Nature Magus Rising: Toxic Vaporization

The Vernon teenager took voyage throughout the forestry of Bygonegrove, infamous for the Yokai kindred that populated the lush greenery; Though, he was not here on a wild Yokai hunt, for fair game, but an opportunity to forage for more materials to work with. The quantity of guards brought with him were strictly limited to a couple, managing only a meager four to his aid, leaving them spread to cover wide ground in the perilous terrain.

The only sounds from the search party that disturbed the enviornment was the crunch of leaves underfoot-- A cold front was coming in, and left few trees to surrender their verdant blades, transcending their likes into a variety of warm chocolate to aubrun hues, even pale shades of yellow and gold--

Hector kept his eyes glued to the trees, trickling one's gaze to their roots; The reagent being hunted for the moment? Anything that could be used to craft a Love Potion, or an enhancement for the bloodstream.
Though, what truly drew his curiousity to this specific zone, was the sound of conflict reported by local Bysonites and travelers that passed through the region.

Sounds of battle, and sightings of explosions-- Pyromancy left some disturbed, though none were truly conscious as to whom was taking up such a match, likely presumed to be a sparring round amongst magus, Hector was placing a bet-- Perhaps it was a legitimate battle. If so, the blood spilled could have alloted the conditions needed for Sinka to grow.

Though, such a drug was known for causing berserking qualities within the consumer, it held an array of potential, when implemented into a concotion of other contradicting and enhancing reagents.

"If you find anything, harvest it, and report it back to me." He ordered to fellow men, "Identify it, prior to putting it aside, for the vaults."
(Hector Vernon)

Movement. The swaying of a breeze. The sounds of yokai fighting or trying to eat below. A small grin appearned on the young Malpercius's face as he jumped from branch to branch, experincing all of these things while he trained. It was exicting and fun, but the boy didn't jump down yet.

Spike's reason for entering the Bygonegrove was simple. The child wanted to get stronger and to complete this goal he intended to train everyday. There would be no stopping, not while he still felt even the slightest bit of his energy left. He needed to be strong so that he could do whatever he wanted or whatever he desired.

And then Spike descended. The Malpercius boy had no need to hurting his yokai breathern, so he would avoid doing so, spinning a scythe that was connected to his arm via a string to slash into the bark of a tree. The boy winced, seeing the metal colide, and then bounce off of the bark, before he let out a disapointed sigh. Spike would need to get much better at weilding this weapon before he could pull off any moves like that it seemed.

The weapon however, might have been weird to see. For the blade itself almost felt like it was soaked in depravity, but the young Malpercius didn't mind. Depravity was great, and helpful most of the time after all. The boy walked over, picking up his soon to be weapon of choice as he heard footsteps nearby.

The nine year old glanced around him, looking for a yokai who might have stumbled in towards him and meant to attack him, but that didn't seem to be it. The footsteps were too far away, so Spike would stow his blade onto his back before calling out, figuring that if it was a yokai he could handle it.

"Anyone out there?"
(Spike Malpercius)

A voice brought rise to Hector's head, turning in the direction of the disturbance with callious intent backing one's drive-- Hector turned towards a nearby guard, whom happened to take their search within clear view of his boss. The glare from Hector was followed up by a nod from one's employee, and finally a shift back to the sound's origin.

There were so many things to be harvest, so many things to be taken care of, to keep track of.. It was mind-boggling. Reagents, Employees, Scribes, Tomes; Yet, it was all an obstruction to his own, personal development. This foraging session had much potential, but now? The teenager's mind was under the strain of a blitz of ideas. Perhaps, the personage behind the shroud of foliage could come to his aid, somehow?

No, why would he need to hire someone this far away from civilization? Why would he need to take up more to this search party? If he did, what would obligate a total stranger to aid him in his search? What value did they have to him...
Finally, Spike's form came to sparse view, likely to encroach beyond the shroud of greenery, to rest gaze upon Hector and his regrouping entourage-- They lacked sufficent weaponry to deal with anything superior to Mega Class Yokai, and thus, stuck to their use in numbers. Not a word left their likes, remaining silent, awaiting Spike to approach further...
(Hector Vernon)

 Spike's arms were covered by his cloak as he approached, hiding his mutated limb, but not as much as his bandages did most of the time. The child didn't know too much about what was up ahead, only that there were sounds, and were there was sounds.. There were points of interest. The whispers taught him such.

The child listened to the sounds, expecting there to be more, what with yokai scurring towards sounds the majority of the time.. But instead things seemed to get.. More quiet. Which could mean only one thing. Inteligent life instead of yokai that just ran towards whatever could be their next meal. Inteligent life which made the future harder to predict.

