Somehow, some way, Grant was able to block Maddox's strike. While his composure so far had been relatively cool, Maddox's face in that moment conveyed his surprise and bewilderment. He instinctively jumped backwards, almost mirroring Grant's own backwards movement. [color=ed1c24][i]How could he have guessed that attack?[/i][/color] Maddox wondered, examining the blood on the palm of his hand. The result of touching the Blood Armor. [color=ed1c24][i]I gave no movements for him to see. This is too precise to be random guessing...[/i][/color] His red eyes looked back up to Grant as he spoke. Only after he finished did Maddox smirk. [color=ed1c24]"I have to hand it to you, almost any opponent I could face wouldn't stand much of a chance. You present an entirely new challenge to me."[/color]

[color=ed1c24]"After all, I've never fought someone who could see the future before."[/color] Maddox coiled into his fighting stance again. The smirk disappeared now. [color=ed1c24]"My speed is for naught, and that is something very different and very dangerous. For me, at any rate."[/color] Maddox began another dash, teleporting after taking a few steps. Rather than appearing nearby Grant for a simple attack, he appeared to the man's left side. However, another Maddox appeared on his right at the same time. A Thought Projection, in the same pose preparing to deliver an identical strike. Both of them were aiming to deliver a sharp kick to Grant's jaw. Maddox wasn't sure yet the specifics of Grant's apparent precognition, so it was worth testing with a simple decoy. [color=ed1c24][i]And if this doesn't work I will have to get more elaborate to outsmart him...[/i][/color]

Grant smirked as Maddox finally figured out how he was keeping up with him. It took him long enough to catch on. [color=Crimson]"Well, why else would I have any delusions of having a chance against you if I couldn't 'see' into the future? Or, at least, know what the acclaimed fastest man alive is going to do?"[/color] The blood mage would chuckle softly, moving into a defensive position again. Maddox dashed into an attack, and Grant's face split into a wicked smile. He was coming ever closer to making a losing mistake. As the teleporting mage appeared on both sides of him, there was no hesitation as he reached out to grab Maddox's leg. Grant could sense his blood on his opponent's hand, giving away who the right one was.

[color=Crimson]"Well, now I know about that trick. I appreciate the showing off."[/color] Grant chuckled, and slashed at Maddox with his scythe one-handed. [color=Crimson]"I mean, it would've worked just as well, but it's nice for you to just slowly ramp up the difficulty for me."[/color] He looked up at where Iron Enigma was up in the stands, and held his weapon of choice high up in the air, trying to rally them to cheer louder. [color=Crimson]"But, I'd rather start with it as hard as it can get. C'mon Maddox, hit me with everything you've got!"[/color] He faced his opponent, arms held out, and a cocky grin on his face. He had no problem with this fight going on until they ran out of time, so long as he learned everything Maddox could do in this fight, as he sure he'd encounter the mage some time in the future where he wouldn't be able to use Blood Patriarch.

Grant was able to see through Maddox's deceit and block the real one, ignoring the Thought Projection that phased through him like the illusion that it was. [color=ed1c24][i]Damn.[/i][/color] Before Grant could use his blood scythe, Maddox teleported out of his grip and back to a safe distance, sliding to a halt and kicking up some dust at his feet. His confidence was suddenly rising now that the ruse was up. But it wasn't without good reason. Knowing exactly what your opponent is about to do is a powerful ability to have. And Grant knew it. [color=ed1c24]"Hit you with everything I've got, eh?"[/color] Maddox repeated, before reaching up and grabbing his jacket.

Rather casually he removed the leather jacket, leaving him in his black tank top. His red guild mark and black skull tattoos were now visible. He disappeared, teleporting up to the Phoenix Wing B balcony and dropping off his jacket before reappearing in the same spot he was at before he left. [color=ed1c24]"Pardon the delay,"[/color] Maddox said, slowly returning to his fighting stance. [color=ed1c24][i]I can probably blow him away with a good Light attack, but I'd run the risk of hurting spectators... So I can't hit him with anything too big.[/i][/color] He looked at the blood on his hand before looking down to confirm the blood on his jeans. [color=ed1c24][i]I can't let him get blood on me. Surely he can still manipulate it... I guess I have to demonstrate my other magic if I want to win this...[/i][/color]

A bright red light radiated from Maddox's right hand, burning away the still-wet blood. As well, a bright red light burned a hole through his pants' leg, ridding it of the blood marks as well. The light died down after a brief second, where Maddox looked straight into Grant's eyes. [color=ed1c24]"Speed isn't the only power I have."[/color] Maddox held his right hand out, with his palm facing towards Grant. A bright, blinding flash of light pulsed from his hand, serving to temporarily disorient his foe. Wasting no time, Maddox teleported a short distance behind Grant, his palm already radiating with red light. [color=ed1c24][i]Light Magic: Impact![/i][/color] His arm shot out in an open-palm strike, empowered by his Light Magic, in an attempt to breach the Blood Patriarch armor and deliver a decisive blow to Grant's spine. That is if his tactic worked in the first place.

