Zuri, Abby, Strips ~ Private

[zash]

Zuri put up his sword for defence. He made sure to block Strips' wild raging swings of his blade. Zuri blocked mostly with the area closest to the hilt of his sword, trying to keep up. Eventually he got tired of it and grabbed Strips' sword around the hilt as it narrowly went passed his head, shaving off a few hairs. Zuri then pulled on Strips and threw him to the side, which in doing so Zuri slipped and fell due to all of the mud.

[petdr89]

Considering the circumstances, Strips thought he was doing pretty well, even if most of his swings were blocked. But he was injured; he was just amazed he was still able to keep up with someone who was fighting in their prime. Then of course there was that hysterical moment that would have sent him in a fit of laughter if it wasn't for the fact he was so tightly wound. When Zuri grabbed his sword and tried to tossed him aside like a rag doll, he ended up causing himself to fall instead. Strips managed to keep himself from falling face down by awkwardly running forward in a 'nearly tripping over his own feet' fashion. Finally catching himself and standing up straight, he turned to Zuri, who was still on the ground. This would have been the perfect opportunity; if he attacked him now he just might get the upper hand again, but something kept him from doing so.

"Arise. I shaln't have a victory won because my greatest opponent slipped in the mud." He didn't stand in a defensive manner; he just stood straight, looking slightly over his shoulder. "Besides, I think you might just be the one, Mizturugi." A sly smile creeping across his face seemed to hide a deeper meaning to his words. After all, what exactly did he mean by that? What did he think Zuri was the one for? Perhaps old thoughts and ideas were beginning to surface again; this type of battle was known for bringing out the worse in people.

[zash]

Zuri Stabbed his sword into the ground and stood. He ripped his sword out and stared at Strips through a mud covered face. The rain his his body like little rocks, each drop causing a splash of mud to come off his body. His eyes were blood red, mud dripping off his brow. He squinted his eyes a bit out of anger. His head was tilted down and his eyes were faced upwards to look under his lowered brow. Steam was coming out of his nostrils and bits of embers came out with it. The water sizzled at it just went through the steam from his nostrils. "The one what?" Zuri said as bits of flame came out his mouth. "I might be the one to kill you?" He guessed as the flames became more fluent and fierce. Zuri's darker side was beginning to come to fruition and was beginning to take over ever so slowly. His demonic mind was getting tired of this battle, it needed to end now.

Zuri spun his sword aroung gripping it tightly. He spun it in his hand a few times and gripped it when the dull side was out. He was still able to keep it in his mind to keep that side out so he didn't truely harm any body, or kill them. He drew it back as he took his stance. Gripping his sword with his right hand, one foot behind the other, and his left hand pointed out towards Strips, he was in both his defence and attack stance, ready to dash forward and strike and ready to block any of his opponents attackes. He was ready for anything.

[petdr89]

Despite everything, Strips' smile continued. It was more like a smirk, actually, the subtle smirk of victory. Maybe not the victory anyone would imagine, but it would be a personal triumph for him. "Exactly. Eight years I have been looking for someone like you, and in eight years, many have tried, but all have failed. And although you don't have a reason for killing me, unlike the two-thousand or so others, you do have a reason for feeding that demon. Yes, I see him. That animalistic beast that you allow to control your life. One day he is going to completely consume you." It was hard to tell whether Strips was taunting Zuri, or just stating fact, because his voice held no tone that would hint to either.

His speech was concluded anyway; Strips turned to face Zuri head-on, crouching down slightly so that his left hand nearly touched the ground when it was stretched fully. His other hand reached behind his back, grasping for several throw-able disks, all lined with sharp spikes. His tail lashed violently behind him as his mud-matted wings spread slightly. In a quick motion, he launched all the disks toward his opponent with incredible accuracy. Zuri couldn't possible stop them all, but the ones he couldn't stop would just ricochet off his skin anyway.

[zash]

Zuri stared at Strips as he gave his little speech.

"Hmm, so that may be true. Maybe I like my inner demon. Maybe I like to feed it from time to time and give into the darkness just a little bit."

Zuri crouched down a bit preparing himself for the upcoming attack from Stips. As Strips reached for the knives Zuri started to think upon what to do. As soon as the knives er, well shurikens were thrown Zuri blasted to the side with a gust of his wings and as he began to fall he gave another blast from his wings to send a wave of wind towards the last of the shurikens coming at him thus slowing them down a bit and sending them off their target a little. Zuri then used his large sword to block most whilest dodging the others. A few went across his legs and face, nicking him just a bit and flying off to the side. After the last shuriken had past Zuri then let loose two blasts of fire towards Strips, one at him and one to his right. Zuri then flew to his left inticipating his dogde, maybe.

[petdr89]

Strips eyes narrowed before he dodged to his right (Zuri's left). He had done a sort of tuck and roll maneuver, which allowed him to practically land on his feet, only in a crouched manner. Amazingly he had been smart enough to dodge both fireballs; he wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, and often acted without thinking things through all the way.