And then he saw their forms. People who walked around bygonegrove, and as such some people he could speak with. A twisted grin appeared on the Malpercius's face, lavender eyes pearing up at the humans who looked to be all grouped up like a pack of penguins. How interesting. The boy would stop walking five meters away, casting his gaze to each of them, looking a lot like a chesire cat.

".. And whats this out here?"
(Spike Malpercius)

Whilst one may've granted the lot a simple gander, Hector scrutinzied every peculiar detail upon the personage whom idled within his perception. Every raw motion, twitch, attribute and feature was taken into great consideration prior to further speech-- Though, he did not reply to Spike immediate, or at all, rather.
A sifting gaze inspected Spike not as a fellow person any longer, but as an object: Material, under debate to be casted aside, or mised into prime focus.

A tone-descending hum was casted from his gullet, obviously pondering on the subject-- Left arm risen to cuff at his chin.
It was decided internally that he was of no use to him, foraging wise, now that he was able to gaze upon the interloper, in question; It was highly unlikely that he could find use for a mere child amongst the ranks of fellow Tuboxen, lest they proven themselves to be extraordinary in capability in some way, shape or form.

Though, even as he doubted the child's potential for proving a stature of intellectual superiority to his adult counterparts, as well as any other skills apt for his company goals and progression, there was -one- thing, he could think of for the moment... Though, it'd provide some risk, how would it carry out, should he be issued -some- sort of success in the endeavor.

The glacier hues, once leaving their frigid gaze upon the Malpercius, were blanketed by one's eyelids-- A sound expression laden upon his visage.
"Apparently, valuable material I have need of... The most dangerous game." He replied finally;
Eyes opened half-lidded, narrowing focus unto the child,
"I want the child," He told to that of his fellow men, "I want him for the advancements of my studies." He knew not of one's Malpercian features nor capabilities, and just as much, did not harbor care for the matter, it had no initial value to him aside from initiation to another bombardment of ideas... But that, could wait.

The men issued their orders, unveiled longswords and daggers to their offense, taking their pace for Spike without much reasoning to be driven to further measures. To all of their eyes, he was but a boy adorn in a diabolical mantaeu: Material known to be issued to higher class magus in some regions, but to Hector, he was just another wannabe until proven.
(Hector Vernon)

Spike looked at the adults as they stared at him. The one in a blue cloak seemed most interested, looking like he was inspecting every inch of Spike's frame. The nine year old's eyes narrowed, not exactly getting what was going on but also raising his left index finger to rub at his temple like he ussually did. The uncomfortable silence hung in the air for a few seconds, and Spike waited for whatever was going to happen to happen.

And then the guy stuck his foot in his mouth, saying that he wanted the child. It sounded like Spike was being looked at as a lesser, and so the boy's eyes narrowed, crunching his fist together. He hated being looked at as someone who was less then powerful, less then worthy of anything. It would not do.

The grin widdened on Spike's face, staring at the weapons that were taken out to fight him. This looked like it would be a challenge, and Spike really wasn't one to back down from a battle. A dark power began to surround the nine year old as his mutated limb became visable. It was black and twisted, but then the black spread, revealing a variety of eyes that looked straight at the foes.

"Sorry, I don't think I like you. No one looks down on me. I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson."
(Spike Malpercius)

The flair of the stygian presence within said child left the guards to halt in their tracks, one of them even stumbling for a nearby tree. They trembled in the wake of an entity they were not originally in-tuned to dealing with. Yokai were one thing, but a Malpercius was something else entirely--
They were likely far more superior to even a Giga Class Yokai, far more than what the guards were fit to deal with.

The occultic emergence piqued one's interest, rewarding Spike with more attention than a passing glance. Perhaps the child was more capable afterall, having earned the Tuboxen CEO's attention.

"Hm?" He hummed nigh casually, doubletaking Spike, "W- Well, that this?" He queried, evidently surprised, "Wasn't expecting an occultist out of someone so youthful." He stepped forth, bringing rise to his left arm, and shrugging aside underlings with the swatting gesture; As an aristocrat, he never once practiced humility, perceiving himself as an alpha-male amongst the general populace, worthy of only those of upperclassmen stature.

"Hm, I suppose it is of no true worry, regardless..." He disregarded, "I'll just have to get my hands dirty for once, to ensure this little encounter doesn't get out of hand." He brought rise to his left hand, stretching out the fingers in a wan fashion before his side-stanced form, providing a gander upon an awkward fighting state. Beads of water manifested betwixt his fingertips, siphoned from the atmosphere to provide him leverage provided with his element.

