The Chaos Witness

"Quite the crowd. You flatter me."

He'd chuckle, drawing forth Crescending Roar. The master-crafted Arcanium trident hummed with electrical charge-- a heavy aura of corruption and dread washing over the battlefield.

In a blanket of despair, Inoa stood calmly, his wide cheshire grin only emphasizing the eeriness the leaked from his muscular frame.

"Get revenge for th'stranger I helped kill. Show me the emotions you've been hidin'-- the ones that'll help you defeat me."

Did the Anguill plan on losing? Most certainly not. In fact.. everything about his stance, demeanor and confident tone said otherwise. So what exactly was his purpose here?

Converting Elren to the path of self-serving? Very likely.

Ironic Holy energies would flare from his body-- his water spirit coming to loyally stand by his side. Additionally, a quartet of winds would shroud Inoa in protective fashion, keeping him at bay from close attacks.

"C'mon now."
(Inoa)

This was it.

For someone who dabbled in Arcane on his own, this show actually had importance- while Arthur would absolutely never admit it, there was an opportunity to actually learn from Inoa, from how he manipulates the power of Telekinesis, how it functions, and what it exactly does in its function.

To break it down as a simple pushing force? Ignorant, at best.

Yet, his heart was still cheering for Elren. Even if Inoa could display the power of Telekinesis, there's one thing that could not be denied - he's just another Gehennan, and he'd very much rather see Inoa being harmed than another Valmasian.

Especially considering the circumstance.

The scarlet eyes narrowed upon Sirenian, as tense as ever. He was focused, set on spectating the fight to ensure he doesn't miss out even a single moment where the power of Chaos is employed. No, not a chance- something like this he won't miss.

"Come on, then... show what it is..."

A silent, impatient mutter under his breath.
(Arthur Rowan)

Once they were outside, the drakan-boy eyed Inoa with a bitterness that he had been suppressing ever since that dark day. His green irises were like gemstones, frozen. There was no passion here, only a bubbling, controlled rage that started at the pit of his stomach and gave life to his limbs. He started by removing the silken cape that draped around his shoulders, tossing it to the side.

Then, his gloves. One by one, the white-silk gloves fell to the blades of grass below, that were being flattened by the pulsing wind that circled off and away from Inoa.

"...This isn't revenge. This is justice. No longer will we abide by the same kind of lawlessness that plagued our borders when your filthy strip was tolerated by the Lords of Aetherius. Valmasia stands on its own now, and its only master is the Morninglord."

The drakan's powerful silver wings beat out by either side of him, and he breathed, calminghimself- two spheres manifested above him, one that was a fiery red, and a golden, ethereal orb...they moved into each other, combining, to become a shimmering silver, a searing flame that took the heart of a star and empowered his magic with its intense heat...

With his special brand of starfire magic ready to go, Elren made his move.
(Elren Norric)

"BAHAHAHAHA! YOUR FLAMES NEED T'GET HOTTER IF Y'WANNA HURT ME BOY!"

His booming, commanding voice would resonate through the battlefield as he cackled and taunted the Drakanite-- though it'd be a lie to say Elren's starfire didn't affect him. It definitely did.. and judging from the smoke emerging from the Anguill's skin, it was probably more effective than regular fire.

Bloodshot eyes, the shark would almost swim through the battlefield-- biting and chomping at Elren with his refined electric magic.

It certainly didn't help the Knight that Inoa's mastery in wind magic allowed him to move at rapid speeds-- sometimes effectively able to dodge his scorching waves of embers.

"Justice."

Fuck he hated that word.

To thought of allowing another being to determine his fate... it was against the spirit of mankind, against freedom. There would be no lawlessness and no self-preservation as long as that stupid word existed.

His amused expression quickly faded into a somber one... glaring at Elren with each strike. In the end, it was a wave of telekinetic energies that projected his opponent away from him-- securing the first bout as his own.

"Pfweuh! Justice... even you know that that philosophy is fucked. Especially when y'got people like Ikkaku runnin' around. Justice will never be objective.. n'anyone who dares pursue such a path in front of me..."

Well, they'd see.
(Inoa)

It's unfortunate.

