[justify]Lyasnder’s fist flew under Unaru’s guaranteeing that both blows would land at the same time and when contact was made there was no thin barrier of ether to help dampen the impact ensuring that the dragon received the full brunt of his reprisal. Head whipped straight back. Lead leg thrown back with his heel skidding off the floor until he came to a stop several feet back…

When the storm faded and the shadows retreated, they left a sea of corpses in their wake. Little orange men charred black and dead by the dozens with their comically green hair standing on end like lightning rods, some still buzzing with static, some were still twitching. The courtyard itself was a nightmare of fissures, cracks, and upended slabs of concrete but so far Unaru was of the impression that neither of them had managed to get a distinct advantage over the other. There could be no true advantage until they began fighting for real.

“[color=green]Seems like you need a little help.[/color]”

Behind Lysander, the golden-[color=FFD700][b]M[/b][/color] still snarled with fingers of green electricity, and so did he. They were small, invisible to the naked eye, but they clung to him like static did to a carpet. Though Unaru’s [b][color=green]Emerald Dream[/color][/b] was something beyond mortal understanding it borrowed the shape of the storm when manifesting on the material plane along with some of its traits. Traits that he now used to yank Lysander back like holding onto the opposite end of a too large magnet and pin him to the front of the upside down-[color=FFD700][b]W[/b][/color] like a man awaiting crucifixion. It wasn’t quite as dramatic as a cross but it would have to do.

[b][color=green]THE BEAR DIES BY A THOUSAND STINGS[/color][/b]

A moment later, Unaru was upon him, crossing the distance with a single lightning dash. Instead of hammering into him with punches and kicks Unaru concentrated all of the impressive strength that he’d been wielding so far onto the tip of his index fingers. Hitting him with such a dramatic force that the metal could be heard denting out behind him and crumbling the masonry with each thrust, each blow brutal and burning, but with a purpose. As painful as each attack was sure to be, it became obvious that he was targeting chi points. That with each stab he was slowly beating the malaise of unlife out of a body that had gone unused for untold eons since their last conflict when they’d joined forces to battle the [color=FFD700][i]Prophet of Light[/i][/color], but that was another story for another time, and by the end of it had the plan succeeded unmolested he would have struck Lysander 114 times in all…

And violently twisted every joint in his rival's body loose.

[b][color=green]ALL LIFE BEGINS WITH A SINGLE BREATH[/color][/b]

To which he thrust his palms at Lysander’s core, a single blow, enough to blast him through the letter than held him and the wall that crumbled behind it. Deep into Wonka’s factory. [sub]Larger on the inside than on the outside.[/sub] Where many great candy themed horrors waited to be found, yes, and where Lysander could flex his regained power without fear of the consequences.

Why though, why had Unaru gone this far just to make his opponent stronger?

Because victory was meaningless without a challenge.[/justify]