Duel (open)

[Lyle]

Open to anyone, no limits on characters, I myself am going to pick someone other than my current.

[Xifeng Yue]

I'l accept the duel.

Now stop spamming the c-box. ]=<

[Lyle]

Liu Bei!



"A pleasure."

Smiled Liu Bei as he drew his two swords, the sounds of thick metal upon thicker metal ringing in the quiet night air, alerting any lazy eyes that the fight was about to start. The pair were upon a elevated plateau of stones, something unique to the Emperor's castle. Only one seemed dressed to the part, as Liu Bei was wearing nothing but his robes, their deep red hue a reminder of his heart.. and his stature. Could he really do this? Stick his neck out with such bold ferocity? Where was Guan Yu, or Zhang Fei? Zhao Yun even?

His opponent seemed to take a step forward, though it was hard to tell with the many torches that were pulsing around them. "Try I must.." he spoke carefully, only to himself, for he hoped not to show his unsteadiness to his opponent, who looked like she'd been in a situation like this before.

[Xifeng Yue]

She stood waiting, the greens of her clothing festive and the whites pure as snow. Not often did that happen--Life and war in general fended to dull such colors with dirt and blood and other such things, but for right now, it was clean.

That wouldn't last too long.

Xifeng took a step foward, reaching behind her and grasping at the weapon that held residence at the small of her back. A sighing breath escaped past her lips, curling up and blowing green-black strands of hair out of her face and away from her eyes. Those pericing eyes that were now directed at the man before her. They weren't cold and caluclating... Yet, anyway.

"As you wish..." Her voice was but a soft purr against the darknees, like a preadator waiting for the chance against it's prey. There was a noise as Demon's Claw was extended to about four feet in length, then brought in front of the woman, held lightly in a position that left her ready to attack or defend.

"Ready, My lord?" She wouldn't bother to learn his name. It didn't matter anyway.

[Lyle]

"Read, My lord?"

Liu Bei clenched his fists. He'd never liked that word.

He took a step forward, his hands tight on his swords. Another step, his belt that held his sheaths fell dead to the ground. Another step, slower this time, and he was finally ready. His mind was clear of the what ifs, they were not existence upon such a pure field of battle. Surely she wouldn't be thinking of such things. Then again, she was a woman after all. No man could tell.

"Hah!"

Yelled Xuande as he swept forward now, his left arm right in front of him and his blade held horizontal and close to his body. This would be his defense, though sadly if he was to win there could be no true defense. She the high ground, he the foot hills.. he'd have to climb up slowly and tactfully to hail victory. Slightly behind him his right arm was cocked up and readied to be unleashed.. waiting for just the moment, when her spear became close and her defense stood tall. Such was the way of the spear, and hopefully Xuande could count on this.

The 'lord' turned his body around quickly and leaped forward, his left arm drew left and hopefully took with it the woman's sword, or at least brought her down to the harsh reality of the situation. Coming around the bend was his right arm, which would push out fully erect in hopes of beating the woman back and opening up a possible combo. His legs kept moving, and as his attacked faded he would keep running until he flanked the woman just slightly, his left sword then acting as a shield by connecting with whatever counter attack she would pull off. Naturally, his center of gravity would be thrown off if this occurred.

[Xifeng Yue]

Once again the woman allowed a soft breath to escape her, emptying her thought of anything outside the battle. Golden eyes half-closed as she let them adjust to the torchlight as much as she could. They would throw shadows and flicker in ways that both helped and hurt her, but the same held true for the Xuande as well. The woman blinked and zeroed in on the now moving man, taking in his movements, position and the area around them.

She’d never fought a dual-wielding enemy before.

She was ready for the attacks, nothing less should have been expected. When he ludged forward, she hopped back slightly, allowing him a little freedom to move to the higher ground, but not for long. The first part of the attack hit nothing but air, but the second was about to be turned into her favor. The woman sidestepped, turning herself so that her side was presented. She wasn’t directly in the path of his weapon though, instead choosing to meet it with her own weapon. The bladed tip moved to strike out at the sword to push it off to the side, and even if it was glanced off, Liu Bei’s weapon would become entangled with the bladed crosspieces of her weapon.

To keep the man sufficiently distracted as well, Xifeng slid her hands forward on her weapon to bring herself closer, before bringing one leg up in an impressive hi-kick to the other’s upper torso area. If she was still off to his side slightly, it could most likely strike him in the upper arm, which of course, could lead to him dropping his weapon.

