Thu Dec 27, 2012 2:35 am by Dante the Deceiver
*He stood in the center of the circle, moving sand about with his foot idly. Silently, he began drawing on the force, suffusing it into his body - it started slowly, but grew steadily, exponentially; the energy suffused his muscles, his senses, his nerves...he felt the world around him begin to slow as his reactions quickened, felt his muscles hum with strength, his senses come alive with sensation. He felt...taller...far more aware of his balance and equilibrium, yet at the same time, so very stable...immovable.*
*Silently, he observed his opponent - he took ahold of the bow, and tested the draw. He drew the bow far too easily, and indeed, seemed to be cautious using the item, drawing the string back with an ease that bellied the aliens limbs. He was strong, easily strong as Dante, maybe more. As the alien let loose an arrow into the wall, Dante noted the ease that Krios placed the arrow oh so precisely in the crack of the stones. He was skilled with the weapon, accurate...*
*Silently, Dante observed the...not slow, but sluggish movements of his opponent. His Matukai training afforded him enhanced and improved physical ability - including reactions. Despite this, it was no force speed that he was using...things didn't progress around him at a crawl...simply...sluggishly, murkily. As Krios drew another arrow and aimed at the wall, it thus came no surprise to Dante as Krios aimed at his chest and let loose an arrow - indeed, was already going through his options as the bowman took aim, his reactions giving him advanced warning of the bowman's intent.
He didn't have much time; the boost afforded him an extra second, two at the most to react to most movements. Carefully he noted the archers aim, and quickly began raising his arms to chest height, simultaneously shifting his left foot back, and his right foot forward and to the right. He then conducted a simple maneuver, he pushed off with his left foot to his right, and scooted his right foot to the right - a classic martial arts "shuffle". It served not to cross the feet or send the body off balance, yet at the same time allowed for the legs to exert maximum leverage on the ground by lowering the body center of gravity (the spacing of the legs requiring a slight bending of the knees). Easily, Dante repositioned himself but seven inches to his right, the arrow arcing through the space he had just occupied.
The result would appear like a "whirlwind" (As Matukai in action have been described in canon) of movement, a veritable blur as Dante shifted to his right in what would appear an unnaturally fluid movement.*
*He continued his observation...the rack was against the far wall, a ways away from the duelists circle. It afforded some time (especially with his Matukai abilities) to observe his opponent. In dealing with the arrow - as trivial as it had been - it had taken some time. Even now, his opponent rushed towards him; with the amount of speed that he approached, he no doubt intended to vault up onto the dais...which suited Dante just fine.*
*As his opponent drew nearer, Dante prepared, watching through enhanced senses for his opponents telltale 'crouch' that signified a jump approaching. His patience was rewarded - as his opponent drew near, his weight shifted for a "leap" onto the dais, and at that exact moment, Dante moved as well. It was a simple movement, a forceful kicking sweep of his left leg (currently back) sweeping out and around to his left and forward, the sweeping kick ending with his left foot forward, and his RIGHT foot back - essentially reversing his standing position so that his left foot was forward, his right foot back, knees bent. To most, it would appear as if - once again - it was the simplest of martial arts maneuvers (known as a "shift" where ones "leading" leg is switched for his other leg. A very quick maneuver.). There was, however, an ulterior motive. As Dante had been standing and waiting, he had prepared a rather medium size of sand at the center of the circle of the duelists circle...
...a pile of sand that his kicking and sweeping foot impacted, and propelled in a nasty spray, up into his approaching foes face.
As his opponent was just landing on the edge of the dais, Dante himself being at the middle, it would take a number of steps to reach him; because of this, the spray would have dispersed proportionately by the time it reached Krios - resulting in a wide fan of sand that would be hard to block with his staff. No doubt the sand would be foiled though, at the least, it was a nuisance. Regardless, Dante wanted to see how his opponent would handle the trickery...and what many considered to be "underhanded" combat.*