Setting off the ancient explosives I had implanted into the ground ore, volcanoes of molten iron, copper and even magnesium burst out like spilt water. Growling, I watch the warrior leap and spin over my attack, his blade coming for my back before he even hits the ground. Stumbling forward, I activate the chain my armour was able to fabricate in time and reveal more explosives. My own magic this time.
Taking advantage of the cover provided by it, I dive under some of the debris this guy has so far created. Smashing my chest piece, the ancient recovery systems come into play and a portion of its replenishable supply is stabbed into my body. This raw magic stuff fizzes my blood and air squeaks out my tear ducts, an inappropriate burp breaking my panting. Diving away with the kinetic storage in my one working leg piece, I slide along the ground, my cloak already torn up.
Breaking the hooks keeping it flowing on my back, I wrap one arm tight and pull off one of my toys, priming it with my hidden grip. The warrior appears before my eyes, one hand one his sword and the other on his sheath. Withholding my swear, his blade is driven through my wrist barely, both hands now on the upwards-going sword. Snapping the ancient gears into place, the shield function comes to life and catches the next swing.
The sliced metal flaps slow and loud, clanking back into its now forever-gone home.
Stepping around his next swing, I punch hard and fast, getting in another blow and then another. One more sends him skidding back and he sheaths his blade as the ground sparks and breaks under his armoured and sandaled feet. He rises as I nod, a trigger for another one of my toys in hand. The ambience of our battle changes and a set of ancient flying machines turn off, a mountain of ore hurtling towards us.
Hunkering down, my armour's magic supply comes out in force, placing me under the safety of a dome shield as a natural artillery strike starts to burn in the sky. The warrior turns slowly, his hand on the pommel, his shadow stretching lengthily. Within the safety of my shield, I pray something comes of this and the warrior steps up to the challenge. I bounce up into my protection as the warrior leaps into the air, his blade coming out.
The titanic mass of metal falls apart into slices and chunks and then into something finer. The sky rains molten metal and I grit my teeth at how many plans I have managed to set up are now ruined. The warrior lands on a pool of molten metal, his feet making only the slightest ripple as if he is a drop of water. Taking one step forward, I pick up the pace until I am barreling his way, a handful of magic growing greater by the moments between seconds.
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Some old display built into the armour turns on, notifying me of something I cannot read. However, the proof is clear to me as my cloak steadily feeds itself into my armour, knotting much of the worn but only ancient metal back together. The warrior meets my incoming blow and slices right through my spell, exposing me to an uncontrolled blast his own magic further swipes my way. Blasting back the way I came, a blade soon tries to greet me.
The device I showed Einervaene before the attack turns on and I miss, its special tip easily scratching the increasingly magic-rich land. Getting back up, I step past more of his swings and thrusts and close the gap once again. I stab at him, going for whatever can give me the most purchase into his body. The warrior makes a vivid point of not allowing contact, his senses more refined than Einervaene's who was also able to feel what was off about this weapon.
But, he's so focused on my weapon, my other hand has a moment!
Grabbing on with a grip that crushes some of his weaker, smaller plates, I pull myself the rest of the way in. Only to miss my target and strike the medial of his left arm. The machine activates, glowing bright as is instantly begins the process of converting his magic supply. I smirk widely, a potential end in sight.
The warrior slices most of the arm off, the danger of my weapon going away with it. What does start to ignite, however, is spectacular. Flying off along the blastwave, I crash into the edge of the growing crater, nearly shredding myself on my own final option. Looking back towards the bluish magic fireball, a shadow forms at its centre.
This immortal swordsman rises to his feet, his armour devoid of its former colour and style. He pulls his sword out of the ground with it finding an easy route in the ground he was forced through. The sky seems to weep for him and the lightning picks up, the thunder rumbles louder than ever and I feel as if my eardrums are going to be blown out. I meet the warrior's eyes as I block his blade once again, its force and edge unhampered.
Moving in to exploit his missing limb, he releases his blade, striking away my arms with precise jabs. The blade comes to hand again and my chestplate is sliced open with a trail of sparks ruining the ancient power network. This aged power leaks from me like gas and I hiss alongside it. Setting off more of my magic, I put some distance between us again, my hand quickly wiping my lips clean of blood.
My vision wavers and I collapse onto a nearby, warped boulder...
Nodding the way Einervaene went, my heart does all it can and I meet this man's sword once again. Lightning comes for me and I duck and weave through what I can, manipulating much of it with my thunder-gold leg and supercharging a downward blow. The land blows out beneath us, revealing the sea far below the continent. He slices the gap wider and intentionally steps in, snapping the whole island of metal on the step up to me.
"COME ON!" I roar as a kinetic impactor forms on my palm, increasingly ready to be tossed up at the ever-further sky. Let's see how well he does falling if we're to break the land!