[Lyle]

Time slowed in Xuande's mind as the woman lightly hopped back and his left arm did nothing but open up for his next attack, his eyes met hers and noticed their beautiful hue as his right arm went forward, attempting to kill the woman. Deep inside his right arm a nerve fought the decision and the normally fast attack appeared slowed-- and in turn before he knew it her spear weapon had met and dismantled his attack. His eyes lit up with surprise while his lips sealed up and he quickly tried to respond.

Unknowingly Liu Bei brought around his left arm, which had gone all the way over to his left, in hopes of again cutting the woman down. Hopefully this time he wouldn't be as foolish as before. His hand directly came up closer to his face while his wrist twisted and his arm bent; notable he ducked his dead slightly to avoid ending his own life with the quick motion. However he found himself on the defense as his opponent attempted to ruin him again by beating him down now with just her leg. As the limb approached he prepared and began to shift, pulling his right arm back and moving his left forward to cushion the impending blow.

Like a thud she knocked his left forearm back into his own body, which sent him back just a bit and quickly dispersed of all the air within his lungs. She was tough, that kick could've knocked him out of he hadn't attempted at his feeble defense. Despite the blow something deep within Xuande told him to keep up, and so he drew in a bit of air and pushed back at the woman by extending his arm and attempting to throw her out of her stance and even upon her back, if that would be possible. His right arm did little other than react to the strain that he was putting through his left, amazingly both swords were still within his hands.

[Xifeng Yue]

The slightest emotion only came from her smirk. If he kept the mindset that she was female and didn’t fight her properly, he was going to find his head detached from his body and displayed for all to see. Which of course leads to the question of why she was sneaking around in his castle in the middle of the night in the first place. Assassination? Thieving? Plot Hole? All of these were good answers, but it didn’t really even matter if they were the right one.

He was strong, she had to give him that much… But then again, she hadn’t expected anything less from the Xuande. Hmm, how should she play this up? A wicked idea raced through her mind, and the woman allowed herself to be pushed not only backwards, but down onto the ground as well. Xifeng’s hands moved during this time, placed on the end of her spear and the middle of it, and as she began to reach the cobblestone, the Spear seemed to disappear. Magic? The Devil’s work? He wouldn’t have time to wonder, because the woman was already coming back at him. Upon hitting the ground, she had rolled over one shoulder and had her knees under her body, hands splayed out in front of her. A fraction of a second later, she had rocked back on her heels and lunged toward the man, a golden glint in her right hand being the only tell-tale sign that her weapon hadn’t actually disappeared into thin air.

In fact, he’d find that out very well when it extended all of the six feet with the intent to rip into his chest.

[Lyle]

The younger lord, soon to be Emperor, felt a rush of white hot adrenaline spin through his head and noble colored veins at the sight of the woman, rather opponent fall to the ground. Behind the adrenaline was fear; the fear of the not capitalizing yet again, the fear that he would again fail to rise to the challenge. Damned Cao's, Damned Sun. It could've all been different, oh could have it been something magical.. Yet just like before he'd slipped up, and now here he was in Lou Yang yet again, honoring the Emperor, waiting to honor his decision to re leave his position and all the work of those before him to Cao Cao.. stupid child..

A match lit in Bei's head as he moved forward in a brisk walk now, his blades slowing getting into position, his right was preparing to strike down on his opponent, who was already rebounding with incredible agility. His voice was deep and rich with power, that voice that could draw others to it no matter the call; it spoke, "Impressive, assassin?!"

Liu Bei readied his swords, turning his body slightly so that his left side was closer to his currently kneeling opponent, he assumed by now that she was indeed going to attempt at finishing him, or wounding him so that he would be destroyed later. With every bit of his soul he stood tall in his position, feet hard into the ground, roots of stone locking in. His shoulders were tight, ready to explode after the realization of his previous failures. D***it, this would be it! Come ON!!!!!!!

The woman shot forth and Liu Bei finally noticed where her weapon had disappeared, it startled him slightly, so he quickly dug in and brought his left arm in closer with the blade now running down horizontally, its tip aiming for the stones just before his right foot. Oh this would be tricky, but he wasn't thinking about that, maybe the woman, but such things were far from the noble's cleared brain. With that new initiative Xuande brought around his right arm, which -because of its stored up position- pulled in hard and rigidly, the blade in his hand was held opposite to his left one. That is, the tip was pointing high up in the deep and majestic sky off to Liu Bei's own left.

