dev 2 - observations

Himari led them into the dojo and immediately headed towards the center of the mat. It seemed Wano was following her in tow. Her hair was already blue from the constant mana she had already been channeling through her circuits in a flux.

Himari spread her feet while she lowered into a stats. Soon afterwards, her mana erupted around her as a succumbing coat of raw energy.

"I'm ready."
(Himari Kurokaiyo)

Across the dojo arena, the felinae began stretching as they waited for the kuro to prepare themselves. Coming to a stand, they readied themselves within a martial artist stance. Drawing from the well of mana reserved inside.

Spread across their form within the span of a heartbeat. The cat focused on drawing more strength into their hands, all in attempt to send them outward like projectiles in a familiar fashion to, Id.

"When struck... I felt; helpless... Such is the manner I should seek to inflict onto my opponents."

His thoughts kept to himself, pacing his breathes. The cat gauged the rate at which they could send forward balls of energy. Attempting to harden his will and manifest them into fist, much like his mind imagined them.

One could only see the results from the spar!

Forward he went, restless without stop.
(Wano)

Lunging into the fray, the cats arms moved with a purpose. Deprived of the much needed release the felinae had grown accustomed to out in the wild. Bringing down one open palm after enough, energy surging along the length of their arm until finally released at the fist. Blowing out gushes of azure flames akin to what shrouded them both.

Whipping out his leg, he reached out with both hands to generate a barrier to parry against the woman's beam. Dragged across the surface of the arena, the felinae reeled one arm back. Closing one eye shut, they took a snipers shot and thrusted one hand forward.

From behind the barrier, a fiery fist make work in crossing the distance in a short span of time. But alas, mostly deflated upon impact. Doing only enough to cease the beam, but not enough to cause any disruption to their circuits.

"Hrm… You've improved."

He spoke, dusting off his clothing as the barrier subsided.

"But what master of the arts would I be, to lose to someone still running around with the basics?" He laughed, leaning forward. Both hands came planted onto the ground.

Their tail however became the main attraction, like a copter, it spun around generating energy at the center. Kept safe away, the felinae engaged now in a more animalistic manner.
(Wano)

It's rather odd to be seeing such fighting style, for his own was nowhere close to such- at least in the past. By the time that he's truly grasped the Energy magic, however, he became a potent force of his own that was capable of a lot more; the training that he's been doing most certainly paid off as well, and so..

When he remembers the similar way in which Id had fought at some point, he comes to observe Wano as well, for he knows that Felinae may mimic some of it - as imperfect as his technique might be, at the same time, it's useful to gain the reflection upon such anyway.

'You must focus on what drives you.'
'Find something which you'd fight for.'

Perhaps this is the focus that drove Id, for she stated to Nerin what exactly drives her, what exactly funnels her own way of fighting- and while this is by no means teaching him how to wield that technique, per se.. it's something in which he could draw insight anyway.

Isn't that how people tend to overcome their own obstacles?

"You know, Wano--"

"We might end up doing something together in this regard later on. I think Id has more or less 'accidently' let up on what she's been doing."

At least, that's the way he saw it. But for now? He continues watching the display.
(Nerin)

Unlike the last few clashes, the felinae decided to up the antsy glares given in the midst of combat and lure the martial artist into a game of cat and mouse.

Advantageously making use of the dojo walls, the momentum gathered from every push gave weigh to stronger punches delivered by the felinae. It allowed for the spiraling surface to expand amidst the fray.

Kept a safe distance, it was only by sheer irony the cat decided to start making use of their tail in such a manner. Much like an extra limb, he could express the display of his control.

Even down to his ears. Each twitch generating subtle waves of energy to compel the spiral bombs enhancement. Working in unison, his body had become a single tool within itself over the years.

From the blade, the hands, to the factory that now be his core. The rush of adrenaline kicked in, expressed in the growing grin blushed out whenever the two would meet at the center.

Whipping out kicks and punch's, the felinae moved forward without remorse. Without care, a reckless abandonment for their well-being. And as the battle went on, both themselves and the shroud surrounding them grew fiery in spite.

"You've still a long way to go!"

He called out past the sounds of fist meeting fist. Had his blindfold not been tied so tightly, he'd have lost it by now.

Nevertheless, victory was found in the slimmest of margins. Erecting a fist from below, he'd catch the kuro with a light upper cut, but with enough force to send them off the ground.

"Got'cha!"

They cried out, slamming both palms into the center of their chest and releasing the image of a fist from their mind outward. Even if poorly done in comparison to, Id. The lack of distance allowed them to use all their force at once. Propelling them further into the air and briefly without the capacity to wield any magics.

Allowing his own energy to course through and briefly overload the kuro's mana network.

And following said motions, the cat twirled on their hind foot. Snatching the ball from behind their tail and leaping into the air to follow behind the woman. Slamming the bomb against their chest. Expanding further and further, it pushed them into the dojo ceiling. Crushing them against the pressure that lasted only for a second.

Slayed by the cats own command in though.
(Wano)

How peculiar.

To observe such movement in place was actually something odd- but he could notice the clear difference when it comes to the casting of Energy that comes about with Wano's own and Id's, something about the way that he positioned himself, and so.. remembering back on what he's seen from the green-haired woman, he decides to call out to the Felinae.

Perhaps, it could even help?

"Her hands were pointed down during fight against me, Wano. In some way, she kept it 'steady and ready' until it was the actual time to attack, and I think she kept the flow going; if only to release it to strike out against mana circuits at the very end."

