Marros Graven - Rank up from D to C

Mission List:
D Rank - Time to Farm - 10 exp
D Rank - Find This book - 10 exp
C Rank - Get rid of that pesky blockade - 50 exp
C Rank - Divert the Great Flood - 50 exp
C rank - Tome Retrieval - 50exp

Mission acceptance and approval links:
Find this book
Time to farm
Divert the great flood
Tome retrieval
Get rid of that pesky blockade


Total exp: 170

Marros_Graven wrote:Mission List:
D Rank - Time to Farm - 10 exp
D Rank - Find This book - 10 exp
C Rank - Get rid of that pesky blockade - 50 exp
C Rank - Divert the Great Flood - 50 exp
C rank - Tome Retrieval - 50exp

Mission acceptance and approval links:
Find this book
Time to farm
Divert the great flood
Tome retrieval
Get rid of that pesky blockade


Total exp: 170

Current Exp: 170/337500 EXP

Required Exp: 150/337500 EXP

approved, When Zeno gets back he can begin your examination.

"Your powers have grown rapidly, it is time to put them to the test."

Zeno turned around to face Marros. There was small waterfall behind them that connected water from the mountain peaks to a river that went through the lower parts of Karakuri City all the way down the Phoenix Mountains. They were on the other side Karakuri City, on the outside of town. After walking between a thick bunch of trees for a few minutes they ended up in a calm, open place. A very small 'valley' in between mountain peaks.

"I will not make this examination too complicated... I want you to deal as much damage to me as you can." Zeno said as a serious expression appeared on his face and determined eyes stared into Marros'.

Marros blinked twice. The guild master wanted to fight him as part of the test? He didn't think he could win this one, but that wouldn't stop him trying. All he had to do was do enough damage to pass and he could win this. He didn't know what Zeno was capable of. He hadn't ever seen the man fight or use his magic. All he knew was that being a guild master meant he was tough. He took a deep breath.

"This should be fun." he said with a faint smile and tossed off his jacket and dropped his spear. This was a battle of mages and he felt using an actual weapon would be cheating. The loss of the jacket and the spear would also make him lighter so he could move more freely. The question was whether or not the guild master would go all out against him. If he did Marros didn't stand a chance in hell, but he doubted the Guild Master would go all out unless his hand was forced. "Left arm of Ghelgath." Marros' arm left arm froze solid and then broke free revealing a white arm with ice claws that radiated an aura of cold. Behind him was Ghelgath himself. This was not real, just an aura based illusion for intimidation purposes. He knew it wouldn't intimidate his opponent, or at least he hoped it wouldn't. If it did then Zeno was less of a man than Marros thought. This was purely to show he was serious.

He charged forward and launched a flurry of six blows with the sharp claws. Any hit caused by them would freeze the area enough to cause second degree frostbite. If the wound was deep enough it could cause third degree frostbite. He was aiming to weaken his opponent with Ghelgath in order to allow greater ease later to do some real heavy damage with one of his other takeovers.


Takeover energy remaining: 0
Ghelgath duration: 3 posts

Zeno knew Marros was a brawler and liked to show power. Zeno's intention was to find out just how much power Marros could unleash, but also to show Marros just how much difference there was between them.

"Nice visual effects." Zeno commented when Marros activated his first Takeover. The moment Marros took his first step, a card appeared in Zeno's hand and instantly dissolved. Green arcane energy swirled before Zeno and turned into a phantasmal image of royal knight with a long katana. The Emperor.

When Marros had crossed half the distance between him and Zeno, the phantom flew into Zeno's body and the Guildmaster transformed. A crown appeared on his head, a long dark cape waved violently from side to side and a long dangerous-looking katana appeared in his left hand. The katana was pure red arcane energy. The blade was long and curved, and the handle was long enough for it to be swung with both hands. Yet, Zeno swung it around twice as if it was as light as a feather.

By the time Zeno had swung it twice, Marros commenced his six blow flurry. With speed and accuracy Zeno took a step back to dodge the first blow, deflected the second one with his blade which repelled Marros' arm, giving Zeno time and space to dodge the third strike, and in his dodge he hit Marros' shoulder with the tip of the blade causing his shoulder to fly backwards which messed up the fourth strike. The fifth blow was blocked and repelled upward and the last one was blocked and repelled outward to the left, giving Zeno an opening.

The Guildmaster then swiftly followed up his last block with a strong kick in the stomach aimed to send Marros flying back a few feet. Zeno was still holding back a bit, trying to feel how Marros fought and reacted to his opponent. He had only been using his katana's ability to repel, not yet to cut.

His opponent was highly skilled. The katana was part of his magic it seemed so it was still a magic on magic fight. Each blow was repelled or dodged in some way. The final kick was powerful and sent him flying backwards. Or that was how it appeared. Whilst he was open he was not defenseless and so he had leapt backwards moving with the blow in order to minimise damage as well as minimise the distance he was sent back. With luck it should have given him enough of an opening to quickly leap back and launched another strike. However, this strike was more calculated and as soon as he saw his opponent make a move to block it he would throw his weight to the side and rolled round aiming to strike his opponent on the leg. Even if his first strike hit, which he doubted, he would still do this maneuver. This was analysis more than sheer combat at the moment. He needed to see just how skilled his opponent was and how they fought and thought in order to work out the most effective strategy. True, Marros was a brawler, but he was a tactical fighter. This was a battle where he would have to use every skill he had to its limits. It was the only way he could get in a few decent blows.

