[ Every lash, every step and pivot of his heel as he matches Ei blow for blow, there's an underlined realization that begins growing more and more painfully obvious as the battle persists. In contrast to the Shogunate's tempered yet powerful defense, the blond was still the careless combatant of before. With a clear mind, he wouldn't dare cause a scene in the middle of the street, with only poor souls or Yokai about who would prey upon those pour souls. If he knew who she was, removed from this curse and carrying on into more halcyon days... He might have been met with a raised brow or two- perhaps even coerced to step down.
But at a later point? Cloud may still very well wish for it. A duel. The next step above him. Or, in the case of Ei, an entire flight of stairs between them. Because as this continues, and the occasional attack that misses and severs the earth beneath their feet and cracks, the realization hits him. ]
Saying that... [ He growls as licks of heatless blue flames start rising up and off his body, like an incoherent aura. Cloud's reaching another breaking point, limits that he either has to surpass or crumble under if he's to continue or even win. ] And I haven't landed a damn hit!!
[ Towing the line between man and beast... It's a compliment in the most angrily veiled sense of the word. There is the distance between them. It brings back memories of his confrontation with Sephiroth, as he broke free of the chains of fate. Even then, he couldn't touch him... He couldn't touch her. Frustration builds, and the form he'd reentered the fray with starts to show signs of sloppiness. His heart is pounding wildly in his chest as he struggles to keep his emotions in check.
Without a mask of his own, and having succumbed to the negative effects of the Kingdom's curse upon the land...he's teetering between humanity and a wild animal desperate to make his mark.
Taking a couple bounded steps back, he suddenly springs into the air, high above the Archon. Were the moon hanging above the sky tonight, it'd serve as a backdrop to his descent as he brings his sword down from on high, in a bid to attempt a crushing blow from above as he prepares to swing down. ]
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But at a later point? Cloud may still very well wish for it. A duel. The next step above him. Or, in the case of Ei, an entire flight of stairs between them. Because as this continues, and the occasional attack that misses and severs the earth beneath their feet and cracks, the realization hits him. ]
Saying that... [ He growls as licks of heatless blue flames start rising up and off his body, like an incoherent aura. Cloud's reaching another breaking point, limits that he either has to surpass or crumble under if he's to continue or even win. ] And I haven't landed a damn hit!!
[ Towing the line between man and beast... It's a compliment in the most angrily veiled sense of the word. There is the distance between them. It brings back memories of his confrontation with Sephiroth, as he broke free of the chains of fate. Even then, he couldn't touch him... He couldn't touch her. Frustration builds, and the form he'd reentered the fray with starts to show signs of sloppiness. His heart is pounding wildly in his chest as he struggles to keep his emotions in check.
Without a mask of his own, and having succumbed to the negative effects of the Kingdom's curse upon the land...he's teetering between humanity and a wild animal desperate to make his mark.
Taking a couple bounded steps back, he suddenly springs into the air, high above the Archon. Were the moon hanging above the sky tonight, it'd serve as a backdrop to his descent as he brings his sword down from on high, in a bid to attempt a crushing blow from above as he prepares to swing down. ]
Hrrragh—!!