Do Not Disrespect Me, Demon

Malgannan says, "And I've been talking- <The Kaor turns around, noticing the boy.>"


Malgannan asks, "Shouldn't you be in Valmasia boy?"

Arthur Rowan asks, "Shouldn't you be laughing with the most annoying tone you could possibly muster?"

Perseus Kang says, "I believe you're speaking of the dead Archon Dantalion, stranger."

Perseus Kang says, "Rest in peace."

Malgannan asks, "Oh, trust me. It's hard to hold back my laughter when I looka t someone as despicable as you who could not even take me down with two of your friends?"

Arthur Rowan says, "I've grown. Do not underestimate how much more I will grow, Demon."

Malgannan says, "Do not underestimate my tolerance of your constant disrespect."

Arthur Rowan says, "Try me."

Malgannan asks, "Do you really want me to?"

Arthur Rowan says, "Go on."
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Perseus raises his right hand and steps forth, interposing his palm between the two of them.

"Not in the center of Crafthold, and not without a proper honor duel. If you wish to maim one another, fine. But I will oversee it and ensure no deaths or unsanctioned violence occur on Eiphraem's jurisdiction."

The undead, at this close proximity, radiates that same, overwhelming cold, but it becomes clear that the most significant source thereof is his palm itself. As his gaze rises to Malgannan's face, he states,

"That, of course -"

Before sliding his gaze over and down to Arthur. "- Is how things will be settled in Crafthold. If you would like to go elsewhere and risk a murder beyond the law, feel free."
(Perseus Kang)

The scarlet hues of Valmasian keep looking up at much taller Demon infront of him. Despite the fact that he was still maturing, despite the fact that he was still growing and his full potential was still far from being wholly unlocked, there was a feeling of greater difference to what Malgannan encountered earlier--

-- he didn't lie. The robust mana, the signature of strength about him, it was a proof of Arthur's progress.

"I have no fear in battling this Demon, if he desires to."

"It's long due he's shown what humanity is capable of, and violence is the only language that Demons truly know - I wouldn't expect him to understand any other way."

"But I will not allow him to treat me as if I was just another prey on his path. He will learn to respect what I've become."

"Or pay for it."
(Arthur Rowan)

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Malgannan steps forward, his eyes narrowing. Obviously he has been angered. He's grown tired of children who insult him. It's happened too many times. Way too many times. He has a zero tolerance policy for this kind of nonsense now.

Bystanders can feel a chill as the giant shrouds himself in Occult winds.

"You want me to respect you…? A little boy who just learned how to walk? You have got to be kidding me?

When I am done with you, you will no longer be able to walk. Let's take things west of here then, if you are so keen on losing a few limbs. For it is you who needs to be taught respect... Respect to the beings whose lands you roam, pretending you own them."

The Kaor beings treading west wards, motioning the boy to follow him.
(Malgannan)

Within immediate notice, the winds have swarmed Arthur, the lightning crackled with electricity around him- the sky was growing much darker around them, oddly, as if commanded by an unknown force. Humidity was rising, and the first rain drops began to drop.

Such arcs of electricity that surged through his body... they empowered Arthur. It was not the first time he would battle someone above his league, someone far more experienced, and someone far stronger than he was on his own. But would he actually back down? Not at all. He was victorious in many of those instances--

-- and whether he would live up to his claim, that remains to be seen.

"You're on."

Surrounded by the element of Storm, Arthur followed. This was bound to be intense.
(Arthur Rowan)

Well, at least the two of them are willing to settle it on even terms. Perseus takes a step back, seemingly disaffected by the circumstance; for the undead, this is really just business as usual.

"Very well. I will follow and observe, and step in when one fighter is no longer able to continue. A death would be a waste, after all - and illegal, since it was a term that you two did not agree on."

The Fun Police seems intent to follow them.
(Perseus Kang)

Floating above the ground, the scarlet eyes were constantly tracking after Demom, their lids narrowing in a silent fury that was about to be unleashed upon Malgannan- it was the anticipation of bloodshed, of actually proving his point to the Demon that made his heart race with a cocktail of adrenaline and excitement, and yet--

-- despite feeling like that, he did not back off.

The key to grasping the world for what it is was confidence. It was about believing in yourself, and believing that you can be something greater. As for Arthur? He never allowed doubt to clutch his soul, his heart or his mind - whether it would be self-doubt, or the threats inflicted by others.

Nothing brought his spirit down. At least that much could be said.

Raising the winds up in the air, the loud thunder roared through the sky; clearly, Arthur was not a typical magi of his age, someone who was talentless and could only grasp complex magic at much older age- no, he was gifted, and gifted well.

!! BOOM !!

Roaring, the Storm above Malgannan was threatening to hit him with lightning at any given moment. Humidity was through the roof, and it was actually becoming hard to breathe; as someone who bent this element, Arthur floated amidst the air, the red locks of his hair being a reminder to the Demon.

He may as well have underestimated Arthur just now, badly.

