As Natural As Breathing

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Deep below the watery surface of the ocean world, the Sith Academy of Glee Anselm was bursting with life. Its construction had been finished some time ago, and Darth Pyrrhus was very pleased to see it being actively used. While the acolytes there were mostly Nautolan, there was a decent amount of off-world potential present as well. In fact, one of the training rooms now occupied two Humans and a Togruta. Darth Pyrrhus, and two acolytes.

On the edges of the wall there were stacks with various kinds of weaponry. It had everything from quarterstaffs, vibroswords, to practice sabers, coated in the venom of the pelko bugs, which had a paralyzing effect on the areas it hit. This was so that if someone struck an arm, the venom would mimic the effect of limb loss, without actually having to take the arm off. The pain would be significant, however. At the centre of the room, the proud Togruta Knight stood, clad as usual in his dark, Sith robes. The way the artificial lighting met with his face seemed to emphasize his tribal-like features with his wild, white markings, while casting an unnatural shadow behind him. The horned Sith looked quite imposing, and it was as if the very air in the room seemed to gravitate towards him.

In front of him... [member="Animus Malgus"] and [member="Setzi Lunelle"]. It was time to teach them a little more about lightsaber combat. Striking two birds with one stone, he merged their lessons into one group session. He anticipated that the competitiveness would only add to its effect. It would be interesting, at any rate, to see how the apprentices interacted with each other. Did their position render them natural allies, or rivals? Darth Pyrrhus was biased, though in this moment, he did not let his bias show. He was the dark teacher, and they his pupils. Both would leave the room stronger, or not at all.

"You wished to be trained in lightsaber combat. Makashi, was it?" he questioned them, to make sure he remembered correctly. Like his presence, his voice seemed to bounce off the walls, and echo through the room. He owned this room. They found themselves deep within his lair.

 

[Mythos]

Animus laid on the room in a Kneel before the Dark lord, it was [member="Darth Pyrrhus"] powerful and imposing, a training session with him was something few people could ask for, much less survive.
"Yes master" Animus rose his Yellow Orbs meeting the Mighty Togrutas Gaze unflinching, popping open his sword from his belt, a Ceremonial blade, an Ancient Sith relic, a sword of Korribans Ancient Lords, heavy but sharp, and made of Saber resistant material, Upon research he realized this sword was actually used to fight Darksabers, it was more an Ornament now than a weapon, but upon Animus' hands it had become one once again.

His stance was automatic, Animus only knew Juyo so his stance was Juyo, he knew nothing of Makashi, but his stance was not towards his Acolyte companion. [member="Setzi Lunelle"] but towards the Togruta. He wanted his limits tested, he wanted his metal proven, so he stepped forward in flinchingly. At first the thought himself insane, which to his credit was not far from the truth, but this was a step beyond insane.


Upon reaching a few feet from the Master, he took up his stance after a Form 1 Bow, and without so much as a second thought he charged at him careful not to get too close but his thrust was aimed straight at his heart. If this master could not best him, then he was not worthy to teach Animus, so he decided to Test the master.

If the trust was deflected Animus was ready for a follow up, Juyo was aggression, and he wanted to see how makashi would fare in contrast, and another trust and a dowards slice would follow the initial strike.

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Setzi knew [member="Darth Pyrrhus"] well enough by now to know that she would need to remain utterly professional and devoid of almost any emotion during her first training session with her new Master. That is, unless rage or anger or another negative emotion needed to be utilized like one of the many weapons hanging ominously on the walls of the Glee Anselm Academy. She felt a surge of pride towards Tanek for having built such an important, if imposing structure. But again, she would keep her feelings well hidden, especially in the presence of a fellow acolyte.

She had trained before with [member="Animus Malgus"] in a cemetery, and she found him a quite capable Force user. Unlike the other trainees who had barked out conflicting advice to her while she was fighting re-animated corpses and other horrendous beasts, Acolyte Malgus had a swift and no-nonsense approach to any obstacle they faced – to kill with speed and ferocity.

Bearing a faint scar from that training session on her shoulder, Setzi also wore black Sith robes. She tended to favor light armor or training jumpsuits, but as she advanced in the ranks of the Sith, she would need to display an eagerness to adhere to tradition.