"Or at least, that's how it looked like."

Of course this is not entirely accurate, and for all intents and purposes, it would be something different than what he could possibly need, but.. at the same time? Perhaps the Felinae could heed these words and adjust his own fighting style accordingly to ensure that it fits. But to digress..

For now, he remains on watching the display.

In particular, he notes the way how he overloads Himari's circuitry, and how he intends to 'shut her down' in such sense. It was the way how such fighting worked, did it not? To ensure that another cannot do as much, even if they attempt to find themselves retaliating.

Truly something to behold.
(Nerin)

Things were beginning to pick up as the fighters continued on. Even Himari was noticing the change in her opponent's fighting style. Much like their tail beginning to be used as an actual source to land attacks. They were aiming to do something to throw Himari off. It worked. To a degree.

The Kurokaiyo would only find herself chasing after Wano like he was using his actual animal instincts to run away from her while also juking from her attacks and landing his own. As a martial artist, she aimed to counter his blows the moment they came in even if she sustained damage from them. She was trained to take in that pain and embrace it much like a defeat while analyzing what caused it and what she could do to prevent it.

Himari let her breathing slow down. Any time she found it picking up pace, she'd prevent such. It was the only way that she'd stay calm and concentrated during her match despite the felinae's antics. It felt much like another felinae she has fought before. However, this one felt much more skilled and powerful. She noticed this when they released a larger sphere of raw mana towards their back. Unlike Zachary's, this was bigger in size and confined much more mana within its center. As a result, it flipped a switch in Himari.

She couldn't get hit by it again.

Himari had to focus on evasion and dodging. It was a hard goal with how her opponent was quicker but Himari was one of the more flexible Kurokaiyo's; her body bending in ways that would make it easier to evade the cat's kicks and punching when they lunged forward at them.

As the mock-battle went on, Himari deemed a moment to test out a technique. She stood still and waited for an opening in which, she'd gather the mana from the surrounding area and let it flow in the spaces between her ethereal being. As a result, she'd direct said mana to her dominant hand and form into a sphere. Unlike many others, itsform wasn't perfect and was smaller than normal. It was worth a try.

Once that opening was found, Himari used her metaphysical abilities and dashed forward to appear right behind the felinae. She hoped to succeed and land the attack right into their upper body. Although, noticing their tricks, they completely missed and only found themselves in switched positions.

She did, indeed, have a long way to go.

On the ground, Himari would pick herself back up. The overriding of her mana circuitry from Wano's technique that she's only seen from Id, she'd try to endure it. Each technique was followed by another. Wano was definitely stronger in this case.

"Damn.."
(Himari Kurokaiyo)

Had the felinae not been so self-aware of their surroundings. They might've missed what nerin said in the midst of the spar. And yet, when the cat spoke it, it said otherwise. "Id does seem like more of the patient type." They'd respond in a raspy tone.

Still yet to fully compose themselves, beads of sweat dripped onto the blindfold all the while. "I can't say i'm too keen on copying someone's directly." He explained, closing his fist after some breathes. A glance was made over in the kuro's direction.

"Hope you're all good over there, yeah?"

He'd laugh, waiting for the dust clouds to scatter. But considering their heightened senses. He knew well the woman was still standing. "That question you wanted to ask. Still remember it?" Asking not out mockery, but generally curious. Ensuring the kuro wouldn't forget.

It's in this instance the cat's brain was throbbing with knowledge being absorbed and expelled. Flexing each of his fingers individually as to remember the feelings he had in the spar against the kuro.

I can do it as well... Just have to keep at it.
(Wano)

Himari would send her feet into the air and with the momentum, she'd land on her feet as she performed a kip-up. Her raw mana would've released but her hair would've stayed the same.

"Yeah, I'm alright," she spoke as eyes met with Wano's blindfold. She dusted off her clothes begin to ponder the thoughts.

"Ah, yes. My question." She raised a hand to go through the strands of her hair and touch at her scalp. Would it be best to ask them instead of being taught by Zachary?

"Would you like to be my mentor?" she questioned, giving them a casual expression.
(Himari Kurokaiyo)

There's something about this which could give him ideas..

As much as he could rely on his own ability alone, even Nerin knew that there's only so much raw strength, so much talent that he could rely upon until it would simply prove insufficient; if anything, considering all that he's been up to.. he knows that it would be something that he would most definitely need.

As such, the steady mimicking is done..
Through harness of the mana around is palms.

Here, the shimmering blue light shrouds him in the same way that it does for Wano- while it does not come about absolutely the same way as Felinae, the general gist of such is grasped. Here, while the two keep training, the bounce of pure, refined Energy is made between the palms of his hand. It becomes a steady flow that only becomes accelerated through and through..

Up until it spreads to his limbs as well.
Up until it begins to reach out.

He isn't entirely unfamiliar with it, is he? If anything, he's rather keen on the manipulation that comes about across the body- and while he used to defy the way that his body responds to the flow of mana as a whole, of how instinctively it happens.. to an extent, it becomes something rather useful as well, at least in this scenario.

For the time being, rather than copying it entirely.. he gets an idea.

With the protrusion of ivory colors upon his appendages and his gaze drifting towards it, his hues steadily narrow a little bit, almost as if to form an Energy spike around the same bone that sticks out of his flesh. He idly hums in thought..

"Hrm.."

.. before it retracts back down. As much as observations were nice, he knew that he'd have to take it to something else.

To something of his own.
Something that remains unspoken.
(Nerin)