[@supertinyking][@Nightknight][@Absolis][@Gentlemanvaultboy][@thewizardguy]

Viral wasn't interested in seeing what everyone else thought of their little honor duel, darting forward almost as soon as he had gotten done talking. Firebrand could have taken to the air and just peppered Viral with fireball at his leisure, until Viral was roasted enough to make an excellent dinner. It would be the demonic thing to do. The humans had some very rude words they'd invented for someone that won like, though, and Firebrand would rather they weren't applied to him. So he did the stupid thing and stayed on the ground as the Beastman closed to melee.

Firebrand wondered what sort of madman had taught this creature to fight as literally millennia of battlefield experience struggled with Viral's attacks, at once wild and extremely controlled. He saw a lot coming. All battle had a rhythm to it, if you knew where to look. Look at the way a opponent breathed, at the direction of his eyes, at the way he held his weapon and the tensing of his muscles. Many attacks were blocked by the bracelets on his wrists, others by him turning to interpose his armor, still others found never found purchase as Firebrand was just not there anymore. Many, however, landed home. Little jolts of pain flew up his arms as gashes opened up in them. He was thankful for the fortifying power of the armor talisman, could feel it hardening his skin against the bites of the blade, but it wouldn't be enough. The blows were too wild, Viral was too fast, and Firebrand was too old. He let one of the blows to his head slip through and swung his horn into the oncoming strike. The blade scraped down the side and bit lightly into his head, electing a pained grunt from the Demon. Viral didn't show any sign of slowing down, but he definitely was.

He breathed deep, felt the hot air swirling in his throat, and exhaled a whirling torrent of wind right between them. The tornado was as tall as they were, flashes of fire swirling in its depths as it plopped down and whirled there on the battlefield. Firebrand gripped the earth with his feet to keep himself from being pulled in and waited there, mouth half open and full of fire, to see what became of Viral.