Setzi was no longer afraid of Darth Pyrrhus, although with the distinct lighting and his pointed montrals, he projected a fearsome visage. She did not kneel as Acolyte Malgus did, but was reminded of the one time she had knelt before this powerful Master. Darth Pyrrhus had defeated her in a duel on Ruussan. As the young, brunette human bowed before him, a large wound open and bleeding in her side from his crimson lightsaber, he could have ended her life right there. Could have cleanly beheaded her without a second thought. But the Force had other things in mind for Setzi and Tanek, and thankfully, she escaped intact.

Suddenly Animus lunged into an attack on the Togruta Knight. Momentarily startled, the acolyte quickly recovered, calling one of the sabers coated with pelko bug poison into her hand, and in one fluid motion, took the Form I stance, looking at both of them, trying to decide who to attack first – the eager acolyte or the seasoned Master.

But true to what she had been taught months ago in the Jedi Order, it would take Setzi a few tries to turn her defensive mindset into an offensive one.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

[member="Setzi Lunelle"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

The Knight watched the two acolytes. One kneeled before him, the other did not. However, she bowed. He sensed no trace of defiance in her, and he did not question her loyalty. He did not demand it from her, nor did he from Animus, though the obedience and respect shown was to be commended. Animus was more of a new face, and he had yet to determine where he had him.

Then Animus made his move. Drawing his blade, he got in a combat-ready position, and with only a moment's hesitation, he stepped towards the Togruta. The hesitation was appropriate, for he was condemning his body to bare the punishment appropriate for his challenge. He usually let acolytes get away easy on their first challenge. It was appropriate that they had high demands for their tutors. If they had nothing to show them, their purpose was non-existent. In fact, his former apprentice, Bellatrix Celvina, had indirectly threatened to kill him. He had complimented her then, but warned her, that the next time she uttered those words, she ought to be prepared to face their consequences. Timing was key. Animus would get away with this one. Get away, in the sense he wouldn't murder him. Most likely.

The eyes of Darth Pyrrhus narrowed, seemingly burning with an increased intensity now that the Acolyte stepped against him. They were like windows to the burning furnace within. Pyrrhus' response was rather direct, but he felt it appropriate in an effort to put the Acolyte in his place. Instead of standing his ground, Pyrrhus stepped against Animus, to meet his strike. His hand moved, lightsaber hilt in hand. The crimson blade hissed to life, and he brought it to slap against his heavier weapon with force. The intention was to slap the straight thrust to the side. However, he did not stop moving there.

The Togruta, with his powerful frame, came crashing into Animus. Whether Animus was sent bouncing backwards, falling to the ground, or maintaining his balance remained to be seen. Regardless of the state he ended up in, he would give him something to work with. Striking against Pyrrhus unannounced did not award him the liberty of taking a breather. He would have stopped his step forward once colliding with Animus. Now, again, he moved forwards. Appropriately for their lesson, his stance was that of Makashi. He engaged Animus, blade in left hand, left shoulder facing the Acolyte, keeping his side facing towards him. Then he stepped in with a flurry of simple but precise thrusts and stabs, targeting leg, upper-arm and core.

While maintaining pressure, he was prepared to have to adapt and change tactics. Setzi had yet to make her move, and for the moment, she was only observing. Would she observe and take notes? Or would she too strike against him? Regardless what she did, he had to be prepared, and so the possibility of an impending flank attack was not lost on him.

 

[Mythos]

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] came crashing into Animus, it was what he expected, in Joy of the Acceptance of his challenge he started laughing in a psychotic way. He was Facing the Legendary Togruta, a feat that alone was the subject of Legend, or so Animus thought but when the Master Impacted him with his Mighty body, Animus began to realize that maybe this was not the smartest of ideas, but that it was the most epic and legendary... Unquestionable. Animus was rocked back, stepping back as Thrusts came.

The Master initiated the combat, Thrust after thrust with his blade , Animus' blade was heavy and it made it hard to block thrusts that close especially considering that Juyo was not about blocking, but the Weight of the blade made the deflection of his initial thrust not shoot his blade too far from center mass, so he was able to keep it in front of him as the thrusts slashed the outside of his knee, the upper part of his shoulder and the last thrust hit it's mark dead center as it dug into his chest a few inches from his heart.

Animus was engulfed in pain and Agony, 3 strikes all hits, less than 4 seconds. *damn* he thought. The master has passed his test... But his test would not end here... be it out of Pride, arrogance or pure stupidity Animus never gave up, he would rather choose death than surrender. He observed the strikes, the way they were presented, thrusts, quick, and the stance was made to cater to the strikes.... This was Makashi, all the power of the stance was funneled to end the fight in a single strike... and the Master did not seem to hold back... "Good!!" Animus yelled in pain, agony and Love for the fight.