When he landed, he started to stand, but still remained hunched slightly. "Everyone wants to give in to their dark side, it's human nature. That's how murders and rapes are allowed to go unpunished." Strips replied, whipping out his only remaining weapon, his dagger, in anticipation of Zuri's next attack.

[zash]

Zuri saw that Strips dodged the other way. He then landed on the ground and slid across. Dirt and dust flung up into the air as his feet slid across the ground. "This is true, but those are the worst case cenarios. Those are for those who let the demon take over and don't think things through. I know your probably speaking from experience, but I'm not as much like you as you think."

Zuri stood there weapon ready. He knew if he flew forwards it would be an on going battle between his large hard manuevering sword and Strips' favorite weapon, his dagger. He knew he couldn't keep up his long ranged battle either, its always to easy to dogde a blast, no matter how large it was. What was he to do? Zuri then just started to walk towards Strips with his sword on his shoulder.

"So what was it like Strips? Killing all of those people just for money. Did you enjoy watching their faces as you cut them down? Did you like to watch those innocent girls die in your arms as you fucked them? What was it like for you giving into your inner demon so much that you killed so many in cold blood?"

[petdr89]

Strips' posture straightened as he watched Zuri walk toward him. He listened; a cold gaze took the place of the sarcastic one he held a minute ago. "I think you're about as 'worst case scenario' as it gets," he retorted with narrowed eyes. "And I killed them after I fucked them," he corrected. He absolutely refused to answer Zuri's question; he knew what Zuri was doing, trying to distract him, or perhaps bring out enough regret in him that he wouldn't be able to function properly. He just had to ignore what Zuri was saying and focus, that's all there was to it. But it was so hard; his mind was already tracing back, remembering all those faces, especially of the ones he tortured. Now more than ever, he had to stay strong, but a few simple words affected his judgment severely; his nerves were almost visibly shaking.

As he continued to watch Zuri come forward, he more securely clutched his dagger in his left fist. He had one of two choices now; he could either wait for Zuri to reach him and fight him in hand-to hand-combat, or he could run forward and fight Zuri in hand-to-hand combat. He chose the latter.

[zash]

Zuri stood there. He thrusted his sword into the ground.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you killed them after you fucked their brains out and got your pleasure out of them, or was it your way of giving them somewhat of a good time before you killed them? Was it your regret for killing them that made you atleast give them enough pleasure so you wouldn't feel so guilty for murdering them afterwards? Let me ask you this, I know in many religions, the ones that are murdered go to a version of Hell. I know your religion is a bit different then most, but do those who are murdered in cold blood sent to your Hell? Or is it honorable to be killed after you get raped? Do you find it honorable to kill people for money? Do you Strips? What right do you have to say that giving your inner demon is bad? Look at yourself. You've killed so many in shear cold blood that you have no honor any more. You deserve to die where you stand!"

And with that Zuri ripped his sword out of the ground and flew full force towards Strips. His sword ready to blow him away or block Stips' dagger and with shear force break it out of his way if need be. Zuri was ready to cut Strips down with full force! Mind you his sword was still held with the blunt side out. He wasn't going to be like Strips and kill in cold blood.

[petdr89]

Strips realized Zuri's rage, realized his actions, and without really thinking about it came up with a counter-attack. Before he fully reached Zuri, he stole a play out of his book, and flapped his wings just hard enough that he was able to jump and fly over Zuri's head, landing behind him. Swiftly he wrapped a strong arm around Zuri's throat, and used all the weight in his body to draw Zuri back so that his spine curved toward Strips. Then with his daggered hand, he thrust the sharp point into Zuri's spine. He knew it wouldn't break the scales, but hoped it caused a slight ping of pain between the vertebrae. Old tigers sensing their end always fought the hardest.

"That's none of your damn business," Strips started to reply, "and whoever said anything about raping them? For your information," he hissed, "anyone who's murdered, provided they've lived honorably, is granted entrance to Stovokor. Those who murder dishonorably are cast to Grethor. I've already been condemned by the thousands I've murdered, so why should I give a fuck anymore when or where I die? It's not like it matters anymore; I do deserve to die where I stand," he admitted. Of course, that didn't mean he was going to give up, not now, not when he was this close.

[zash]

"I didn't ask you that. I know you're gonna burn in Hell or Greth whatever. But I asked you about your victems. What about them?!"

With that Zuri jumped up into the air as far as he could and put all his weight on his top half whilest thrusting his lugs up into the air trying to knock both him and Strips on their backs.

[petdr89]

"And I told you!" Strips snarled back. Zuri's wings where one thing he hadn't counted, and with them beating they kind of got in his face. Against Zuri's struggle, he struggled as well, all while thrusting the dagger deeper between his vertebrae. But he couldn't keep on his feet for very long, not with as slick as it was, and before he knew it he was on his knees with Zuri still trying to flip himself backwards. He managed to retain that position for a while, but like his feet, his knees slipped out from under him, and before he knew it he was on his back with Zuri on top of him. Zuri was heavy, not as heavy as he was, but still heavy. And as he landed he shuttered at the loud crunched produced by his body. Something had just broken; he sure as hell didn't want to know what it had been. All he knew was that his automatic responses had just kicked in, and half of his body was numb; he no longer struggled against the shoyru.

