[i][b]Benjamin’s Mansion, Dillon and Benjamin[/i][/b]

“So,” Dillon began as she flopped onto the couch next to Benjamin who stared at the television screen in front of him. Servants scurried around them setting tables, which they sat food and drinks upon for the upcoming party. “Have you ever considered doing something else with your money?”

“Like buying a yacht?!” he said, suddenly excited at the random thought.

“Uh, no, like, something useful.”

“What’s more useful than spending my money on me?”

“Spending it on others? There are plenty of research facilities that could use the money you’re conjuring. You’re probably the richest man in the world, but here you are, wasting it away on booze, drugs, and women.”

“And men. Life is incredibly short, so I figure making myself happy while I'm here to be of the utmost importance.”

“Can’t you do both? Can’t you make yourself and others happy? With the amount of money you can conjure, you could make everyone in the world happy a trillion times over.”

“I’ll be damned if anyone gets my money,” his voice suddenly low and his eyebrows furrowed. “The world didn’t do a damn thing for me when I was on the streets, scrounging in dumpsters for food, sitting and sleeping in the cold, and dressed in rags. The world didn't give a fuck about me, but now that I have money everyone has favors, wants to be my friend, and lick my ass."

“I-I didn’t know that, Benjamin… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Dillon looked at Benjamin with a perplexed expression as she bit her lip. She then opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it again. [i]“Shit. I can’t do this.”[/i]

[b][i]S.U.P.E.S. Hallway, Adrian and Medic[/b][/i]

“You must be disappointed about not getting to see Vulcan fight, eh?” Medic said over his shoulder as the two walked down the hallway. “We have some strong students this year, especially the freshmen, that’s for sure. I don’t envy you; it'll be a hell of a fight to see. We're sure to get plenty of tourists this year thanks to you all.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know anything useful about Vulcan's powers, would you?”

"I know plenty of useful things about his powers, but where's the fun in just tellin' ya? It'd be more interesting to see you find out for yourself."

“It was worth a shot.”

“How ‘bout tellin’ me what this trainin’ of yours entails? It must be hella tough shit to need me.”

“Just do your job.”

“Listen, kid," he said as he stopped walking and turned to face him. "If you want my help you’ll have to tell me what’s what. As a teacher I can’t just let you run about and do as you please, I have responsibilities to keep you safe outside of that arena. Well?"

Adrian sighed as he rubbed the black stubble growing on his chin, "My father has ordered a number of master swordsmen to standby and wait for me to challenge them. If I defeat them in combat I receive their swords, but otherwise I don't. Regardless if I win or lose they don't heal me. That's why you're here."

"Oh wow," he said as he turned and walked toward the training room. "Shit. Your old man must have a serious rep to command men like that.”

“Yeah, he does,” he said as they approached a white door. Just outside the room Adrian could hear the humming of the machines within the training room. Medic lifted his hand to a small panel to the right of the door that clicked as he reached for it. The metal covering slid down, revealing a humming, green, gridded glass screen, prompted for his input. He placed his hand on the screen, a white light shinning from the left side of the screen and slowly motioned toward the right. 

“Welcome, Medic,” said a man’s emotionless and mechanical voice from above them.

The door to the room slowly opened as the blinding lights turned on. The room was pure white with various exercising equipment spread throughout the large room. "What's the point in that anyways? It seems dangerous."

"It is. That's exactly why he's doing it. He wants to gauge my strength and progress depending on who I defeat. Not to mention receiving their swords will make me stronger."

“So, how we doin’ this? Are your master swordsmen meetin’ us here?”

“No, I meet them,” extending his arm in front of him Adrian commanded, “Arcesso gladio: Porta consectetur!” The air in front and extending from his palm to three feet in front of him glowed a bright green as a sword materialized into his hand. It was a dull, broken blade, and the leather grip of the sword was tattered to pieces.

“I don’t think that thing could cut wet paper.”

Adrian swung the sword in front of him, and the sound like the ripping of fabric could be heard as the blade whistled in front of him. As the blade descended a dim, green glow lit up where the tip of the blade and the open air met, and the air itself ripped open. It beheld a black and white, spiraling vortex that seemingly continued on endlessly.

“What in the hell?”

“Kind of funny, isn’t it? A broken thing like this can only act as a butter knife to physical objects, but it’s capable of tethering dimensions to one another. I’ll be back.”

“Whoa, kid. Wait!” but Adrian had already stepped into the portal and it closed behind him.

[center]Abaddon vs. Strength[/center]

Adrian walked into the portal, his feet coming in contact with something solid despite the seemingly empty void. He looked up and then down, only to see utter blackness, he walked forward and white streams of brilliant light danced alongside Adrian as he walked until another similar rip in the air neared. Light briefly flashed from the other dimension into the void, and he stepped out of the portal.

The end of the portal hovered a few feet from the ground. He lowered his head as he stepped out of the portal and onto the ground, his boots crunching as he landed. The portal behind him closed itself like the steady stitching and healing of skin until the air returned to normal. In front of him stood a towering mountain with steps carved into the circumference that led to the dome of the jagged structure. High above it thunder boomed and dark clouds loomed as brief flashes of lightning danced across the clouds, illuminating the night sky. Adrian felt small rain droplets fall onto his face as he gazed up at the mountain. 

[i]"I hope he doesn't think I'm walking up that,"[/i] he thought as he telekinetically lifted himself from the ground and flew himself toward the top. As he ascended he could feel the air noticeably grow colder. [i]"Shit. This'll be pain to fight in. He's really trying to test me here."[/i]

The snow forming on the dome of the mountain crunched underneath Adrian's black boots as he landed. In front of him stood a six foot man who beheld a gladius in his right hand. From head to toe he wore heavy clothing in black leathers and furs, and the only exposed skin seemed to be his blue eyes in stark contrast to the rest of his clothing.

"About time. I was growing impatient," his muffled voice said underneath his clothing

"Even with such warm clothing you must be growing cold."

"I am not, you, however, will be feeling the effects of this mountain's cold grasp soon enough. You should've came prepared."

Adrian looked down at his muscle shirt as he shivered, "Dispersus," he commanded to the old sword in his hand, and it disappeared in a green flash. "Looks like I'll have to end this quickly then."

"I sense your overconfidence in your voice and manner, little Sumner. That can be dangerous."