Lightsaber strikes cauterized wombs as they entered, so no blood was spilling from him this time as Animus took the thrust of the Master, and came in with his own attack pattern, before switching hands with his blade quickly, angling in into fast slices and a sweeping axe kick behind it. His knee was Grazed by the blade, but not enough to slow him down, his shoulder caused him pain but not enough to impede the movements of his blade, his chest however... Sported a Hole, that had ripped through tendons so Animus did not feel the pain, Little did the Acolyte realize... he would need medical attention when this was all, otherwise the womb would fester, get infected and he would die.

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Setzi needed to make a choice, or very quickly it would be chosen for her.

Should she show absolute devotion to her Master and attack Acolyte Malgus? Or give Darth Pyrrhus a challenge, rushing into him as Animus had? Surely he would be judging her decision-making skills as well as her combat readiness.

It hardly seemed fair to gang up on Animus, but Setzi was a part of the Sith because of Tanek. Ultimately, she chose loyalty to her Master.

As she watched the two spar, admiration for Darth Pyrrhus in her gaze, it was clear the somewhat larger and possibly more powerful Togruta was more skilled in Makashi than Animus, likely due to his months of painstaking lessons. She tried to pick up the differences between Form I and II, and from what she could tell in observing, Makashi seemed more focused and precise, the strikes not so wide-sweeping.

As Darth Pyrrhus collided with the less seasoned acolyte, their duel took on a brutality, and she began to worry her fellow trainee. He appeared to be hurt already. Did she need to re-evaluate her next move?

Using Telepathy, which Setzi was quite adept at, she told Tanek: I was going to strike Acolyte Malgus but I fear he may be too wounded. I am not going to show him mercy when he recovers, but be prepared for my attack.

It was a compromise. She knew he wouldn’t be completely satisfied that she was showing the other acolyte clemency, but at the same time, she wanted their duel to last. And right now the cards were stacked against both of the acolytes.

She tried to envision Tanek as her most hated foe – the nameless, faceless Primeval monster who slayed her sister. Filled with potent rage. Setzi ran towards Darth Pyrrhus, but unlike Ruusan, she hoped this time they were on more equal footing. It was a bit of an underhanded moved, but she lept at his back as he faced towards Animus and jabbed at the middle of his torso. He would likely sense her stealthy presence behind her and would parry, awarding her the violent contact that she craved.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The two of them, Knight and Acolyte, crashed into each other. Animus was pushed back. Instead of fear or regret, Animus laughed like a madman. Pyrrhus could see it in his eyes. The Sith Hopeful lived for battle. It was in his blood. It was his element. The Togruta Knight was happy to provide him with entertainment, and something to be excited about. For their exchange was far from over.

Pushing him on the defence, Pyrrhus made an effort to display the swift and elegant finesse of Makashi, the duellist's choice. Their lesson had begun, and he'd do well to take note of the stances and sequences used. More so than it was the master's duty to teach, Pyrrhus believed it was the acolyte's duty to learn. Fall behind, get left behind. A Sith waited for no one. A Sith required no one to wait for him/her.

Pyrrhus paced himself. He accepted the hits he delivered, but he did not get greedy. It was clear that Animus would not stop until he had been properly broken. And so as the Acolyte returned with his attack, the Togruta switched to show-off the defensive aspects of Makashi. Pyrrhus moved to the side, while parrying the incoming blade in the opposite direction, aiming to stay one step ahead; ever the elusive target. The sweeping axe kick hit air.

It would seem, however, their little spar was about to escalate. His favourite apprentice was making her move. He expected things of her, so naturally, she should expect things from him. She had every right to test him. Of course, the moment she made that decision, she accepted responsibility for the consequences of her actions. If Animus had not engaged Pyrrhus first, it was likely that he would have pitted the two apprentices against each other, while commenting on their form. This was an alternative. Instead of going for an acolyte-smackdown, he decided to use this as an opportunity to show how one could use Makashi to attack and defend from various attacks. Teaching through pain.

Setzi hesitated, perhaps a sense of honour kept her back. Normally, he would frown on this, as honour was for the dead and served the living no purpose. However, between the two there was a strong bond and a seemingly unbreakable bond of loyalty. He could not fault her for warning him. It made their master-apprentice relationship a rather complex one, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was making her soft with his bias. Perhaps it was time to truly put her to the test?

