Two Sides [Invite]

"Please?"
Griselda let out a sigh. Holding up a conversation in two different planes was rough for a girl racked with pain. Better still when both parties didn't seem to buy what she was selling. Metabo quickly switched to thinking about just letting the girl drop quicker. And it was definitely enticing to just let the thing knock her out if that was the goal. But she'd rather just bounce. Dealing with a bird that wouldn't take forfeit was a bit harrowing.

"..."
Usumi grew quiet. Leaving the young earthling to flinch at the bird's words and keep the sword between the two of them. Those feet take a couple of steps back as to put more distance between them while she groaned.

"Look, I'm trying! Just give me some time!-"
But before she can really do anything else, Griselda is caught off by her opponent suddenly turning tail and spinning right atop her with those sharp talons of hers. Her hand and sword come up to try and interpose but alas the bigger fighter was able to claw over all that. Nicking the hands and forearms that dared trying block as well as tearing some good scratches into her collar and shoulders. Threatening her neck with dangerous lacerations. There was a certain fear in the girl's eyes as she looked up into those beady bird eyes. There was a certain change that occurred rather quickly as one of the claws scratched at her vitals. With a claw raking cross the lower neck, she recoiled with a short cry. Quickly silenced with her eyes clamping shut.

When those eyes open back up, they aren't her own. Dangerous glowing red eyes replace emerald greens. A very quick left hand would shoot away from her handle and try catching the bird suddenly by its oversized neck. Trying to hold it still and away from the small girl's body. All the while this body shifted even further with that white silver hair bleeding into an inky jet black. Teeth, shown now in a toothy grin, growing a little sharper. And that hand, one of two, growing out into razor-sharp points. Covered in a dark skin that is both tougher and bleeds iut into the Earthling's body up to the elbow.


"What a pathetic display."
This voice, still sounding distinctly like the girl's, now has a harsher and lower tone to it. Coming from some being that seemed to hold more authority. Spoken aloud, the subject of the sentence didn't make it sound like she was talking to Metabo, but herself. Or, rather, Griselda. She wouldn't spend much time trying to choke the bird and would rather toss it back into the air. Away from her. Bringing that now freed claw back up to her neck.

"I cannot do everything for you, weakling. You will need to learn for yourself. Lucky for you, I enjoy a good fight. So I can make an exception..."
As she spoke, a lot of those claw marks and bleeding scratches started sewing themselves back on up. New flesh replacing where the attacks had rended them open. Event hat large stab into her shoulder seems to have stopped bleeding with this new being's introduction. With that out of the way, the demon grips its blade firmly and holds it more in a striking pose near its face.

"Let's play then, birdie!"
In a sudden 180, this being leaps forwards. Handling the sword much more akin to a proper swordsman. This warrior now flies into the air and lets the katana glow with its purple energy, swiping several times harshly in an X pattern. One direction, then another. Trying to settle a pattern into the bird's mind before throwing a final jab with the katana's point. Leaving behind a lingering X pattern of energy even after he'd finish attacking.

Ferocious and aggressive, this girl had a nice, wild smile plastered on her face.

---

Griselda relinquishes control of her body to Usumidori. Using all 6 of her MP to heal 60% using Second Wind!

Usumi takes the Razor Talons (3,000 | 12%)! She does not bleed!

Usumi retaliates, using her free 2MP Technique Boost with her Demonic Might to launch a Heavy Blow (2KP 40%50% | 12,500) @ Metabo!

PL: 25,000 (Usumi x5, Antisense is temporarily disabled upon transforming before turning back on.)
KP: 4/6 (-2)
MP: 0/6 (-6)
DAM: 32/250% (-48)

WC: 738
TWC: 3534

Uncharacteristically was a good word to use for the way this woman suddenly acted. As if it were some other entity entirely, controlling the body of a certain Griselda the bird faced just moments ago. And with her getting a solid hit with blood drawn, the gremlin cackles some and brings the sword back casually to her side. Staring up at the bird as it hovered some over her. Still mistaking her for that mortal she held hostage over.