Immediately he felt the destructive power of his opponents nimble response and attack.. his blades did well to prevent the blow, which he managed to assume the general position of; yet because of said specifics, he also felt the tip of the weapon stir his lower stomach. His skin simply pushed and tugged. You don't feel pain with such a rush, no, it only seems that you feel pain when you look down, or slow enough to be able to acknowledge it. Bei did neither however as he unknowingly took advantage of the fact that his opponent had but her right hand on her six foot long pole arm. His right blade, which had more power in it clanged against the the side of her three blades, while its counterpart on the left was stuck between the two blades on its side. His quick motion ripped the spear's end from his stomach and as though planned his left sword gave way a bit by pulling back with the motion of his arm curling up.

He almost said got ya, but he feared the whole slowing down thing. So without a pause Liu Bei bent down slightly and then began his own reply to the bold and damaging move of his opponent. He stopped trying to move her blade away, which surely was either flying off in another directing with her body, for she had lunged with but on hand on the weapon, or at least kept out of the fight. Xuande realized that her entire right side would be up for grabs, probably. Hoping to beat her before she could smash into him, he pushed his right arm forward, his blade crossing diagonally up from his left to his right, while his true attack, his left blade, scooped up under a bit in hopes of stabbing the woman right in her belly. It would be gruesome, it would be essentially his initial attack, just mixed up.

[Xifeng Yue]

Her eyes shined brightly, seeming to be a light source in itself in the room instead of reflecting off the torchlight, flames dancing in her eyes. Inhuman, some would say, terrifying, others. But there was no bloodlust in them tonight, only the thrill of combat, a blaze of what it felt to be alive. And oh, how alive she was at that moment! A grin crossed her face as she felt the blow connect, although with a disappointing lack of landing a killing blow. But still, it was there. ”Howl, pup!”

Her blade didn’t retract when he pulled it out of his body and away away-That was a two-handed job, and as had been mentioned, she only had one hand on Demon’s Claw. As a final blow, it usually didn’t need anything to follow up with. Xifeng still was moving swiftly toward him, body in the air. Her spear was pushed off to the side, but since she still had her grip tight on it, the woman retained a bit of control over it… But was control what she wanted? No, not at this moment. She let go of the blade and instead reached for her large dagger, bringing that up in front of her to block as much of the slashing attack as she could. It wasn’t much, but it helped, for the rest of the blow was absorbed by her armor, leaving deep slashes over the protective chest covering, ripping and fading green. Her spear could be retrieved later, and still be put to good use. And she planned on living all right, She wouldn’t have her life stolen from her by this man.

At the same time, The Beautiful Devil didn’t even bother to think of the consequences of reaching down and grabbing the blade coming below her, The leather on her hand ripped and blood spilled from her palm. But now was not yet the time to grimace or show pain. No pain, no fear, no nothing. He couldn’t have any of those emotions from her, less they be taken as signs of weakness.

Her hand re-aimed on the sword going for her stomach, twisting with her hand with all her might as she made to turn the point onto it’s master. As time sped back up again she slammed into him with all of her body weight, enough to knock him back at the very least, or even more plausible, knock him down as he had her. With this force, if she had turned the blade on him, it could of gone into his own stomach instead of her’s ...

---

EDIT: 100th post, bitches!

[Lyle]

Aggressive as ever, Liu Bei drove in his blows, though slowly his once clear mind came to its dark reality. His mouth opened to make a sound as he felt his left hand flutter when it should have been straight on, cutting his opponent. His left arm cleared and his voice was still smothered by the shock that his opponent's swift, split second, instincts provided. Outmatched, the arm fell limp as its path faded.

Liu Bei remembered when he was torn from his city and forced to be hunted down by Cao Cao.. those were painful times, Zhao Yun had been there however to aid him. Where was he now? Would he look down upon his lord being beaten by such a warrior?

He felt his blood splatter as he moved his left arm under and attempted at stabbing his opponent in a fashion that she'd done him. A small icy curtain drew over his eyes and he felt himself become tired, but he kept at it. With the love of his foundation, with the welcoming ideals he'd kept for so long, he pushed forward, knowing that this was truly a point in his life; a crisis. Blindly, he found himself finished as his blade began to turn, and now too his left fluttered like the song bird after the snow had tapered off.