[zash]

Zuri heard the loud crunch and shot up real fast, finally free. He turned back around and faced Strips, laying there motionless on the ground. He took his sword and held it to Strips' neck.

"I should just kill you right here and now. Let the souls of those you killed be the judges upon your death. Let the ones that believe you should be tortured for all eternity take you soul and bathe it in the deepest parts of Hell and let the Devil himself take your soul and decide upon what your punishment should be, and let him give you the worst immaginable pain of pains he can offer for those in Hell, but I won't. Do you know why Strips? Because I do not kill in cold blood. I may offer my inner demon something from time to time but I'm not like you Strips, I don't kill for the fun of it. I don't go to random houses and slaughter families to watch the look on their faces as you slowly cut them down and let them suffer."

At that Zuri lowered his sword and stuck it in the ground again.

"Strips, you have been defeated. Stay down like the dog you are and let fate decide your punishment."

[petdr89]

Zuri's cold blade caressed Strips' neck, and he froze. Zuri spoke, and Strips remained frozen, hanging on to his every word. He knew the truth, knew everything Zuri said was true, but couldn't admit it to him; he could admit it to himself, just not to Zuri.

He breathed heavily, filling his lungs with air as he tried to hoist himself up. He managed to elevate himself only slightly by the strength of one arm, but then collapsed back down again. The pain was becoming more localized now, and he realized what the problem was. His left knee had twisted and broken ninety degrees in the wrong direction, leaving it swollen and impossible to stand on.

He was back down on the ground now, face down in the mud. From his position he could see the paramedics coming from the gates, walking briskly toward them. He tried once again to stand, like the stubborn ox he was, but it was to no avail. When the paramedics arrived they flipped his nearly limp body over, and lifted him to a stretcher. But before he left, he had one final thing to say to Zuri. "You should have killed me, you fool, because I will have my revenge." As he spoke, his eyes flashed a pure soft red color; his voice was soft, but angry. The paramedics began hauling him away, as a judge walked toward Zuri to declare him the winner.

[zash]

Zuri heard the words of Strips. They sounded full of hate and anger, but to him, just another empty threat. Strips would talk tough but from time to time he wouldn't carry them out. As Zuri saw the judge come running over he felt the emptiness of his win. All he felt was that this was just a debate, a debate to see who was the worst person. The mass murderer or the man who he himself was nothing more than a demon stuck on killing all that existed. Who was the better man was put upon who could make the other feel worse. Zuri was the one who made the most comments, he was the attacker in the battle, but he himself was the person trying to make sense of his ownself while trying to make it so he was no longer the bad one here. Zuri knew that he was more like Strips than he let upon. That they were so much alike that it scared him. Could he really become like that? Could he kill in cold blood just for fun? Zuri felt a deep inner pain. The type of pain of something trying to break loose. Zuri hadn't even noticed but his eyes were still blood red. As the judge approached he saw the look of utter grimace on Zuri's face, the face of a man bent on killing all those around, and felt greef for it as he did his task. The judge kept his distance and announced Zuri the winner. He told him just to take a breather for the next 15 minutes as the stadium took a short intermission before the last and final bout between the last two competitors. Zuri then walked away and waited in the massive hall for his next battle. He laid down on the bench that was given and tried to rest. His heart raced like no other. It pounded in his chest as if it was trying to excape his body. The pain welling up inside of him grew more and more feirce. He could feel the demon's thirst for blood and battle. Someone had brought him a cold bottle of water and Zuri gulped nearly all of it in one swig and dumped the rest on his head. His entire body was throbbing now.

"Why do I hurt so?" He said as he cringed in pain. "It feels as if my body is trying to break in two. Why is this happening?"

Zuri was doubled over on the bench and eventually fell off. He wrenched in pain on the floor as his entire body shivvered. His mind entered a deep dark pit of black. He couldn't see anything but two red rimmed black eyes floating above him and white wrenched and mangled fangs of teeth beneath the eyes.

"You are not strong enough to handle me. Do you really think you can keep me contained?" The beast let loose a roar and Zuri knelt down in pain of the loud roar that was ringing in his ears. His body rose and his eyes opened. His eyes were nothing but a pit of black. His eyes looked as if they were an empty void of pure hatred and suffering. His scales burned a pitch black coal color and steam seemed to roll off of them. His teeth were jagged and sharp and his claws were blood stained silver daggers ready to tear apart anything that moved. His tail whipped back and forth with a sharp pointed tip formed at the end. His wings were spread out as if to take off. Each was a pure shade of black and the skin layer of his wings were a dark grey. At the tips of his wings small silver points were glistening in the light. This battle was truely a battle to witness. His competitor best be ready for him.

"This little bitch better put up more of a fight that that little cat did." He said as he licked his lips with entisipation of the blood he shall be drinking from the skull of his opponent.