"Ohh! You mistake me for my vessel still, abomination? Let me clear that up then."
The young demon prince flicks their katana with a single move of their wrist, letting the blood that hangs on it fall to the rooftop.

"I'm the true resident of this body. The mortal human you were fighting before was but a mere host. A pathetic little girl who desperately strives for power. Echoing much my own ambition."
It was how she was able to even offer the poor lass a deal. Locking them eternally by the blade the prince was originally held in. Her free hand points a thumb up into her collarbone to gesture to herself.

"My name is Usumidori, the Flame of War! Rightful Prince of Demons! Feel free to pay your royalties to me in the blood of battle, Metabo!"
What an auspicious title. It seemed to fit the hand and even did more to bolster the idea this was a very separate entity from Griselda. Usumi was not one to indulge long in pleasantries like introduction though and kicks right back into the action. Hopping up to meet the bird in the air and deliver the all too familiar energy enhanced horizontal slash of her blade. Trying to clip her wings while Metabo recovered!

---

Usumi launches a Deft Blow (1KP 20% | 5,000) @ Metabo!

PL: 25,000 (Usumi x5)
KP: 3/6 (-1)
MP: 2/6 (+2)
DAM: 32/250%

WC: 323
TWC: 3857

Metabo, trying to teach an old demon new tricks? Unfortunately for the bird, Usumidori knew exactly what it was doing. With the sword batted away and another flurry of talons sent at her face the new and improved half pint had a great approach. Taking it with minimal success. A few cuts here and there well up on her cheek and chin, allowing some trickle of blood to flow free. Usumi didn't even flinch at the flailing scratches though, instead going straight for the source.

"Bold!"
She roared, attempting to grab hold to a batting wing that made itself oh so available to her free left hand. Trying to firmly squeeze it in his hands and hold the bird still while the blade is lifted over the demon's head. If they were going to heavy, the war lord could oblige! Dropping this heavy empowered cleave right into the bird's feathery body. A solid hit, if he was even still holding onto Metabo, would result in him then successively tossing the thing harshly to the ground.

"Looks like it's your lucky day then, you're getting intimate with one!"

---

Usumi takes the Razor Talons (7,500 | 30%), inflicted with Bleed!

Usumi stays aggressive with Heavy Blow (2KP 40% | 10,000) @ Metabo!

PL: 25,000 (Usumi x5)
KP: 1/6 (-2)
MP: 4/6 (+2)
DAM: 62/250% (+30)
CDN: Bleeding(2)

WC: 233
TWC: 4090

The demon, after having heaved that blade into the raven's back, reels back their grip and blade. Allowing the bird free reign to back up away into the skies. To hover and recover as they licked their wounds. Very good... The demon takes some of that blood off his blade with two fingers and gives it a look over. feeling it with her thumb. Eyes quizzical over the nature of this mixed blood. This abomination of feathers and genes. It was almost endearing, how a creature like this strove for its 'perfection'. Usumi addresses the bird once more with arms held apart.

"What an interesting creature! This is much more fun than the average spat with a mortal!"
And then the ki blasts were getting spat out. The demon was quick to reflexively pull up the sword and deflect some of these basic attacks with the ends of his blade. Swiping away a couple of them. Sputtering rather harmlessly against the rooftop as their power had dispersed with the hits. Seems his steady hand and eye coordination and great skill with the blade made him a lot better at dealing with projectiles than common swordsmen. And when the time came to he'd eventually jump back up at the bird. Aiming a quick flurry of strikes at it mid-jump.

---

Usumi slash! Also taking 10% damage from bleed!

PL: 25,000 (Usumi x5)
KP: 3/6 (+2)
MP: 5/6 (+1)
DAM: 72/250% (+10)
CDN: Bleeding(1)

WC: 250
TWC: 4340

The mid-air combat was quick and vicious. Coming down with swings, the bird seemed to hope to compete with wing flaps and deflects. Sure, the Raven would be pretty successful if she's careful. Even sneaking in a few cheeky pecks where she thinks she could get away with it! How precious. A few would get through, only scraping now against the human skin of the demon child. Some outright bounced off the darker demonic skin around her forearms. Hovering some in the air after the quick assault, Usumi gives the bird another look. Sword kept on guard between them.