(Hector Vernon)


A brief hiatus ensued, and Hector idled with eyes locked upon his victim...
Devoid of an emotion to engorge himself with, he stood ready, sifting for the first clue of movement. He didn't budge, nor take up any particular approach that was anything but absolute improvisation; He lacked military and prodigy stature, and thus didn't unleash anything that could've been reverred as combat-saavy.

However, one's methods were estranged from the common magus' means, for the mind of an innovator was at-work, even midst conflict to achieve his goals in the end. The forestry was consumed in a blaze, consumed in a roaring inferno casted from Spike's personage, tearing away at the verdant hues that once surrounded them, and hugging tightly on canopy lines-- Hector was of no exception, having suffered several scathes upon the flesh that singed down to the crevice linings of one's aquamarine armor.

Though, even as the Occultic pyromancer unleashed their incendiary artistry amongst the land and attacking magus, forcing Tuboxen guards to flee for a safe distance, the resilliant aquamancer took refuge within the shroud of extinguished pyre, birthing a mastodon of ebony cloud to soar for the heavens above-- It could've alerted more attention from the distance, should the lot procastinate the conclusion any longer!

"The element of fire..." He monologued from beyond common perception, "A destructive element that correlates to passion, anger, drive... One of natural man emotion, a symbollic magic, he educated, "Though, when such spirals out of control, one can find themselves incinerating those they passionately love, adore to the ground. They may find their anger burning themselves and their foundation, and even driven goals, reduced, withered away to ashes... In the end, your element symbolizes what your will shall earn you... Nothing, but ashes."

The abyss betwixt the magi's perception was broken when the Vernon magus pierced the shrouding cloud of smoke, left arm stretched out to his right side, soaked in a layer of gelatinous mana-infused water. Mid-lunge, he lashed his arm out, away from his form, to elongate the conjuration, fabricating an appendage of the element: A lashing whip that sliced with blade-like precision, tearing away at the mantaeu one wore, and flesh to emit a thin sanguinous mist, albeit armor that may've hugged one's figure was not outright omitted, suffering majority of the damage that could've been sustained.

A long lashing stretched from Spike's left hip, to right shoulder-- Water pressure behind it, launched him several feet backwards, and the manifestation dispelled once the full extent of its proximity was reached, only after the mark had been made. This, soaked the grasslands at one's feet, earning them an opening for yet another attempted strike, one he'd assume to conclude the scuffle.

Hector lowered himself to his knees, splashing his left hand into the soaked earth, fingers dung into the muddied soil, mana pulsating into the earth, and focus aligned with the elements he harbored.
"Breath, accept the toxin... Sleep..."
The grasses by Spike's feet grew soaked of the water, gurgling to spawn a noxious fume that permeated the scene, forging a translucent evergreen fog to choke at the unsuspecting, leaving them forced to contract symptoms of the material gathered prior: Nightshade.

"This is potent, but not enough to truly cripple a magus outright... Though, it will kill off the common man, in a blink of an eye.." He commented, rising up to his feet, breath held, and silent once more. Lips crunched into a kiss, blowing to compose a spheriod of the aqua element, siphoning at the air above before it could be tainted by his own spawning of Nightshade gas; This, was his current defense mechanism against his own poison... But the time, was evidently limited.

No intent was shown to speak further or exhaust more energy than need be, to ensure not a whisp of the vapors were inhaled.
(Hector Vernon)

Pain. Pain echoed throughout the Malpercius's body as his foe tore at him, beating the child with his nature magic, his water and even blood. Spike growled and grunted in pain, barely listening to the foe as he spoke of fire, something about ambitions. He was far too distracted by the whispers. The words tore through his mind.

'you won't win like this. you are weak. you will die.' The words said on an endless repeat. Anger and hate flowed now, trailing throughout the boy's form as he stared at Hector. He used vines and nature.. Fine, Spike would tear through whatever this white haired man through at him. Spike would burn down this whole forest if he had to.

The flames and voices heated up around him, bringing forwards the boy's resolve. He would not suffer loss here... He would beat this man who looked down on him. He was even able to shrug off the nightshade, thought it might only be for a time...

