[b]GreaannGots & Ert of Fan cullab[/b]
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A shield... Interesting.

A Saber more oriented to defense is rare to find, like a Lancer specializing in the same. A shield strong enough to hold off her sword? It was obvious that such a shied would then need to be circumvented by another means, using wits and smarts to bypass the shield.

Too bad she wasnt really in the mood for those. Brute force was more her style and any shield will break given enough pressure.

Her sword met with the large two hander that was Saber's, the force of the two swords clashing unleashing a shockwave of air around them. Lancer had simply blocked the sword with her own, the ease with which she took the blow betraying her great strength.

[i]Three more minutes,[/i] she thought.

"Surprised?" Lancer spoke. "Do not underestimate my strength."

Her shield hand flew towards Saber's stomach, even as Lancer held his sword with her own.

The shield slams against the giant Saber's gut, forcing the titanic swordsman to back off from the clash of swords. For all the strength of Saber's shield, it only seemed to block unique effects and attacks.

Its gauging blow had given it some indication to the strength rank of its opponent, enough to equal, if a little bit less, its own under the current circumstances and greater than its when the circumstances are not met. A worthy opponent, if a bit eager to finish the duel.

"A decent parry and counter, t'is something I shall admit," Saber adjusted its footing, readying its self to strike again, "But it is not exceptional!"

Saber brought its large blade from the side, howling through the air - Lancer's experienced eyes would have no issue noticing the amount of raw power behind the blow, far greater than the last.

Might take two hands to block this one. 

With a loud shriek of metal clashing upon metal, the blow swept the smaller Lancer off her feet sending her flying through the air, before she flipped backwards and landed heavily on her feet.

However, she remained unharmed, with only another scratch on her shield to show for that blow.

"Is that all?" She scoffs. "I have withstood other heroes with strength far greater than this, taken blows that would make the mountains shudder, faced down those who were blessed by the gods themselves!"

That was some food for thought. The multiple eyes of Saber were drawn to the blade, the shield and then back to Lancer. It rested its twisted broadward over its shoulder, humming.

"Really now? Would you happen to be Greek by any chance?"

There was a knowing edge to to Saber's distorted, agender voice. It brought the blade back down into stance, its eyes squinting. It didn't take a genius to figure out that it was planning something in its mind. 

"Posuting and baiting aside, Lancer, I appreciate your strength and hardiness. Most would have been cleaved apart, blessing of the gods or not. I am glad you are my first opponent in this war."

It waited, putting the immediate offensive to the side and allowing Lancer to make the next move. 

[i]Two minutes,[/i] she thought. She would have dearly liked to fight more, perhaps get him unarmed, but.... Saber didn't have to know that, and he certainly didn't have to know she could fight for two more minutes before her master's prana channeling to her grew insufficient, making her use her own. Besides, there seemed to be others drawn to his challenge.

"Hmph. I would have dearly liked to clash swords but, with my contraints, such hard headedness on my part would only be disadvantageous to me." Her sword thrummed with power once again, almost deafening to the ear. With a swing another swathe of light appeared, raising dust and debris as it exploded where Saber was. As the dust cleared, Lancer had already turned invisible and was long gone.

A retreat - not something Saber had seen coming. It raised an arm to block out most of the light from its several eyes, shying away from it. 

"Another time, perhaps."

It would not call Lancer a coward, for there was no shame in a tactical retreat, especially when you were already at an apparent disadvantage. It didn't stop Saber from feeling disappointed, but at least it had other potential enemies to look forward to.

With Lancer gone, Saber rammed its blade into the ground, resting its hands on the pommel. Not a completely unsatisfying first engagement.