Marros did not end his movement there though, but quickly rolled to the side and then sprung off at an angle aiming to his opponent in the side. All the time a smile was on his face. He did like to enjoy battles to the fullest and this was one he would truly enjoy even if he lost.

Clever. Zeno thought when he felt his kick take less impact than it should have. Marros had anticipated the attack and had reacted quickly.

Zeno gave the Takeover mage time to come back with another attack. When Zeno moved his katana to block it, Marros rolled out of the way and swung the claw at Zeno's leg. It was at that moment that arcane energy swirled around Zeno's feet and lifted him off the ground. The Major Arcana card "The Hanged Man" allowed Zeno to fly.

However, Zeno had only used the ability to throw himself up in the air and gain momentum. He dodged the strike, flipped sideways over Marros and struck downwards in his descent. Again, Marros rolled to dodge his attack and attempted to hit Zeno in the side.

Perfect.

Zeno twisted his body to follow Marros' line of attack and planted the blade against the side of the arm. It would throw Marros off balance, create an opening, and Zeno would immediately increase his speed to move forward, grab Marros' by the back of his head and throw him forward with a powerful push. The location was ideal, it would send Marros flying straight into the river.

Marros had no way to counter this or so his opponent thought. There was a reason he couldn't swim whilst using the arm of Ghelgath. As his body went to hit the water he thrust his arm downwards claws first. The cold was enough to create a thin layer of ice which he used the momentum from the push to propel himself off into a flip giving him some air. In that moment he activated his wings of pazuzu and flew upwards. If his opponent was going to fly then so would he. This was the last turn his arm would be active in this form and it would disperse shortly so he would have to take advantage of it. He flew rapidly at his opponent head first with his arm held out like a spear. At the last moment he spun slightly and tucked in his wings so that he was basically a spinning drill heading straight at his opponent. An easy move to dodge, but an impressive use of his skill. Surely enough to impress the guild master.

Impressed he was, and he wanted to see more of it. Zeno decided to spice things up a bit just to force everything out of Marros. When Marros performed a drilling spear dive, Zeno crouched down quickly so that the attack would go over his head. However, as Marros passed overhead, the Guildmaster decided to actually deal some damage with his blade. He instantly grabbed the handle of his katana with two hands and performed a sideways overhead slash at Marros' chest perpendicular to the ground and Marros' line of attack.

The slash would leave a significant wound across Marros' chest, because the repelling effect of the blade makes cut wounds worse by stretching the wound open during the strike.

The force of the blow sent Marros crashing to the ground. Unfortunately, he hadn't had time to react to it how he would of liked to. His skill was still not good enough to do that. The wound hurt like hell, and his ice arm had dispersed now giving him only his wings at the moment. He quickly considered what to do. How could he battle against someone this much stronger than him. He had enough energy now to use another takeover, but one was incompatible with his wings. That left him two choices. His opponent could beat him in terms of speed that was for certain, but if he could catch him off guard with a sudden speed boost then it might be enough. He'd managed to take out an opponent with a flying headbutt before. He quickly activated the legs of Raijin and his limbs became golden and horse like. They crackled with electricity. He quickly ran forwards and used his wings to stop himself and turned to face the guild master. His speed on the ground with the legs of raijin was incredible, but his opponent was flying. Yes, his opponent was flying, but that wouldn't stop these legs being useful. He quickly ran back towards his opponent using the full speed of his legs and suddenly used the fully strength of the legs to launch himself off the ground and straight at his opponent. He was aiming for a headbutt. However, if his opponent missed he would use his wings to manoeveur and turn it into a powerful round house kick.

The wound in his chest was painful, but right now he could do nothing about it and he wouldn't give up over something as simple as a little pain. He would pass this test or die trying.

Ghelgath cooldown: 2 posts
Pazuzu duration: 2 posts
Raijin duration: 3 posts

It was at the moment of Marros' jump that Zeno's posession spell faded away and his levitation spell with it. Zeno had anticipated this, but not the sudden speed with which Marros came at him. Before his accelerating decent could even begin, Marros was already flying at him.

Good.

All Zeno decided to do then was bring his arms up to protect his head and take the hit of Marros' legs, since Zeno was already starting to fall.

The Guildmaster was sent spinning downward after the hit, but managed to control his momentum and land on both feet. Unharmed. However, Marros had fought hard and had proven himself to be a formidable warrior. Someone with plenty of potential, and power that exceeded D Rank.

Since the power difference between the two mages was still a huge gap, Zeno had had full control over the amount of power he had used and the amount of resistance he had opposed, which made him able to feel exactly how much power Marros packed.

"Congratulations, you passed your first exam." Zeno spoke with a loud voice and a small smile on his face.

Marros had managed to secure a hit. It seemed by luck though. His opponent's power had run out, probably temporarily, making it impossible for him to dodge. As Marros landed at the words of his success he dispelled both wings and legs and bowed his head.

"One day Zeno I plan to beat you and not by luck." he said with a determined look on his face. "Until then I'm gonna get back to doing what I do best. Doing missions and kicking butt."

All done! Marros Graven is now officially a C Rank Mage.