Grant just chuckled lightly as Maddox removed his jacket and teleported to the stands to put it up. [color=Crimson]"Oh I don't mind at all. I'd hate to ruin your jacket. Doesn't look like it was cheep, clearly high quality."[/color] His tone was somewhere between mocking, amused, and arrogant. The blood mage glanced at the two tattoos. They clearly had some significance, and he made note of them before Maddox began burning off the blood that Grant had gotten on him. Though he didn't seem phased at all, inside, Grant wasn't at all pleased. He had hoped that he could counter Maddox's teleporting with it. 

[color=Crimson]"Oh, and yet [i]another[/i] magic comes into play eh? Well, I hope it works better than that illusion did."[/color] Grant chuckled slightly, and fell into a relaxed posture. He was going to have to win through attrition, as he couldn't land a direct hit on Maddox. As Maddox teleported, and attacked, Grant failed to move to stop it this time. When the attack connected, however, it was like hitting a brick wall. One could visibly see the shock of the attack reverberate through Grant's body, and the look of pain on his face, but he was unmoved. His armor would immediately stick to Maddox's hand, quickly trying to form little spikes and puncture Maddox's hand so that he'd bleed, and so that some of Grant's blood would mix with Maddox's. 

Regardless of Maddox's next move however, a burst of fatigue would effect him, and Grant would drop to his hands and knees for a moment, and his spine would visibly re-align itself before he stood up. [color=crimson]"Mmm, Damn. It takes a lot to make me admit something hurt."[/color] He'd rub his back, glancing around for Maddox and locking eyes with him. [color=Crimson]"And that hurt a good deal."[/color] He'd crack his back, turning half way back and forth in each direction. [color=Crimson][i]I need to stop relying on my Precognition so much. It's going to fail at a crucial time like that again if I do.[/i][/color] Licking his lips, he decided to taunt Maddox further. [color=Crimson]"But I can tell you're still holding back. I said hit me with all you've got, and if that's it, that's sad."[/color] He smiled, hoping that would goad Maddox into an attack that'd leave him open.

While the Light-enhanced strike was able to deal more damage, it was unable to strike down Grant or even breach his Blood Patriarch armor. The man hardly moved from the powerful blow. [color=ed1c24][i]This guy's defenses are pretty good,[/i][/color] Maddox thought to himself briefly, retracting his hand quickly. There was some blood on it, but thankfully he had moved away before any of the spikes could get him. The sticking effect was a surprise, but Maddox was able to overpower the small trick fairly easily. All in all, the attack went fairly well despite having no lasting damage on Grant. But there was a big drawback that Maddox couldn't ignore.

He could feel general pain all over his body now. The red-haired mage sprung backwards, landing on his feet several meters away after a few flips. [color=ed1c24][i]Did his Body Link magic he tried earlier actually end up working?[/i][/color] Maddox wondered, looking somewhat distressed. [color=ed1c24][i]Perhaps the damage I'm dealing to him is being partially redirected to me. That's bad...[/i][/color] He watched silently as Grant recomposed himself and complimented the power of the strike. Sure it caused Grant pain, but it also hurt Maddox somehow and seemed to do no [i]real[/i] damage to the Iron Enigma wizard. [color=ed1c24]"I didn't think it'd do as much as it did,"[/color] Maddox spoke, standing up out of his combat stance. [color=ed1c24]"But if you want me to hit you harder..."[/color]

The cat was already out of the bag, it was apparent for everyone to see that Maddox was capable of Light Magic. There was no point in hiding it now. He raised his left hand and faced the palm towards Grant. Red light radiated from his palm, taking physical form as a thin layer of red energy amassed against his palm. He pulled his arm in slightly, keeping the palm facing Grant. [color=ed1c24]"Burning Ray."[/color] Fully extending his arm, the red energy was shot forward like a baseball, taking approximately the same size and shape as well. The Burning Ray spell would explode upon hitting something solid, usually meaning it would strike an unarmored foe and carry them through the air before exploding on contact with something else. But Grant's bloody armor was more than enough to cause instant detonation. As he fired the first one, his already glowing right hand formed another one, firing a second attack a full second later. The one-two combo could do serious damage to an unarmored foe, but these ranged attacks were more to test what Grant could do to stop Maddox at a distance.