But it couldn't be helped, considering that Inoa is actually a Chaos mage, and by default he's had a significant advantage on his side, one that Elren simply could not possess. There was a frown that appeared on Arthur's face at the sight of that- seeing another Valmasian be on the losing side was never pleasant, and yet, at the same time--

-- was it showing to him just how powerful Chaos could be?

The power to rip through the world, to tear through reality as if it were knife going through butter. There was an evident disturbance from such reality slash happening right infront of them, and even while barely attuned to Arcane, if at all, he could still feel it.

Being a witness to it surely helped to acknowledge what exact energies he should be on the lookout for.

But... with all of his interest in Chaos, he was still a patriotic Valmasian. The cheering words sounded for Elren.

"You can do it, Elren."

"I know that you can best him. We believe in you."
(Arthur Rowan)

That orb of silver starfire raced up to the sky then, parting the darkening clouds with a blinding light--the higher soared, the more powerful it became, with its connection to the stars strengthening as it gained ground. Then, like a firework, it exploded and a dozen embers cascaded away, descending down to scorch the land they stood on.

...He was challenging, to say the least--neither Zio or Vira felt this oppressingly powerful, like each blast of corrupt wind and arcane magic could split him down the middle and end his life there. Elren's dragon blessing was working in overdrive, sturdy scales wrapping around his limbs and neck. It was all he could do to keep it together.


"...You will kneel, Ikkaku will kneel. You will learn your betters, shark. Do you really think I went in this at full throttle...?"

--well, he sort of did.
But there was something he had been practicing lately, something imperfect. An ace in the hole.

Elren's wings shimmered with the embrace of starlight, as the raging fire that drove him melded in unison with his connection to the stars. Symbols lit up on the silver scales, resembling runes in a way--blindingly bright, like the sun. He was visibly in pain as this transformation took ahold of him, and the lights gradually softened...

Yet there was something else.
Stretching out of his neck, there was a faceless, ethereal spirit, pure gold. A patron of the star he had bonded so closely to to master his starfire magic--and it was there, urging him on, supporting him...

So were his friends. So were all of his people.

This was a fight he couldn't lose.
(Elren Norric)

The golden cosmic spirit that stretched out from him was a strain as much as it was a blessing--it felt like each and every nerve ending in his body was on fire, and the drakan's magical circuits were working in overdrive to maintain the otherwordly creature. His eyes were bloodshet riding, irises shining green-

-and his magical circuits were visible to the each, blue and silver, spiderwebs up and along his skin.

Inoa got his wish. The drakanite fought fiercely, each attack empowered by the raging starpower that he was tapping into. Silver arcs of flame shot toward him, overbearing, crushing. Elren glared down, moving with speed and determination- he ascended into the sky above, and closed the gaps between them with powerful beats of his white wings...

"Do you not see? There is no power in chaos. Bow before your Valmasian masters, shark, and we will show you the way the Morninglord gave us so long ago."

"...Be compliant, or be ash on the ground."
(Elren Norric)

--It appears that no Arcane magic could squash the resolve of man.

And that's something to keep in mind for the future reference. Of course, it was powerful and quite a notable ability, but seeing Elren simply end the combat so swiftly with the raging flames that have forced Sirenian to lose his ground, even if briefly? It certainly meant something.

It meant the defeat to Chaos.

But what exactly Inoa was going to do? Certainly there were some aces up his sleeve, or perhaps he'd need to act swiftly to make sure that Arcane works out this time? Who knows. That's yet to be seen - and it's all a good display on how such sort of magic could be used.

"...Well done, Elren."
(Arthur Rowan)

"S'not gonna happen."

Coughing up blood, the shark would offer his opponent a toothy grin, not many words. Twirling the Arcanium trident between his fingers, he'd point it toward Elren-- assuming a completely new battle stance.

Harnessing the deepest, most foul emotions the man could fester, he'd boldly charge forward at the Drakanite.

Not planning to love.
(Inoa)

"Warriors...--"

The overwhelming waves of fire might've marked the end of Inoa had Elren bit a older-- old and experienced enough to exploit the shark's primary weakness, slow regeneration.

It'd be a lie to say the Fire Drakanite wasn't a competent opponent, in fact.. he may have been one of the strongest Magi he's fought in recent years.