Setzi warned, Pyrrhus prepared. The Togruta disrobed, tossing his Sith robe in the direction of Animus. It was a distraction, and the intent was to disturb Animus' line of sight and steal away his focus. With a subtle flick of his right wrist, he summoned the Force to perform a tug at Animus' feet. It was likely to do little more than throw him off-balance. Unless, of course, he charged forwards in that moment, only to find that the Force wished to pull his leg in the opposite direction.

Despite the warning, she came at him from behind, while he was occupied with distracting the Acolyte. Luckily for him, his montrals and their passive echolocation gave him a detailed heads-up as to her location. In a quick twist, he turned around, his blade meeting hers in a direct block. Despite meeting as enemies on Ziost, this was the first time their blades had crossed since Ruusan. She was faster now. In defence to her jab, he had defended in a fashion that resembled Soresu more than Makashi. He tried to cover this fact up by immediately reverting back to Makashi, and hope she didn't notice. He'd never hear the end of it if she realized that already with her first jab, she had forced him to switch up his tactics.

Setzi put him in a very exposed position, putting him in the middle with an acolyte on eaither side. What he did next was a combination of trying to exploit their saberlock, while utilizing the trademark Makashi footwork. Ideally, Makashi was suited to face one opponent. However, with its elegant footwork, a master of it could easily face several opponent. It was all about pacing and positioning. He'd slide his blade against hers, attempting to move the two blades in an upwards half-circle. Meanwhile, he would step to her side, in an effort to move past her as their blades disengaged. The end-goal was to have both Acolytes in front of him, and Setzi blocking Animus from having a straight path to Pyrrhus. However, as he moved past her, their bodies not far from each other, he couldn't help but leave her with a parting gift. His left hand held the blade. In the moment their blades disengaged and he'd move past her side, his right hand came down for a hard slap, aimed to hit her directly on her rear.

The Togruta was playing with fire, and he knew it. The slightly condescending and arrogant move, if successful, he suspected would likely set her off in a fury. He was goading her, wanting to see her get in touch with her anger. Much like he had on Ruusan, only this time, she was far more likely to accept, than break down in self-doubt. Of course, there was a chance she wouldn't take offense. Regardless, he liked living on the edge.

[member="Animus Malgus"] [member="Setzi Lunelle"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Setzi had forgotten about Darth Pyrrhus's montrals and how they would be able to pinpoint her location like some built in GPS device. She wasn't familiar enough with each lightsaber form to know that he blocked with Soresu - only that her blade clashed with his as it had on Ruusan so many months ago.

But his footwork was much better than hers. The brunette acolyte hadn't the training he had. and true to form, her moves were defensive. But she parried him, skipping back on her feet as he advanced, almost like an unchoreographed dancer. When he suddenly moved past her, she was filled with relief, expecting respite for a moment. That was until the sharp sting of his hand on her rear end. That was a move she was familiar with - perhaps in their bedroom - but certainly not in a training environment. Most likely, Tanek was showing off for the sake of Acolyte Animus who was still catching his breath.

Her eyebrows furrowing, she stepped back, not advancing.

"I suppose I deserved that," she said. "For attacking from behind."

Pulling down twentyish vibro-daggers from the wall of weapons, with Telekinesis she hurtled the sharp, buzzing, elecro-blades directly at Darth Pyrrhus, while at the same time rushing him, not with Makashi but with a giant sweep of her saber, more to Form I. Most likely he could block all of it, but if he wanted a test, she was not going to shy away from trying her best to knock Tanek off his feet.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus was recovering from the maneuver he had just attempted when suddenly the Master just threw his cloak at him. It was unexpected and it landed as Animus was falling. These were the Problems with juyo, if your aggression fails you are often found easy to counter. Animus fell off balance as he took a moment to step back and regain it, but when he prepared again for battle he saw an vibrodagger zip passed his face. He raised an eyebrow to the Master as he watched closely his form approaching, he took this chance to catch his breath and observe. Makashi was something he needed to master, if he was to Master Niman he needed to master all the styles.

He took the stance, he had tested his master now. Animus used the footwork he had seen the master use to position himself close enough to try and engage both opponents like he saw him do. With force augmentation he moved, faster and more agile that normal to adapt himself into the footwork that he had seen up till now displayed. The thrusts, were a homage to the ones that had caused his wombs, elegant and graceful set to meet [member="Setzi Lunelle"] and her Form I. Perfect form to use against the first time.
[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Setzi was light on her feet, and quickly bounced clear of any potential counter coming from his blade. She was quick to recognize danger. However, she did not seem to have anticipated his hand, which met with its well-shaped target.

