Ronan: Last Resort - Light Dilation [INV]

[13:30] Thus, the trek began...
Nothing else mattered but his theories... His planning...
That every opportunity was taken when it was most optimal -- Which led him here.
A river was traced, by a levitating individual.

Their body seemed rather revealed, by an open cape that curled around their shoulders. Their right side, however was clearly scarred, burned from what seemed to be a fight some time prior. It was in their search, that they slowed... Drastically.
It was, the presence of another growing nigh... He could feel it.

Though, it did not flee nor scout out the scene from a stealthy approach. Rather, they idled, taking pause to scan the area in a slow and fluid fashion. From a distance, the brief gleam of crimson where eyes would be could garner the attention of the curious.

It seemed as though... They were hunting.
For what? One could only presume.
(Ronan)
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[13:38] In one of his many journeys across Agartha, there'd been little to cross the man's mind other than that which laid before his crimson hues. It was nothing but the same plains, with the same occasional patch of flora that served to guide his steps along the river. Quiet, and calm breaths left his lips, though the aura which seeps from his being spoke of nothing good to the individual he neared without caution.

When he does approach Ronan, standing just a few feet away, Ahmir crosses his arms and recollects the features of that which there was worth stopping for.

"Ya' ain't no demon. Is there a particular reason ya' lookin' about so hard?"

The Valerius tilts his chin up just a bit, wondering just what this individual would say.
(Ahmir Valerius)
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[13:47] Ronan took to a passerby -- They discovered him, before he could find them. The shadow cast over his face, but through the whimsical arts crimson enigmas gleamed back at Ahmir.

"Another one?" He muttered to himself, taking not of those natural crimson eyes and horns. He had seen it before, and it certainly deterred him a bit -- But unlike before, he didn't stop this one first. This, was different.

To Ahmir's question, came a pause... A held pause...
One that sought to stretch for an uncomfortably long time, as though waiting to cut off the traveler should he open his mouth to speak once more.

" I need a subject to test a theory of mine. "

He stated curtly, focus fixed on the man. He didn't know what they were capable of, but by that same aspect, neither did this man.
If all went well, he could carry on afterwards with self-assurance in tow.

" Though, now that I have one? I can conduct my active study. "
Ronan hovered closer, " Though, I can't arouse too much antagonism. I'll be certain to attempt the 're-education' practice on you, to curb-stomp that. "
Odd, yet it felt necessary...
The malignant radiance from this encroaching individual was still, undeniable.

" You will return to your life unabated... Preferably unscathed. But for now, I am here."
(Ronan)
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[13:53] The Valerius uncrossed his arms, the fingers upon his right hand rubbing together midst an empty gesture as he collected his thoughts. Notably, he'd not been peering deep into the meaning of Ronan's words, nor had he truly a means to react beyond what was typical of his nature.

"Excuse me? Hmn. Ain't much ya' could be hopin' for with testin' me, or my patience. I can only presume ya' unaware of whom it is ya' talkin' to, an' that there will be little opposition between ya'self an' I."

Ahmir lowers his hand, and proceeds to tilt his head from one shoulder, to the next.

"I will presume this has nothin ta' do with me, an' that all those words equated to ya' wantin' no trouble."
(Ahmir Valerius)
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[14:01] Odd.
The person didn't seemed phased by scare tactics.
It was akin to a predator hunting on grounds, only to stumble upon an apex counterpart.
Certainly, this was not the idea scenario... There was plenty of risk involved in the endeavor -- Though, he couldn't flee this time.

He had to follow through. Success could mean the difference between life and death in future instances.
There was an illusionary veil cast, to harden the very image of Ronan holding his posture towards Ahmir -- But in reality, the magi was scoping out his surroundings.

The nearby low-cliff, and jungle on the other side of the river.
Gehenna and Briar were likely nearby, perhaps he could slip into the crowds should things go south.
Then, there was the more obvious solution: The river itself. He could dive down and under, and swim to safety...

Plenty of options, assuming no one passed through the general area. He turned back to Ahmir, dispelling the veil to keep the illusion of continuity -- as though he had never broken from his hardened glare at all.

"You're right." He answered, "I don't want any trouble... No resistance, simple evidence of results. Preferably, successful results." A hand was risen out for Ahmir, and the looming figure closed in...
Slowly, but absolutely intent on eventually resting his fingers upon the man's face.

For what purpose? Well, he'd find out if they allowed it.
(Ronan)
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[14:11] Ahmir, for the most part looked unamused. There were probably things that'd he'd have tolerated, though allowing a stranger to enter within the range of his personal space was perhaps the least likely of all.

The realm itself groaned as his will imposed itself upon the lifestream, depravity oozing from none other than the Valerius. Such unkempt energy could only prove to be from a source of corruption, sin sapping away at the man's energy long before that hand could reach his face.