Defeat, yet courage to survive now flushed through his system, a toxic cocktail, he wondered if his opponent would feel that when her wounds became her complete fixation. There was no turning back now, as his right hand dropped its coveted blade to the ground, it was needed though anyways. A moment later Xuande was falling to the ground, he hadn't felt her body hit his, his entire body had become fuzzy with death. Even as he looked down, to see his own blade cut at his skin and his red robes darken to a darker hue, he felt numb. Nothing, never, he'd never feel the pain.

His left arm held tight as his right came up while mid air, returning again on its circle of fatigue. Fading further, the man who hated himself as a lord closed his eyes again, opened his mouth and called out a loud cry; it was one that was filled with desperation and suicide, yet there was hope as it rang in the ears of those watching. His left arm silently came up to grab onto his remaining, unfaithful-sword, which could not be turned completely around by his opponent because of its proximity. His own hand cracked as it grabbed onto the edge, blood spewing out to and fro over his own mettle. That would hurt. With a final thrust he pushed hard back on his sword, still falling mid air; it was nearly impossible, but he had to try something. His left arm tried to counter her weight and power too, but it seemed to fail.



His body fell limp to the ground as he looked up at her, eyes finally open again, his sword still in his left hand, he'd used the ol death grip to wrangle it free. Blood was spewing from him, making a mess all over the stones. He propped himself up with his right elbow and pulled up his sword, pointing it directly at his opponent. He was unsure if he'd managed to hurt her by pushing back against her attempt at killing him with his own blade.

"Finish it if you can..." Breathed Bei, as he struggled to get up. Surely there was something up his bloody sleeve.

[Xifeng Yue]

Her body tangled with his and they fell, his cry in her ear yet so distant at the same time, covered by her heart beating and her loud breathing and the adrenaline screaming through her veins, telling her that yes, she was the one who would walk away on this night, she would be the one to return to her master and smile as she informed him that his wish had been fulfilled …

Yue Xifeng would live, live like she never had before, her world changed by the death of the man she was currently sprawled across, her head on his chest and one hand pressing against the wound that gushed lifeblood, covering her greens and whites and making them browns and reds. On her lower stomach, just where her torso armor started to end, spread a thin line of blood. He’d cracked the armor and pushed it far enough downward to wound her as well. But it would scar and she would live… He would not.

So strong, even in death, she mused, raising her head to look at the man, golden eyes locking onto his dark ones already coated with death. She’d seen it so many times on the battlefield, but never this up close. A slow smile spread across her face, so lovely in the torchlight that flicked demonic shadows across her face.

“… Die … with a smile …” She moved forward once again, her free and bloody hand first moving in an attempt to knock the sword out of his hand before grabbing the hair at the nape of his neck, crushing her lips to his in a Impromptu kiss and pulling herself up from him, tilting his head just back enough so that the hand that held the dagger moved to slice a neat, practiced line across his throat.

Victory?

((Edit: Why so Serious? *Cuts face*))

[Sun Yuan Ci]

^ What a psychotic freak... ^

[Lyle]

Liu Bei chuckled up some blood as he rested upon his final, cold and flat bed. The woman was alive and he now dying. Least, it was in a woman's embrace, and not a vile pig of war's clutches... even if the woman appeared like a demon.

He had finally lost it, there would be no hope or hero at the end of his spiraling story.. that was sad, but there was more to that now. Soon his triumphs and failures would be a but a distant memory, and the sadness would fade into the light... He would remain here, with nothing but the taste of blood and the woman upon his smiling lips..



...China would be a better place without lords like him.

[Xifeng Yue]

She released him when the spirit left him and the heart stopped beating, letting the man slowly back down onto the ground before sitting up, still straddling the body. She looked down on herself finally and saw all the blood and gore that covered her, pain rushing to her now that the enemy was gone and there where no more imminent threats.

When the pain-haze cleared, she decided to let the man keep his head, instead prying the one sword she had dealt the fatal blow from his grip before rising. Her dagger was placed back into it's sheath before she moved to collect Demon's Claw, setting it back to it's smaller form and securing it to the small of her back. The woman glanced back once more, a smirk slowly spreading on her face before she disappeared down the way the Lord had come. Just another story she would never tell.