Beliefs

[Zerrif]

OOC: I know this conflict is dragging on, but I wanted to develop on Bascht a lot more. Still leaving questions unanswered, though n.n

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"I can't keep her at bay like this... she sees my spells coming in too early. But too close and she's too deadly, I can't keep up with her..." Bascht thought to himself, firing off another Fire Ball, and placing a Fire Wall knowing that the Star Gladiator would come around it, trying to get in close. "I don't know what to do. There's no hope--"

He stopped moving as the Star Gladiator disappeared from his sight yet again.

---

"Tell me, Master, why are you doing this?!" A much younger Bascht said, in frustration. Before him stood a wizard, and they stood in an empty duelling chamber. The young Mage was sweating and had various scalds all over his body, the Wizard standing untouched.

"Tell me, Bascht. What have you learned from me?" The Wizard spoke, coldly. "I have taught you many things about Magic, the world itself, and how the two intertwine. You are not an idiot. I do not take stupid pupils." He raised his hand to the sky, opening his palm. The Mage stepped back, falling to the ground.

"M-Master! Wh-why?!" He shouted again, but the Wizard was now chanting under his breath. He saw an enormous magic circle appear on the ground around him, and he felt too frozen to move.

"You have failed me, Bascht. Now choose. Life, or death?" The Wizard mumbled, returning to his chanting. "I summon the greatest, Divine Judgement of the Gods themselves! Heed my call, those in the Other Plane, let loose thy furious bolts of rage! Lord Of--"

"A-aahh--AAAAAGH!!" Bascht said, balling up a fist. In his panic, he punched forth at the Wizard, shutting his eyes. "N-Napalm Beat!" He shouted, as he felt a small surge of magical energy leave his fist, flying straight at the Wizard. He heard the ethereal "thwack" as he attacked his teacher's soul directly.

"Is that how you see it? Will you walk into the darkness, with your eyes shut? Are you afraid?" No response. The Mage's heavy breathing filled the room, the magical circle soon leaving. "... Begone from my sight."

---

"Axe Kick!!" came the cry as Bascht snapped back into his senses, looking over his left shoulder. A foot came whirling down and out of sheer reaction, he ducked to the side. He wasn't quick enough, though, feeling the force of a weighted hammer slamming straight down upon his arm. "Bah! You're quick, and lucky too. I should have dislocated that arm--"

Dear god, it felt like it. Bascht toppled over to the side, barely keeping himself on his feet. His chest started caving in, and pain shot through him arm making it feel like it had been dislocated-- but painful movement told him that the nerves were still connected.

He felt his stomach wretch, and he nearly doubled over, bending over and letting his stomach loose on the ground. The extreme amount of pain through his body should have knocked him out, sent his mind reeling from the sheer overload and shock; but he was painfully awake.

Because he had been hurt. That simple though, that image of D being kicked so severely kept replaying in his mind, kept him awake. It kept him wanting to see her face broken, bloodied-- mangled to the point where she'd never think of--

"Axe--" She started, and he glared daggers over at her, still bent over. He pressed his foot forward, taking his unhurt arm, and curling the hand into a fist. He glared at her and raised his painful left arm, blocking the kick. The further shock made his vision go blurry, but the only thing that was sharp and focused was her outline.

"NAPALM BEAT!" He shouted, thrusting his fist forward into her stomach. Not only did the physical strike, but the further shot of energy made her cough over his shoulder. And with one leg blocked, and kept in the air, she could barely block. He wasn't done here, however. No, he was far from finished with her.

He shrugged his pained shoulder, throwing her off balance, and stepping in again. His free hand opened up into a palm, and he muttered something under his breath, sending his own spiritual energy into that very palm. Five pure balls of energy flowed out at a high velocity, striking her in the exact spot that he'd punched just before. "SOUL STRIKE!" His voice boomed, echoing through the trees.

He knew she could feel pain, now. Adrenaline was surging through him, making him ignore what he felt. He stepped in further, relentless bile now coursing through his veins. He gripped her by the hair, and then placed his gloved, painful palm against her face. That greenish-yellow rectangle began to glow, and her eyes widened.

"Wh-what... c-card--" She barely strugged out, but Bascht tugged her hair so painful, it made her yelp and shriek.

"Not laughing now, are you? ARE YOU? He shouted, crushingly curling his hand around her face. She yelled again, and the card glowed brighter. "I-I'll kill you! DO YOU HEAR ME? YOU'RE DEAD!" He screamed, tapping the power of that card in his glove. "Maaagnuuum--"

"Bascht!" Came a familiar cry from behind. He looked over his shoulder to see Gerik and Muarim standing there, D's arms over their shoulders to help him stand. The maliciousness fell from his gaze as relief filled him, just happy to see that he was okay. "It's enough. Let her go."

He stared back at the Star Gladiator. A part of him wanted to end this. To finish it. But she was already tearing, blood from her nose and mouth mixing with it as it dripped off her chin. He let out a disgusted "tch", and just threw her to the side, the female just crumpled on the ground, sobbing. Having been so close to actual death--

He stepped back toward the group, and just took the mask as it was offered to him. He shook his head, before he fell forward at the Blacksmith, who barely caught him all things considered. "D-D... I-I'm..." He mumbled, starting to cry.

"It's... okay." D mumbled, as they stared up at the now fallen Gladiator. At that point, she was beginning to be circled by the Roween, and the Galion she had summoned. "Let's get out of here."

"Yeah..." Gerik said, leaving D to the other Merchant, and hoisting Bascht's arm and weight onto himself. "We need to get away. Rest up. Payon can wait."