"I'd hope with this, ya' done talkin'. Touch me, an' I will make ya' pay a generous amount for disturbin' me."

Had Ronan not lowered his hand, or deterred his approach, then the crystal javelin which manifested within his grip would have served to keep the illusionist just out of arm's reach.

"There are beasts upon Agartha which ya' would prefer to leave be. Do not be th' one ta' test my patience."
(Ahmir Valerius)
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[14:21] There were many things Ronan had come to face thus far, and for whatever reason -- The lands of Agartha never ceased to surprise him.
First, a blood thirsty bandit, undead dragon, infernus and finally this? At this point, perhaps life was trying to punish him for his existence -- No, he was asking for this, this time.

Ronan felt the raw essence, the disturbance -- And the discomfort stirred him greatly. Certainly, this was to precede a retaliation? The hunch kept him ready for his own evasive maneuvers.
The threat? He heard it, and he accepted the potential consequences. He scoped out the area and made his mental notes, the sunset across the horizon only bettered the terrain for him.

He, was in his element...
What the shadows didn't conceal upon his face, was his lips -- That curled into a cocky grin. The crystal javelin earned pause, but without an immediate jab or assault? It was only... A pause.

" Forgive me. This is necessary for the good, of all Agartha. " A tough claim, borne through his damning endeavor.
Then, came the whispers of the coming night... The shadows curled and bent to his volition... --and from them, manifested the presence of the illusionist's conjurations.

It didn't matter if they didn't physically exist, so long as their impact could be perceived? The experience, was real enough.
That was when the silhouette of ebony ichor took shape behind Ahmir, reaching out for their head from behind.

It was only an illusion, was it not?
… Or...
Was the image of Ronan, the illusion -- A distraction, for an opportunity to enact his spell on the unsuspecting!
Regardless, it was unlikely that conflict wasn't inevitable.
(Ronan)
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[14:31] "Spirits, ya' lot are never aware of that which ya' tempt."

For a soul that desires to be left to his own devices, the Gehennan lifts a digit and curls it about one of the ebony horns which juts out from his raven locks. Illusion or not, should the sensation trigger a nerve, the sanguine tendril that was once curled about his waist lashes out to dispel its existence within a matter of seconds.

"There are things far greater than ya' that I've faced on a whim. Things which claimed ta' be for the good, an' end of Agartha. I... could care less."

The river, which once ran slow quickens, ever reacting to the Valerius's call as its water is drawn.

"None of it sates me. But at the least, I will make ya' kneel so that I can go on about my night." Perhaps the mage desired conflict, or there'd been an actual ulterior motive. It mattered little though, and that purpose would perhaps leave Ronan in the moment Ahmir attempts to strike the source of his current problems with a whip of pressurized water.
(Ahmir Valerius)
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[14:47] This... Was unlike anything he had ever faced before.
He felt his very energy ooze away during the fight.
Water dragged on from the river, as though it was no longer his utility -- He couldn't use it to hide against something like this: A aquamancer would snuff him out in a heartbeat.

Distance, that was the name of the game.
… And yes, even so... He was forced to drop to a knee.
Heavy panting, exhaustion... And...
Fear...

Yes, it never left him alone.
He was weaker than he had ever been in his entire life... and if anything, he would be punished brutally by this soul if he didn't make a more direct approach.

"... I've failed, far too many times in my ventures." He mustered at his hands and knees, flexing in frustration.
"I've allowed myself to be weak... For too long. "

The air tremored in his wake, as though attempting desperately to contest against Ahmir's raw prowess.
As though heat refracting air throughout the atmosphere, the metaphysical arcanes at-play dared to do the same.

"But... No more..." To Ronan's knees, he pushed upward.
Determined, pressing his chest out in a surge of gravitational influence.
It summoned a halo of dust abroad, to accommodate the raw spiraling stream of mana drilling for the heavens and soil alike.
Its birth wrought forth the unearthly howl of the gravity and illusionary tempering.

"I. WON'T. FALTER. ANY-- MORE" The shout stretched through the shriek of rock violently being crushed and aged into dust, swirling up in the cascading aura. Lavender fulmination danced his figure, now vanquished of his aegis...
An open hand extended to his side, manifesting an alabaster blob betwixt crushing digits. It morphed to his volition, elongating out to forge a staff?
No, he had it the entire time, likely hidden through the illusionary arcane.

Regardless, the encompassing realm responded to this new exhibition with a deep murmuring bass, glitching at his image through the forced imposing of Time and Space in constant contest.

It seemed, Ronan was prone to trying much harder this time.
(Ronan)
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[14:51] "Hmn? Ah, right."

