopping fallen gladiators and such over the head with a hammer to make sure they were out for the count.
"Wait. Sir, I think he's still- GAH!" The flicker of steel amongst embers caused the eyes of the Remunun to widen a little, a spray of red accompanying the fall of one of his comrades as the Lion Cub's blade cleaved through him with reinvigorated intent. Definitely not out for the count just yet, the bladesman in black quickly got to his feet, allowing his victim to fall to the floor in a state of unconsciousness brought about by shock. Eyes once more narrowing as he focused upon the form before him, there was one thing that Marcus could see clearly. The swordsman emanated an aura not too dissimilar from that felt by Remunun soldiers during what would be their final moments, a fierce shadow that clung to its wielder and constricted the air like a hungry anaconda.
Well, I haven't seen that in a while... Perhaps a little impressed by what he saw, or maybe just a little bit excited, a small smile and curious smile formed upon the wizened soldier's lips as he studied the now standing form of Leonard. The Lion Cub was definitely worse for wear, subtle motions betraying any attempts at hiding internal injuries, but despite that it did not seem to have stopped him. Sure, in a few minutes he would most definitely collapse from exhaustion and agony as the seriousness of his wounds caught up with him, but for now he was running at peak efficiency. All outside influences abandoned, this was that state of blood lust which allowed people to ignore their ails for just long enough to escape certain death. Kill or be killed.
"Quite the monster within, aren't you?" Chuckling as he watched, Marcus reacted swiftly to the actions of his adversary, moving his own sword to try and counter the incoming attack. Such speed demonstrated by the likes of Le Clerc were a true show of what a normal human being could do when pushed to their limits, but the aptly nicknamed Lion Cub still had a lot to learn about limits. Commander Rhodes was one of many who had been able to walk that extra mile and attain something beyond the norm, and if Mister Clerc wanted to become a pirate, then he needed to learn fast if he dared to venture onto the Grand Line. On that sea, monsters were commonplace, and most of them were once average people.
"Khh... Well, well. Looks like you've got some bite after all!" Underestimating the speed of the incoming attack, Leonard was actually able to draw blood with his attack. The shining steel arcing through the air so quickly drawing a crescent moon in the air, the Commander had failed to react quickly enough to the vengeful blow and was only able to defend against it at the last second. Leaping back a yard or two to force some distance between himself and his opponent, Marcus placed a free hand upon his chest, a neat tear in his shirt stained with a hint of red revealing the slight incision that his opponent's blade had managed to leave behind before being repelled by his own sword.
Perfect... Eyes locking with the blackness of his foes' own hues, Marcus launched himself forwards for the first time since this rather one-sided battle had begun. Beforehand he had just been defending and launched counter offensives, but now the rival swordsman had brought out the beast inside himself, and the Commander was not about to let such a beast go untamed. Swinging his blade with far more grace than his opponent had done, the Remunun launched a series of quick alternating slashes as he charged forth, picking up a breeze that lifted bits of dust into the air as he did so...