[Center][color=bc8dbf][h2]Grima[/h2]
Level 4
5/40 EXP

Location: Esaka - The Pools
Wordcount: 1312 (+3 EXP)[/color][/Center]

Grima’s walk eventually brings her to her chosen fight location, a simply raised stone platform surrounded by water. It was a simple place, befitting the start of the tournament… And very little actual spectators. That did not surprise her either, the status of the tournament meant that there were a dozen battles going on at once, and attention was divided. It did mean that Grima would not be able to make her statement of strength to the populace and organizers… At least, not yet.

But, the future could wait. Right now, Grima had to focus on the opponent that she was chosen to fight, who had already been waiting for her at this paltry arena.

The man before her was… Admittedly unremarkable, bearing brown hair and a simplistic but maneuverable outfit of a jacket, tight shirt, and jeans. He stood in the starting position, hands on his hips and a smirk on his face as he regarded Grima’s approach, “So, you’re my first opponent huh? Fancy name, and fancy outfit. Looks like you’re taking this tournament seriously. Not that it matters though” he begins, flicking a finger across his nose before shaking his hands, pumping himself up for the battle ahead, “Name’s Danny, and I’ll be the one sending you to the Loser’s Bracket in no time.”

For a few moments, silence permeates the pools. Then, Grima begins to laugh. A small, condescending sound that held no true mirth, [color=bc8dbf]“Oh, really now? Mortal arrogance is truly a wonder to behold, no matter the time”[/color] she states with a smile before it quickly fades, the only emotion shown being a flicker of malice in her red eyes, [color=bc8dbf]“You evidently need to learn your place worm. For you face something beyond your feeble comprehension”[/color] with those final words Grima draws her sword, twirling it in her hand before entering her combat stance, [color=bc8dbf]“Let us begin the lesson”[/color]

Danny simply blinks in response, the cold malice behind Grima’s words disrupting his cocky exterior for a moment before he shakes it off, entering a combat stance of his own, “Whatever you say lady. You’ll be taking a nice swim long before you start monologuing again” 

[b]ROUND 1, FIGHT[/b]

Danny takes the initiative, dashing forward and throwing a lunching punch at Grima’s head. Yet just before his fist flew out, Grima stepped forward, flipping her sword in her grip and jabbing the pommel into Danny’s stomach. The impact disrupts his attack, causing him to stagger before Grima flips her sword around again, slashing Danny’s chest with a quick swipe before blasting him away with a point blank magical burst from her free hand. While the strikes did not cause visible wounds on Danny thanks to the Heavenly Principles, the pain was still clear and fresh as the fighter tumbled over themselves, barely managing to land on his feet.

For a moment, Danny simply stares in surprise at Grima, who began to walk confidently towards him, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes, knowing she had just proven her superiority. The sight was clear as day for Danny… And a spark of rage coursed through his body. For a brief instant, a red glow surrounded his upper body, a sight that caused Grima’s eyebrow to momentarily rise in interest… Right before Danny burst forward once more, spinning their body to launch a devastating kick at Grima. The action caused Grima’s eyes to widen for a fraction of a second before she raised her arm, a small barrier forming just above it before Danny’s foot crashed into her guard, causing Grima to skid back a few inches.

With the offensive now on his side, Danny plants his feet upon the ground, launching a flurry of quick blows at Grima to keep her on the defensive. The vessel’s eyes narrow in annoyance at the jabs, her barrier holding without flaw before she found an opening, swinging her sword to catch Danny’s neck. Unfortunately for Grima, this was what Danny had expected, and the fighter quickly ducked underneath her attack, a grin returning to his face before he rose up, striking Grima’s chin with an uppercut that sent her flying in the air for a few seconds before roughly crashing onto the ground. The red aura flares to life around him again, before he launches a ball of red energy at Grima’s recovering form.

At least, that was the intent.

As the ball neared Grima, the air itself seemed to darken as Grima held a clenched fist to her chest. On the back of her hand, a purple mark flared underneath her glove, and for an instant, three pairs of red eyes seemed to manifest around Grima... Right before she thrusted her hand forward, a beam of dark magic firing out, completely decimating the ball of energy as it flew before slamming into Danny himself as he recovered from launching his own attack. With the opening exploited, Danny was forced to take the full brunt of the attack, sending him tumbling across the floor once more, unable to properly catch himself and instead skidding face first across the arena before finally coming to a stop.

[b]GRIMA WINS[/b]

The announcement rings out as Danny slowly pushes himself off the ground, panting for a few moments before glaring up at Grima, who simply runs a hand through her hair, [color=bc8dbf]“A surprising display, but that was your one lucky blow, worm”[/color] the woman says as she walks back to her starting position, her red eyes now narrowed in focus. Danny himself finally gets to his feet, running his hand across his mouth,

“We’ll see. I’m not out of the fight yet” Danny approaches his original position as well, entering his battle stance once more.

[b]ROUND 2, FIGHT[/b]

This time, Danny did not immediately engage… A facet that Grima immediately took advantage of, taking a step back herself and launching an orb of darkness that forced Danny on the defensive. It quickly became clear that Grima was playing a different game this time, and unlike before where Danny had found openings to attack, Grima simply refused to allow any clear openings for him to exploit. Every punch was interrupted, every reversal dodged and countered appropriately. It was almost as if Grima had Danny’s routine down to a flowchart, practically three steps ahead as she anticipated every move and drove him back further and further to the edge of the arena. The realization of which drove Danny to become slightly panicked, trying to desperately break Grima’s assault before he simply resorted to blocking everything…

A result that simply sealed his fate.

In the midst of her offensive, Grima’s hand shot out, grabbing Danny’s raised arm before she ruthlessly pulled him towards her, driving a knee into his exposed stomach at the same time. The force caused the air to be forced out of his lungs… Before Grima’s same hand released his arm and planted itself directly onto his face, another orb of dark magic forming directly in the palm of her hand. A malicious grin forms across Grima’s face, her eyes glinting with predatory satisfaction before the orb simply detonates point blank, sending Danny flying straight off the edge of the arena. 

Naturally, Danny screamed as he fell into the water, a massive splash following his collision before he managed to recover and swim to the surface of the water, sputtering and catching his breath as the Heavenly Principles announced the victor.

[b]RING OUT. GRIMA WINS[/b]

With victory hers, Grima sheathed her sword, her expression now calm and satisfied as she looked down at Danny with a small, smug smile, [color=bc8dbf]“And there is your place, worm. Enjoy crawling in the dirt with the others in the Loser’s Bracket”[/color] she states before turning on her heel, walking out of the arena with her first victory under her belt and leaving Danny to stew in his first loss.