"Not many swordsmen even compare. Expect to learn a lot from this experience!"
The demon's left-hand lifts off the blade and stretches outward. At Metabo, initially Nad it might look like she's initially ready to fire something. But instead, a space between the two splits open again. Much like how Griselda ripped the blade from open space before. They'd reach forwards in a gripping motion to pull out a scabbard. A cured pigment of black covering its wooden frame with the same etched golden scrawlings on its sides. Without skipping a beat the demon reverse-grips the hardwood scabbard at the neck and wields both halves of the cursed blade like a twin set of swords.

"HYAAH!"
It was time to dance! This time, as Usumidori approached the flyer in the air, her motions became less predictable. Metabo would have to account for the actions of both hands coming at her from different angles. One a sharp soul blade, and another the tomb that encased it. Either would cudgel or slice even the strongest of foes if left uninterrupted. A few cross slashes and a twirl to catch both weapons in a double chop motion. it was unlike most orthodox fighting styles.

---

Usumi takes another 10% from bleed, as it fades!

PL: 25,000 (Usumi x5)
KP: 5/6 (+2)
MP: 6/6 (+1)
DAM: 82/250% (+10)
CDN: Bleeding(0)

WC: 333
TWC: 4673

Well, the bird definitely made the right choice to strike when Usumi got too aggressive for his own good. Most creatures couldn't handle trying to both attack and defend such a beast, but on equal footings, it was a lot easier a time to formulate something. Keeping him guessing with the glowing feathers was a good way to distract the demon with unorthodox strategies. For as skilled as he was, fighting a bird still was like fighting a bird. And the sudden switch up around the beak was harrowing.

Both blade and scabbard are bypassed to hit the girl hard in the chest. Forcing her to lurch forward before getting launched back into the top of the roof the fought on. Shaking the entire entire building as her body is slammed into it. She'd be shuntd into the top floor. Pretty much collapsing what was there in terms of structure. Luckily, most highrise buildings like that only really had maintenance up to this point. Lots of pipes and a stairway alongside the end of an elevator that was still down on a lower level. Whoever was down there though DEFINITELY knew of the two's fight now though.

The smaller Usumidori would find himself nearly buried under debris from the initial crashing through. A single hand with her scabbard burst through some broken concrete and rebar. Then her other still gripping the sword. Slowly prying herself free with the crackle of upturned building. The bird had the right idea, and now it'd give Usumidori all the reason to follow her example. Not minding the big gap in her dress where beak hit and tore into her center chest, the rest of her body fill with scrapes, a bright gow would emenate from Usumidori's blade as she stood and shook off any rock atop is form.

"You're right! It is time, birdie!"
Still shimmering, the swordswoman turns the blade in her hand and in a single flick sheathes it back into that conjured scabbard. Causing both to now burst with that energy. The glow of which almost looks like it dims their arena as Metabo looks at it. Time stops for a moment it feels, as one second there's a charge built up in the combined sheath, and the next Usumidori is hopping up from a crouched stance at the bird.

Thumbing free the sword from the hilt, usumidori draws the blade in a clean cut. The black of the blade encompassed by a large purple ki slash that bursts as it is sent crashing down and through the motions. One slice, one execution. It was sure to light up the skylines with its majesty.

---

Usumi takes the brunt of Charge Beak-First (20,000 | 80%)!

Usumi uses a 6MP Ki Cost Reduction and her free 2MP Technique Boost from Demonic Might to launch Judgement Cut (4KP2KP 70%80% | 20,000) @ Metabo!

PL: 25,000 (Usumi x5)
KP: 3/6 (-2)
MP: 0/6 (-6)
DAM: 162/250% (+80)
CDN: Ouchie

WC: 502
TWC: 5175