[i] Smile for me… [/i]

A flash of brilliance filled the room as two of the five golden figures exploded, not unlike the previous decoy had mere seconds ago. A potent shockwave surged outward as the Electromagnetic Pulse gave momentum to the motionless spheres before the figures. The wave of energy causing an effect similar to the man in white’s arm-cannon, as the pulse of magnetism met the highly magnetized spheres, urging them forward at an exponential rate. Much like before, the sphere of energy grew and an intense incandescence would radiate heat once more, washing over the miasma of jade behind them in a similar attempt to purge the gas. 

While not as fast as the Zeus Cannon or Ratifier’s rounds – mostly due to the fact that those weapons were designed specifically for their functions – The fifty spheres that had been clumping together since the very beginning still rushed forward at speeds exceeding the potent handguns, but not exceeding or matching the speed of his wrist cannon. Additionally, while they had been held in place by the massive exertion of magnetic force Mazono held at his disposal, there was no directional aim other than ‘forward’. Indiscriminately the spheres would slam into the granite pillars at the bottom of the slope, causing the solid structure to shatter into large stone pieces that would fall towards the ground below – near and on the area where the broken pillar had been lying. The draconic remains were unceremoniously battered and broken, bone dust filling the air. 

The room was full of chaos, illuminated by the still persisting spheres now formed from the three golden decoy’s initial explosion. The fifty spheres surged forward and while some missed their mark entirely, the majority for the most part would soar as intended. Twenty of the spheres would slam the area of the south-eastern pillar, causing the massive structure to crack and fall over – following the momentum of the impact – backwards towards the southern wall, large threatening chunks of stone debris falling in all directions around it. While the structure was indeed an impediment, a majority of the spheres would plow through the granite edifice with little resistance after the first initial impact and its eventual fall. Much like before, the black mass would find itself first in contact with the unique defensive field extending four feet spherically.

Unlike before however, when he had fired the Zeus round, Mazono’s new attack was multiplied by the number of objects that would pepper shroud, the pillar and the area surrounding it. On the opposite side, where the mass had been damaged by the powerful VERTBRINIUM round prior, fifteen of the spheres – the rest of which peppered the direct center and would roar towards the southern wall and entrance – would attack the gathered mass of shadow-stuff with the lightning emperors fury. The result of such a barrage was two-fold, as the attack fulfilled its initial design to see exactly how much punishment this creature could take.

Occurring at the same time as the initial explosion of the two golden clones, Mazono had released another burst of kinetic energy from his legs to push him up the northern slope and in front of the pillar in reverse, so to not take his eyes off what was to happen. Arms still outstretched and prepared release a salvo of ammo at a moment’s notice, Mitsu watched with his enhanced right eye and waited. This fight had been a mixture of frustration and intensity as the strange creature had mitigated most of his attacks to near uselessness. His only hope of damage was the reaction the cloud had made when his Zeus round had passed through it moments ago. 

As electrons continued to race within his body, his mind still perceiving everything around him at a slower pace, Mitsu curiously began to smile. The iron sand particulates that had been drawn to him by his field began to gather towards his standing form. The field of defense – having decreased back to the ten foot radius when the two decoys exploded – no longer cast him in a vermillion hue, once again returning to the clear undulation of its normal state. The hum of energy from his weaponry continued to intensify as more energy was focused on the two projectile launchers. It was here, at this moment, that Mazono had finally understood the words imparted by Serenity to him years ago;

[i] A fight isn’t always as black and white as it seems. Sometimes, you have to look beyond what you see and understand what’s truly going on. [/i]

Mitsu understood what she had meant finally, and for a brief second he was humbled. His enhanced sight taking in the scene before him, Mazono watched and waited to see the outcome. His plan hadn’t been rushed with no thought. Having examined from multiple strikes the way the shadow moved and interacted with his attacks, how it favored the majority of its mass to one side of the room versus the other. Every movement, every attack; All that he had done was for a single purpose. To come to the conclusion that was staring him in the face the entire time. Now all that was to be done…was to watch and learn one more thing. The smile widened as his final thought echoed in his mind.

[i] Show me how you dance [/i]