The Valerius didn't seem to be too keen on losing, such was proven at how he'd simply allowed for his instincts to lead his body more than speculation, or unnecessary thought. The Symbiote sought out its mark, and his magic only appeared to follow in tandem.

Yet, unlike the initial encounter, one could see how the waves began to ebb and flow at his feet, soaking the lands and even tracing over what few, superficial wounds there'd been.

The Gehennan was far more durable than he initially let off, and the holy imbued waters would better demonstrate that as he readied his stance.

"Let us see, what can one relieve ya' of this time.."
(Ahmir Valerius)
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[14:51] Ronan says, "< What... Is this? >"
[14:59] To the Valerius, this was not but a waste of his energy. A means to delay the inevitable whenever something trivial reared its head and managed to piss him off.

Ronan's magic was certainly potent enough to cause some trivial injury, though never to the extent in which Ahmir couldn't simply sit back, and shrug it off until the odds were entirely in his favor. Yet impatience leads him into the fray, water, sound, and holy energies bombarding his opponent until he'd been far too weak to avoid the more vicious talents at his disposal.

Large shards of crystal imbued with the Gehennan's potent magic bombarded Ronan, each loud 'thunk' of course accompanied by the brittle element lodging itself into his armor with relative ease. The flesh below was of course spared, but the sheer force with which they'd been fired would certainly be enough to both knock Ronan off his feet, and leave him winded.

"As I said, perhaps ya' were unaware of whom ya' decided ta' pester. Though... Next time I won't be so friendly as ta' only leave ya' winded out here in th' dirt."
(Ahmir Valerius)
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[14:59] * You have been awarded 2 Roleplay Points! *
[15:13] The crystalline assault upon the little clothing he did bare did scathe him frighteningly so, even agitating his previous burn wounds.

Defeated...
Again?

Certainly, Ronan's wits were coming to an end.
Ahmir said his piece, but Ronan wouldn't hear it.
He failed to conduct his own experiment on the magi... He couldn't re-educate this soul...
He could erase himself from this scene... But at the very least, he still dawned his hood.

That was one thing...
Then, came the other-- The realization that he still had one more trump card up his sleeve.

… If it worked, that is...

From the depths of his spirit, soul and vigorous reserves, Ronan pried for every last inkling of mana left. Enough save, for what would be needed to hobble out of this worrisome predicament.

Though, his target? It was... Not Ahmir?
No, he turned his attention to the sky, where the moonand stars illuminated the scene save for light emanated from magic based sources like the Valerius.
An open palm warped at empty space, compounding it in on itself, fueling the process with a dump of his own essence.
Thus, kicking off a domino effect that'd begun suckling at the surroundings.

It was weak at first, allowing Ahmir to come towards the end of his piece... But by time he finished talking, the vacuum was easily notable. If he were to look up, he'd find a spherical void -- Absent of light, with a lavender gleam along its event horizon. It tore chunks out of the earth underfoot assuming it wasn't being held down.
Nearby trees... Foliage...
Upturned grass and dirt.
Though, it was being pushed to an extreme, bending even the light around it.

Was this... Through gravity alone? No... This was illusionism at-play too! But... Why?
The light from the moon, from the stars had begun to subside, as though being eaten away to forge a chasm of darkness across the former battleground.
A winded Ronan sought not further battle: For he knew, this battle was lost. He needed time to recuperate, and thus what little energy he had-- Was devoted to flight, away from the scene, whilst his Improvised Black Hole Technique transmogrified what it didn't suck away into a chasm of darkness-- Only for the next few seconds, to abruptly explode in an enthusiastic burst of rock and dust.

Light unraveled its twisted bend, to return all to normal - An odd application of the two arcanes - though, likely an exhibit of what was once to come.

Ronan, had taken the opportunity to flee.

"I will at least use this chance, to test my other theory. Perhaps, not all has failed yet."
(Ronan)
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[15:26] Perhaps such a show was ill-advised, for even the myriad of magics at play did little to fascinate the Valerius. Every show of strength was but another distraction, adding to the time which he had desired little to spare.

The trees and earth which separate from its bindings contrasts greatly in comparison to the sin of greed that stands his ground, arms crossed until the moment until the Ronan's mana no longer fueled the illusion.

There were probably greater things in life that'd have made him budge, yet... This was not the flames of the Shimasu, nor the promise of divinity alike the grand spire he laid eyes upon. It was simple trickery, the same trickery that'd have allowed for Ronan to scramble off further into the open plains.

In a sense, the illusionist's trick worked, though in hindsight he may have noticed that the Valerius had little intention of giving chase considering how he turned to head west once more.

On the other hand, he supposed this did well to knock off the collective rust he gathered since his last 'break'.
(Ahmir Valerius)
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