It annoyed him. Such young age... such youth... such power.

He hated how Elren was completely opposite to him-- using his powers for others? How pathetic.

"DO NOT...--"

His voice boomed, carrying both intimidation and blood-curdling force, facilitating the use of telekinetic energies. And sure enough.. the little help received from his own morale boosting voice allowed him to defeat the opponent.

Sending out a destructive wave of chaotic energies, he'd rip reality itself open-- the foundation of the earth shaking from the sheer might of his telekinetic blast. What would be the aftermath?

Well.. for any other insolent opponent.. it'd most likely rip them to shreds before eradicating them from reality-- a painful end that only lasted a few moments.

However.. this was a student at Pleure Academy. Harming him would only cause unnecessary.. and it was only by chance did Elren escape with superficial injuries.

Huffing and panting Inoa clutched onto his arm, bloodied teeth baring through dry lips-- his whole body fuming from the blazing embers projected his way. Securing Crescending Roar upon his back, he'd cast a shadow upon Elren.

"Kneel."

Head tilting in Ishmael's direction, the aggravated Anguill would inquire.

"Where... are ya' cells?"

He was sated.

For now.
(Inoa)

Elren had lost. From the looks of it, it seemed as if the honor Elren was trying to uphold had fallen short before the Sirenian. The Accursed merely shrugs at the display. But, he couldn't allow any harm to come to pass upon Elren, as much as Ishmael disapproved of the verbal sedition against Gaiar Aetherius. This was to be a talk for another time, however.

Currently, someone else needed to ensure that things went no further than what had already happened.

"That's enough, you've had your fun and we have no need for further spectacles, students. Clearly, this is one challenge none of you are ready to handle. You're not ready."

The remote was still in Ishmael's hands, making his way forward as he non-chalant presses the button, turning the dial all the way up to the maximum setting to ensure Inoa wasn't in the mood for evading the apprehension. A quick glance is made to Elren, butonly enough to put him within the Accursed's thoughts and memories, for a later date.

"I hope you don't mind, but I cannot stand idly by and assume you won't taint his flesh with a brand or a mark. These students need to stay as mentally, physically, and spiritually whole as possible. Valmasia needs bright youths, such as this one."

A lazy gesture is made towards Elren, but nothing further.

"Now then, Grauhimmels. Where shall we be keeping Inoa for the short term?" A brow is raised, his unflinching lavender slit gaze remained entirely upon the Sirenian, the button held down, the dial continuously turned over to the maximum setting, despite it being unable to go any higher.


(Ishmael)

--Close. Almost there. Just a little more. It's yours. You're going to defeat him. He's nothing but a slave to disorder.

And yet Elren feels his legs growing weak and wobbly, he feels a stinging pain in each and every nerve cell that's repeated over and over, becoming harsher every second the fight goes on. There's less accuracy in his movements, less bite in that searing starfire that he commands. Maintaining this imperfect was a weight he couldn't just bear yet--

--still, he tries.
With starlight at his feet and his gauntlet-clad fists expelling shots of firepower each strike, Elren is neck and neck with the slippery shark. Always in pursuit, even when he was past his limits.

It ends with a kinetic wave of shadow that sends Elren sprawling back, defeated.

There were cracks in his skin- bloody, strange cuts where the glowing magical circuits once were, internal damage.

He tried to get back up. He tried to stand, but all he could do was lay on his back.
(Elren Norric)

At least, he's come this close.

It's something for Arthur to keep in mind for future reference, the fact that Inoa was still able to defeat Elren like that- and yet again, it appears that the power of Chaos was shown, the ripples that tore through reality made themselves evident by how much damage they were able to inflict.

It's a compelling power, one that he'd promised himself to grasp one day.

As for now? All he could do is spectate and acknowledge how it works exactly; it seemed to work off Inoa's will, or rather, his resolve, which is yet another thing to keep in mind- one who cannot stand their ground will never be able to bend the Arts of Arcane like that.

And neither he will, if he was not determined enough. But that part of him never had issues now, had it?

"--Hrm."

"Suppose you have it from here."

He remarked to Ishmael's words, intending to go elsewhere. Inoa was secured from leaving after all.
(Arthur Rowan)