He turned to stare at her, taking the same position he had before: blade in the left hand, left shoulder pointing towards them. Her comment made him chuckle. "I thought you liked that" he said, teasing her. Though she hadn't lashed out at him, or charged after with a flurry of attacks. Instead, she seemed calm and collected, and she was not advancing. The calm before the storm... She soon saw the grin painted on his lips fade as he realized the situation. He had underestimated her. Or rather, he had anticipated an attack that involved her lightsaber or a more direct Force power. Now the environment was being used against him. Setzi showed an awareness of her surroundings, and was going to punish Pyrrhus for not doing the same.

Deflecting the incoming daggers seemed less than ideal. One, two, perhaps. Although the number that came for him now, approximately twenty, now that was something else entirely. What he stared at now was the price of arrogance and taking the focus away from the battle itself, and shifting it over to something else. It left himself open, and gave his opponent more room to manoeuvre. He had it coming.

His instinct was to drop to the floor and let it all pass over him, however, the brunette wasn't far behind the daggers. It left him too exposed. Instead, with his right hand, he too called upon the Force. The daggers had momentum, and he would not contest their control with her. It might slow them down, but chances were it left him in an equally poor position. Instead, he would pull at them with the Force, in an attempt to push them from the side, to have them avert from their target. However, with the speed they were coming at him with, and the time he had taken to think, he would need a little more to get away. The Togruta darted to the side. Even then, he did not make it out of range. His body twisted in the air, as daggers cut through his well-fitting, black tunic. Pyrrhus had avoided it for the most part, though his top was visibly cut open with flings in multiple places. Setzi's attack had drawn blood.

As he came down and the attack moved past him, he was given little time to assess the damage, as Setzi was soon upon him. She was pushing. Once more his blade met hers in a direct block. Despite his physical strength, she had momentum on her side, and he felt his arms shake internally as he absorbed the power behind the blow. In that moment, in addition to their blades, their eyes locked as well.

"I suppose I deserved that" he said. "For attacking your behind."

Then Pyrrhus' eyes widened slightly, and shifted from Setzi to something that was approaching from behind her. It would seem Animus had gotten time to recover, and was throwing himself back into the fight. To his surprise, he would soon discover that Animus was not coming for him, but for Setzi. Again, she was being attacked from behind.

[member="Setzi Lunelle"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

The fact that Darth Pyrrhus was now fighting without his robes wasn't lost on Setzi. Up close and locked together with him, she admired his sinewy muscles which now strained against her own. From her vantage point, she could see his red skin through the slash in the front of his tunic. Blood dripped from an open wound on his heaving chest. Without a doubt, he was physically stronger, so she grit her teeth, and channeled her determination into the Force to augment her own vigor.

Force rage was difficult for her right now because it was hard to stay angry at Tanek. Luckily, he would probably be the only opponent who would have this effect on her. She smirked at his joke but noticed his gaze was now on something behind her.

Acolyte Malgus.

Setzi had to make a choice, and one which involved taking a direct hit. She eased up pressure on Darth Pyrrhus's saber and whipped around to block Animus's strike. The Togruta Knight's blade cut deep into her upper arm as she whirled, but at least she was free. The brunette acolyte gave a hoarse cry of pain, but used the white-hot, burning sensation to fuel her anger as she jabbed at Malgus using the Makashi technique she had been observing

Her form was clumsy, but she was going to drive him back if she could.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

The clash of Makashi was instant, the thrusts of Animus and [member="Setzi Lunelle"] collided and the blades shot upwards in a lock, the clumsiness of her Makashi was akin to Animus' lack of experience in the second Form, it was beautiful a clash of Acolytes.

Animus did not waste a step, his thoughts were not upon the master this time, they were upon his imminent opponent. Animus knew if he tried this clumsy, apprentice Makashi routine on the Mighty Togruta who had inspired it, he would suffer the same fate as his initial attack and he was not confident that he would survive another impact with the frame of powerful Tanek. In fact, he knew he wouldn't, he tested fate once to challenge the skill of his master, he was not about to Gamble again.

Three Thrusts, imitating the wombs of his body dashed inside copying the footwork he had seen. The footwork itself was the Key Animus realized, his footwork was what made the Thrusts what they were, deadly. Triple thrusts and move, always with his blade imitating the Togruta's moves he had seen. Animus was great at imitating what he saw, and his memory was (admittedly shaken by the use of Herbs) adept enough to remember and imitate.