It started to rain, but he didn't mind. There was an odd presence of blood leaking from his arms, forming into deadly weapons, mix-matched by electrified water. Within a single moment, a mutter spilled his lips.

"You will learn just how far humans can go."
(Arthur Rowan)

...How... Was all Malgannan could think as he saw the boys newly acquired powers unleashed. How a child was able to wield such magic was beyond the Kaor's understanding. It was simply outrageous. He did his best not to make Arthur notice though. He simply raised his brows, his mouth dropping open slightly for just a second; hardly noticeable, before quickly returning to his old, angry expression.

The creature had some tricks up its sleeve aswel though… If Arthuyr wasn't already impressed by Malgannan's size, now he surely would be. The purple winds surrounding Malgannan became more dense and eventually fully shrouded the Demon, forming a purple mist. The mist began to grow in size; higher and higher and higher… And then it faded.

What could be observed afterwards was something that could only be described as... Disturbing. The Kaor had transformed into a fourty-five feet tall behemoth. He was fucking huge.

"...Prepare to be schooled, fool."
(Malgannan)

A furious Storm was of his making.

With the constant strikes of lighting, of shredding winds, even that of the blood attacks against Kaor, Arthur clearly showed Malgannan just how far he progressed- all these years, all these years that he's promised him that the things would change, he actually held up his promise.

The rain poured on as two battled each other, the thunder roared with deafening sound, and with a grit of his teeth, Arthur did his best to avoid the attacks unleashed by Kaor- it was a true challenge, as he's never battled anyone that powerful in his life before. Truth be told, every single battle he's had so far was an easy victory, but this one--

-- it was the real fight, the real battle.

Unfortunately to him, no matter the might of his Storm, no matter just how adequate and gifted he was in using his magic, no matter how good he was at that, it simply was not enough. Worn out, with his defences down, a final hit has sent him flying, causing a fracture in his ribs--

"Guh..!"

Stumbling out of air, Arthur lost balance for a moment, flying all the way down from the skies where he flied in the storm, and rolling in the mud created by conjured air- attempting to swiftly pick himself up, holding onto his side, he floated idly, clearly sullied by the excessive dirt that has gotten on his clothes.

But the Demon was leaving? Why?

"Get... get back here-- this is not... all that I have... I-- humans can grow even better... than this..!"

A gasp. He tried to reach out, but instead of more words spilling from his lips, there was silence. Fractured ribs was a painful injury, something that restricted his breathing by a good margin- with the loss of such focus, the Storm above them began to dissipate, and the fury has faded.

Even though Malgannan has won today, there's one thing he could not deny - Arthur was still young, and no doubt, he would still improve.

He proved his point that he became stronger.
(Arthur Rowan)

As Perseus watches the clash between Malgannan and Arthur, he thinks back to a time oh-so-long ago -

a moment on the beach of Crafthold; a clash far more one-sided than the one he had just witnessed, though perhaps just as exciting to watch. There was a different point being made by that clash of wills, but the importance was perhaps in -

the comparison, from one kind of life to another.

Rather than focusing on the fight itself, Perseus stares out into the distance, possessed by fleeting memories of a time long gone - a faint grin adorns his features, though it just barely pulls at the corners of his lips.

When the fighting comes to a stop, however, he's shaken out of his trance. His gaze flits from Arthur to Malgannan, looking for signs of injury or death. He finds little that counts as a failure in doing his job as the Fun Police of Crafthold, and as such -

Perseus stretches his left arm out in front of him, and smacks his forearm to clap.

"Ah...

It seems my job is done." The undead slides his icy gaze back to Arthur, seemingly at least minorly elated that the man isn't bleeding out on the ground.

"I don't suppose you need assistance moving?"
(Perseus Kang)

Malgannan still remains silent, spitting on the ground once as he leaves the area.
(Malgannan)

This was a rough reminder that he still had ways to go.

So close, and yet so far... he could almost feel it on his fingertips how he would bring demise to Malgannan's pride, to his overconfidence and disrespect, how he was going to punish him for all of those words said, but--

-- without realising, maybe he already did that?

Breathe in, breathe out. Sure, his ribs were fractured, but it wasn't that much of an injury really- for someone like magi, it would likely warrant a good few days of rest, preferably without much of action involved, and he'd be just fine. That didn't stop it from hurting though.

And it certainly didn't stop from the Storm to further dissipate. The focus was long lost, and the magics that were used to conjure such hellscape of a weather were no longer in action. Despite coming so close, the feeling of failure gnawed at him - maybe he expected way too much from himself at the young age of sixteen, but he couldn't help it.

Perhaps driven far too much at this point, he was determined to become something greater than people could ever expect him to.

A pair of scarlet hues turned themselves to Perseus. Already standing up as he was addressed, Arthur brushed down the mud and dirt that covered some of his clothing, also utilizing water magic to wash over the unpleasant stains that were there.

"...No."

"I'm fine. I'll... need some rest, but otherwise I'm okay... I think."
(Arthur Rowan)