One after another, Clarence's fiery hail explodes, blasting outward in a burst of violent plasma many times hotter than natural flame. With Mimring's positioning before blitzing straight toward his opponent, the plasma might end up tearing into the nearby pillar, scaffolding, and the broken chunk of support lying near Clarence's foothold, possibly damaging ancient structures even more, sending debris scattering across the battlefield. Surely, one would think, the lightning dragon could not survive such a spectacle, such an explosive eruption of power? Would Clarence see the corpse of yet another dragon join the bones of its fellow, or perhaps a weakly sparking wyrm on the ground? It takes a moment to retrieve an answer between Mimring's flash of raw lightning and the explosion of the Magma Blossoms, and an uninvolved observer might lean into the dangerous light show, eager to see what has become of the brass-scaled beast.

But the dragon is no longer there.

Of course, with the speed at which Mimring streaked towards Clarence, [color=#4BF8FA]he may have only just outpaced the Magma Blossoms were there not so many of them. A searing sensation of pain caught his trail, dangerous plasma nipping at the lightning dragon as he streaked towards Clarence. In this form, such things can still harm him, and he was painfully reminded of this fact- but it does not deter him from his detonation of Burning Sky Conflux. Perhaps a last-ditch effort to deal damage, or even a protective measure to save him from completely shorting out; it is, after all, an almost complete change of state from coalesced lightning to static in the air. Even with damage dealt, it is best if he reforms on his own terms, with less pressure on him, than be forced to dodge any more than he has to.[/color]

The electrical power, still carrying the emerald aura of before, would still strike at the plasma shield unopposed- perhaps even conduct along any plasma in the air that might be in the immediate vicinity- but the primary arcs of lightning travel at a speed and power that smaller forces would have a negligible effect on them. No, the nearest and strongest source of magnetic charge to attract the unadulterated strength of lightning would be the shield itself, even if a few bolts might burst off in completely irrelevant directions and tear into the pillars even more before dissipating into the air- if the Magma Blossoms did not cause debris, the lightning certainly would. If successful, the electricity would crackle along the barrier, conducting along it for the moment and yet simultaneously eating away at its protective qualities. Any sparks that flicker away from Clarence would seem to fade into nothing but a faint buzz in the air.

[i][color=#000080]Interesting.[/color][/i]

Safe behind his cover, Jason watches the spectacle from his hiding spot. For all the unknowing observer would think, Mimring is just gone, perhaps destroyed in the blast, the buzzing air and verdant crackling simply a residue of his explosion. No trace of the dragon himself remains visible to the naked eye, no blood, no scales, nothing but the dormant atmospheric energy in the air and the lines of power streaking across Clarence's shield. To that observer who would not know better, it would seem as if Clarence has won, for his opponent no longer appears to exist.

Jason, however, does know better.

[color=#4BF8FA][[/color][i][color=#000080]Are you okay?[/color][/i] [color=#4BF8FA]He has to be certain, at least.[/color]

[color=#CD7F32][i]I should be.[/i][/color][color=#4BF8FA]][/color]

[i][color=#000080]Hold off on the reformation for now,[/color][/i] Jason remarks to a resulting affirmation. An idea is already forming in the shapeshifter's mind. Taking advantage of the brief relative quiet, the scarab skitters from his hiding place and takes cover behind the one piece of crumbled pillar that wouldn't have been destroyed by either the Magma Blossoms or Burning Sky Conflux. He senses out the magnetic capabilities of the debris- they don't seem receptive- and so he goes to work on [i]making[/i] them receptive, even going so far as to charge them with his Familiar's latent atmospheric power. Thin, weak sparks run across the surface of the debris, perhaps looking simply like more residual energy from the violence of seconds before.

The charge is weak, for now, not seeming to have any outward effect, but that can change at the drop of a hat in a battle like this. Creeping closer to the westernmost edge of the chamber, but still remaining behind the protection of a fallen pillar, Jason examines the areas visible to him in consideration. Something tells him that, whether or not Clarence falls for the illusion of victory, the remainder of the battle will be difficult- forcing Jason out of hiding, most likely, forcing Mimring to take more care in evasion certainly.

It's almost a wonderful feeling. Some part of him is having fun in the strategy of battle, even if he himself hasn't been directly taking part he is still the one calling the shots and supporting his ally from the shadows. If their lives weren't on the line he'd probably not be taking it seriously. But for now his attention is on the man in the plasma bubble, and his reactions to what just happened.

[color=#000080][i]So, what will[/i] you [i]do now?[/i][/color]