His form was rather awkward when compared to what he was imitating, the angle was off, and his thrusts wiggled due to his lack of understand on Makashi Strikes, still the main Philosophy of Ataru and Juyo was inside Animus, a hard habit to break, One [member="Darth Pyrrhus"] would have to see corrected personally if he was to improve. Aggression, pure and unbridled, no thought of defense, brute force and violence... So much time in Juyo had made that Philosophy permanent, it was a weakness considering the form he was executing did not follow that precept to work correctly.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The heat of battle was running over him. To overwhelm Setzi was no easy feat, she was quite the capable apprentice. More than make him sweat, she had made him bleed. The bloody stains on his tunic honoured her, and he was proud that she had surprised him and caught him off guard. The girl had grown immensely since Ruusan, to the point where terms such as Apprentice, or even Padawan, became unsuitable tags for her power. She was ever growing. Maybe she would even surpass him? Maybe she already had.

The fierce female warrior summoned the Force to her. Unmistakable, he felt her building fury, and a rising power surrounding her. For a moment, he felt hesitation. He felt doubt. What was she going to do? This was a power of hers she had not revealed to him. Perhaps to surprise him in battle in an attempt to overwhelm him? He would welcome the challenge. To clash with her, in any sense of the word, was a privilege.

Alerted by his eyes or her own senses, Setzi turned to face a new threat. The other acolyte's attack was blocked, at the cost of the Togruta's hitting home. He had not expected it. With their blades locked, he had applied pressure and as she turned, it had naturally followed its path forwards. He didn't follow up, or push forwards to maximize damage. If anything, he reeled back. He had not sought to cause her injury. Her calculated sacrifice showed strength and determination. The pain would give her strength. Once more, Setzi surprised him.

Now with the two acolytes fighting, Pyrrhus circled around them. As he started to move, he winced in pain. His right hand giving the rifts of his torso a feel, came back bloodied. She had hit, he knew. Although the cuts were deeper than he had first thought. Cold, calculating eyes observed their little spar. They had picked up on the basics of Makashi well. He couldn't be sure if they intended to fight each other, or if they would come at him soon as well. In any case, he would be prepared to welcome them, should they choose that path. Until then...

"Leverage. Position. Advantage." he repeated the three words that had been indoctrinated in him, when approaching Makashi as a young student. "Instead of wild, sweeping motions, Makashi relies on precision on efficiency." Crimson blade in hand, the Togruta Knight circled them from a relatively safe distance while he observed them, offering commentary as their blades continued to clash. "Instead of raw strength and heavy clashes that are straining on the muscles, a Makashi duellist approaches a fight with an economy of motion. Balance and footwork are employed to outmanoeuvre your opponent." he gave his blade a spin, a quick twirl. The Togruta made no move, or no attempts to advance the duo. Perhaps it was just a subtle distraction at the corners of their eyes, to remind them of a third blade that was lurking in the distance. "Use jabs and light cuts. Drain away at your opponents strength. Continue moving yourself to the more favourable position. Claim the environment, use it against them. There is strength in finesse; with the flick of a wrist, you can redirect the strength of a giant, and use his strength against him. You're not trying to overwhelm your opponent, but to manipulate him with the edge of your blade."

[member="Setzi Lunelle"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Setzi's upper arm throbbed, pain radiating out of the fresh, cauterized saber wound. She needed to push through the agony somehow. Suddently a flashback to Ruusan came unbidden, especially how angry she had been during her duel with Darth Pyrrhus, probably enhanced by his Dun Moch. She channeled a burst of Force Rage and thrust her saber towards Animus and then around in a giant arc, breaking the beauty and preciseness of the Makashi and back into Shii-Cho which she kept slipping in and out of. She was curious about Tanek's reaction, but focus on the duel would not allow her gaze to wander. Both acolytes sought his approval equally.

She could hear the Togruta Knight's familiar baritone, offering advice. What he was describing was exactly the type of combat form he had used on Ruusan. Think back to that, Setzi. Think back to that cold and frustrating day. How was he able to strike you so efficiently?