The dark energy surged throughout Spike as he stared forwards. There was no more time for holding back. The nine year old let the voices in his head take comand as he stood back up, staring at his foe with dangerous eyes. The whispers and Spike.. would move together as one.
(Spike Malpercius)

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The voice shook the trees, and Spike set the ground alight with flames. The boy was doing exactly as this blue cloaked man had told him, burning everything around him.. Too bad he wasn't surrounded by close ones at the time. The boy was swallowed boy the voices and rage, becoming more animalistic in the fight and even heading into his own blazes, his only thoughts being to take down his opposition.

The man did good, launching all the things that he did at Spike, but this time the Malpercius knew what was up. Instead of taking the spores that flew at him, he would dodge, stepping out of the way. Whenever whips came at him he would duck or side step before using a flamethrower on his foe. And the boy this time didn't let the white haired man get away, moving closer instead allowing the adversary to take advantage of not being in his range.

Spike seemed to be pretty adaptable given the circumstances. The occultic aura flared around him, giving the boy stregnth as with a final power boost the boy would fire a giant wave of flames that envolped his foe. Spike waited one second.. Then two.

The aura got thicker. The whispers had taken a grand hold of his mind now, and the boy didn't know if this battle was over. He was understandingly hesitant to turn his back, and instead waited. The man would rise eventually and then.. Spike would continue his assult.

Hector did indeed take his rise yet again, snarling at his retaliating foe-- The bubble he manifested for breath midst a land shrouded in the noxious miasma, was destroyed by a roaring tsunami of triumphant flames, setting the forestry that encompassed them ablaze, charring the grasses underfoot, and with the aquamancer's aid, transforming it into a slimey ebony tar. It oozed under one's boots, yet failed to revoke the pungent stench of incinerated matter.

"I'm getting sick of this, kid."
He was shrouded in burns, forced to take up a one-kneed position, appearing subdued for the moment.
"I have no intent on wasting further time with you." He uttered cold-heartedly. From the earth, beneath the muddied charcoal, its veins protruded the blackened surface, lashing out to ensnare his resting palm, and interlock his legs.

He was officially stationary, forced to await the child's charge, should he decide to commit to it earlier than he'd hope.
It seemed as though, the constant incendiary waves cleansed the air of his conjured fumes, leaving him with reduced options.

The thorns of the manipulated earth sliced into the flesh, striking up blood that lined up to the opened wounds, sliding down the intricate vines, empowered by the magus' mana. They fueled him with vitality, enhanced his threshold of fatigue with an alien source of energy.

Akin to a cosmic magus' capability to draw energy from the stars above, Hector siphoned his from the earth below. The openings upon the flesh emitted a soft emerald glow, illuminating against the azure hues that scoured over the everchanging details. Even a bruise settled across his right cheek from an early blast of flame adopted the glow--

As the light settled, few mangled features became undone, vanquished from common perception in reparation to what was disrupted in the scuffle. It was obvious to see, especially as the vines receded back to the ravaged earth from whence they came, that their recovery process was far from perfect-- Or perfected for that matter.

"This... Ends." He warned, leaning forth some to kick off into a spint. Soaked land, transformed one's approach from charging to a manipulated surf, congealing the watery substance underfoot to his vantage-- A speed boost earned to close the distance.
(Hector Vernon)

Warm mist and fog shrouded the scene in mystery, leaving Hector to idle in its midst, awaiting for Spike to reveal his location--
"You know.." Hector taunted under the guise of the conjured fog, steam forged with the clash of their elements.
"Of all magi I've come across, you, in particular, prove to be quite the oddity." He commenced with commentary.

"I've heard but never seen one of your sort before... A... Malpercian, yes?" He queried, "No, I lied. I've seen several of your sort, but not actively in combat." He mentioned, "It is a marvel to gaze upon such an arm... Though, such is not what I've come for you, for.."

From behind the Malpercian child, phased to light the image of the skulking Hector Vernon, latching his left hand over one's mouth and nasal region, for a moment, transmuting Soothe Reed into gasious form; A potent and concentrated dose, mean't to disarm the child, though, such was proven ineffective with the backlash of flames upon his unsuspecting figure. He was sent into recoil, but far from succumbing to failure--

"It's quite interesting, truly... You'll do for a fine specimen."
He brought rise to his left arm, aiming it for Spike, fingers spread and a sphere of the aqua element coagulated before his palm, cycling to adopt a resounding hiss--
"Hopefully, this doesn't overdo the damage mised upon your physique." A splash of water lead to eruption of a misty stream, screeching through the air; Its head drilled through the atmosphere to leave a feeble haze in its wake-- Though, the pressure and motions in flux, were enough to tear away at even the most sturdy of armour, erosion was amplified to an supernatural extent...
(Hector Vernon)

(The RP session digresses and drops off prior to this post.)