Even though Acolyte Malgus was just as clumsy as she was in his footwork, he expertly blocked her every move. Setzi needed to somehow knock him off of his feet. She loosened the saber in her two-handed grip, just slightly and swung it around in a very rudimentary Makashi riposte, hitting his blade with a block, but sliding the saber down and towards him again, attempting to graze him with its poison tip. If she made contact with his skin, he would be paralyzed in that area and feel a deep pain from not only the wound but the poison.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus noticed that her Style was different and not entirely makashi oriented, a style he knew but could not name, it's very form was different. Animus however began to take to makashi on a short encounter that happened before and would continue here. He began to love the forms elegance and style, and the Ability to defend! So much that he began to focus on defense therefore falling to the riposte.

The footwork however was very familiar and what he focused on,stepping back from offence and disengaging was not his style when put on the defensive with makashi it was much easier to turn a defense into offense, so he swung the blade vertically while taking a step back so the blades be a bit more distant then stepped left bringing his blade with him in the high guard, shoulder extended swipe.

Not leaving himself out of Balance Animus left foot backwards and front foot extended but high posture. An adept of now three styles, Animus was beginning to grow adept at lightsaber combat but the anger and frustration of not having faced a worthy challenge in a while was gone. [member="Setzi Lunelle"] was a warrior to the core, and Animus felt honored to even be considered her equal in a sparring match. Most would have died by now.

Juyo Was a Mentality. Enjoy the fight, and he always did. Laughing softly as the blade passing his eye by a Hair, that if slowed in ultramotion would have made Exar Kun raise his eyebrow. The master was Gone in his mind, it was just her and her lightsaber and him. Nothing else.


Elegance, Fury and Destruction.



[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

It was a sight to behold, the two acolytes jockeying for position and supremacy in front of the more experienced Sith Knight.

Malgus blocked her Makashi riposte with relative ease. Setzi was starting to feel the strain on her body of keeping up such short bursts of energy needed for Form II. Every fiber began to hum with weariness, unused muscles, footwork that required more lower body stamina than the upper body stamina of Form I with its long sweeping arcs. The discomfort in her wounded, upper arm was approaching an unbearable state.

The only way to combat this tiredness was to channel her anger, turning what she once knew as Force Valor into Force Rage to enhance her quickness and accuracy. Setzi thought about how frustrated she would be to lose against Animus, especially in front of her Master. She thought about how much she even hated Animus at this moment for how easily he repelled her attacks.

“You will just not go down, will you?” she taunted, teeth gnashing together. She rushed at the fellow apprentice and battered him with a flurry of small saber strikes, enhanced by her rage. Setzi would suddenly seem like a whirling dervish of energy, power and precision.

But in doing this, she was not preserving her endurance. It wouldn't be long before she would be extremely fatigued. She hoped to land a solid blow to Animus’s chest before that.

[member="Animus Malgus"] [member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus was holding his Saber in his right hand, and using his other hand as balance, Animus was beginning to relish in the beauty of Makashi, It was Elegance and Fury, Murder and Gallantry... The Style of the Duelist Animus now understood why masters of this Style preferred the Curved Saber, it made the moves of Makashi which was already good in both offence and Defense, a bit better with the Wide angle strikes that Makashi supported and gave them a bit more Power, which was what Makashi Lacked, and Animus quickly realized that Strength and Brute force had no Place in this style. The Ataru/Juyo Mentality cost him dearly when [member="Setzi Lunelle"] unleashed a fury of blows that each in itself was a mortal strike, she wanted to end Animus in a Single blow.

Being that Animus was an Offensive aggressor, he did not expect to be put on the defensive as a single thrust went in between his arm and sliced his midsection as it came back. Animus seething in pain pushed it aside, he knew the mentality of Juyo and Ataru would get him Killed right now, and he was NOT going to switch stances... He was beginning to love this Style and the Mentality of Juyo about Enjoying the fight, was something he could never truly escape, however, He began defending against the attacks rather well. Makashi did not tire him like Ataru and Juyo did, Makashi did not demand much physical work as the other styles, it was almost completely footwork and the Arms would follow suit.


Parrying and deflecting the attacks not with speed, not with Force augmentation but with the Makashi ripostes, Animus was never out of balance thanks to the form and apart from being sliced in different parts of his body, was not really hindered.

Then he saw the opening, he brought his Saber in a vertical Arc, twisted his wrist and did it again in a smaller arc from the other side then brought his blade in a Angular Arc aimed for her hips, then would move a quick thrust twirl to get out of range and immediately go back to his Stance which was a lot less clumsy and a lot more solid.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Setzi’s lightsaber finally landed, but Animus, as sliced up as he was, appeared to shrug off the pain as though her attack was a mosquito bite. But since her blade had the poison tip, he would begin to feel paralyzed through the skin cells and nerves where she had made contact.

Then he abruptly caught her off-guard with a baffling series of arcs, using a ruse to make her block the opposite way. Setzi fell right Malgus’s impressive trap.
As she was sliced across the hip, in the opposite place Darth Pyrrhus once left his mark, she cried out and sprung backwards with a Force jump, out of the other acolyte’s range. Setzi stumbled backwards, checking out the wound and muttering a string of curses that only a farm girl, around migrant workers and farm hands from Aduba-3 might know. Now her entire left side ached from the twin lacerations. She winced in pain and sucked air through her teeth. Feth that hurt.

Incensed and aching, the brunette acolyte wasn’t above another dirty attack. With a lift of her hand, she resurrected one, two… three of the daggers which still lay scattered around the floor, let them hover for a moment until their blades were pointed directly at the fellow acolyte, and then she flung them at Animus mostly to keep him away from her while she gathered back her strength. She finally caught Tanek's eye and gave him a mischievous smile at the knife play.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="Animus Malgus"]

 

[Mythos]

Animus felt quite confident once his opponent had landed on the floor, but that confidence soon faded when the womb she had inflicted appeared to come alive with pain and numbness. Animus was used to pain, Being Scorched in flame by Ferus, Stabbed various times by Tanek and nearly killed by Asajj, but the pain for the Poison blade was not something he could shrug off.

The hand he used for balance went to his side as he clenched the wound gnashing his teeth in pain "That's how you want to play!? FINE!" No sooner than the words left his mouth than a trio of daggers came his way. He was Furious, Rage and anger boiled in him as his only shield against pain and agony of the poison.
The dagger game at him, and the only defence he thought of was using his Telekinesis on one dagger to force it's stop, slashing one dagger with his Lightsaber and the third dagger cutting a fine line in his cheek drawing blood.

The blood reached his lips and it's taste soon wet Animus' taste buds... He smiled and laughed, "Finally! after all this time.. I face a worthy opponent" He said as he laughed maniacally walking over to the dagger and picking it up from the air. The Lightsaber slash in his rib was throbbing in pain, as well as all the other wombs, but nothing would even slow him down, he refused to be slowed down, he refused to be defeated, he was not about to fall again.

She wanted a fight, she would get one and Juyo took his mind once again. Animus used his Force Augmentation one more time to dash and close in on his opponent, This time Juyo would be the form. Juyo and Ataru dancing together in a blood bath.
Twirling around in the air using the Stamina he had not spent until now his Slashed would bring power and Strength behind every blow.

First he twirled his lightsaber over his head executing various same angle vertical slashes, Bend his knees as bring his saber in an Arc to her midsection, not missing a beat he would switch to Ataru and execute a jump over his opponent landing with a final thrust to her chest, a Makashi Thrust, Placed with the Acrobatics of Ataru and the Ferocity of Juyo...

The Three Styles now Mingled together, as One. [member="Setzi Lunelle"] [member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

 

[Setzi Lunelle]

Despite her pain and weariness, Setzi stifled a laugh as the daggers flew at her opponent. He was enraged, shouting at her. One of the knives slashed his cheek with a force which almost made the brunette acolyte herself wince. Without a bacta treatment, that particular strike could leave quite a scar. But now that she was finding humor in his pain, Setzi’s rage waned along with her stamina. Therefore, she was at a strict disadvantage when he rushed at her again.

Doubt plagued her as she clumsily lost her footing and stumbled after a particularly forceful strike, still parrying but with the grace of a Gamorrean. Acolyte Malgus was much more advanced in varying lightsaber forms. This was apparent the way he slipped in and out of Makashi and onto other styles Setzi didn’t quite recognize. As he jumped over her and thrust his blade at her chest, she could no longer fend him off. The blade struck under her left breast, nearly butting into the ribs, and she howled in pain.

“No more!" she shouted, still blocking him but faltering.

I’m sorry, Master Pyrrhus, she said to Tanek in a telepathic message. If I take a break, I can get back in the fight. Was she weaker than Animus? Perhaps. Even though the Togruta Knight was her trainer, he was also her lover. She knew how to manipulate him for her own self-interest at times. Eventually though, he would test her on this. He would need to toughen her up, but all in due time.

Setzi didn’t want to admit defeat, but she didn't want to be as wounded as she was currently. Not when she knew the Republic and Mandalorians were banging upon the door of the Sith, and at a moment's notice, she would be back on the battlefield.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="Animus Malgus"]