[ Ah, levitation. Right. That's going to be a problem.
Vincent is good, but this is a match which shows what happens when two powers cancel each other out and supplementary arms and tactics are just not available. Speed, reflexes and strength put the two roughly on par with one another. Vincent is fresh and would arguably be likely to win this clash with experience and no recent battle weariness on his side.
But it wouldn't be without taking blows. Between concussion and broken bone, it's safe to say the latter was chosen when the red-cloaked man extends his arm to deflect the metal wings. There is a satisfying-sounding snap at the maneuver landing against the elbow Nero aims for. It earns a grunt of pain; but it does not offer a reprieve from Vincent's assault.
The capacity for serpentine contortions shouldn't be at all surprising among the two who void the affects of gravity on motion when it suits them. If Nero tries to reach for the cloak, he might find it seems as capable of slipping away from where it should be. Its owner is capable of shifting to a new position from near prone while continuing to push the attack. Kicks, locks and yes even the use of a supposedly broken limb as if he's simply ignoring the cost of further stress. Make no mistake it is broken and that is causing some problems with its use on a physical level; Vincent just seems to be able to lock away the sense of pain that might cause the human mind to instinctively protect it from further damage. Nero will discover that it's not just the left hand, the boots or thighs that have armor, but there are is also plating along Vincent's shoulders to deflect oncoming attacks.
There are plenty of fleshy bits as well. Bones to break, muscles to bruise. Joints to lock.
Vincent knows he can win against Nero, knows it was best this is happening here rather than inside the bounds of Wintermute's civilization. But before they cross that boundary, it must be an overwhelming one. Not this near match that leaves question as to which might be the strongest.
There is change in the atmosphere. Whatever combat senses the Sable possesses from countless years of surviving Deepground are likely to be struck by the sudden, utter sense of absolute danger. As if something ripped through every talent Vincent had in suppressing the extent of one's blood lust to minimize how easy their attacks are read.
Or what was just a ripple of deadly skill before has been suddenly replaced by quaking threat of an ocean's pressure about to crumple the sole thin barrier holding it back. And it is not a familiar echo of the dark, chaotic energy.
Metamorphosis rips through Vincent, whose face can't hide the effects of pain and feral and cathartic release that come with it... at least as long as his features are still recognizably human. The horned, massive beast that towers even more than fairly tall Vincent Valentine can be likened to the appearance of a behemoth, though its conformation suggests a bipedal creature. And some of the man's attire seems somehow merged or factored into its existence.
This is not Chaos. It's something else. And the change from man to beast doesn't seem to have done much to stall it from pressing the attack again. If anything, Vincent is more aggressive, seeking to bear down on his foe and beat him into the very ground.
The beast roars its challenge. Vincent sees no reason to hold that back, focused instead on riding the feral mind that he might see the end of this without the loss of life. So long as he leaves an inch... ]
no subject
Vincent is good, but this is a match which shows what happens when two powers cancel each other out and supplementary arms and tactics are just not available. Speed, reflexes and strength put the two roughly on par with one another. Vincent is fresh and would arguably be likely to win this clash with experience and no recent battle weariness on his side.
But it wouldn't be without taking blows. Between concussion and broken bone, it's safe to say the latter was chosen when the red-cloaked man extends his arm to deflect the metal wings. There is a satisfying-sounding snap at the maneuver landing against the elbow Nero aims for. It earns a grunt of pain; but it does not offer a reprieve from Vincent's assault.
The capacity for serpentine contortions shouldn't be at all surprising among the two who void the affects of gravity on motion when it suits them. If Nero tries to reach for the cloak, he might find it seems as capable of slipping away from where it should be. Its owner is capable of shifting to a new position from near prone while continuing to push the attack. Kicks, locks and yes even the use of a supposedly broken limb as if he's simply ignoring the cost of further stress. Make no mistake it is broken and that is causing some problems with its use on a physical level; Vincent just seems to be able to lock away the sense of pain that might cause the human mind to instinctively protect it from further damage. Nero will discover that it's not just the left hand, the boots or thighs that have armor, but there are is also plating along Vincent's shoulders to deflect oncoming attacks.
There are plenty of fleshy bits as well. Bones to break, muscles to bruise. Joints to lock.
Vincent knows he can win against Nero, knows it was best this is happening here rather than inside the bounds of Wintermute's civilization. But before they cross that boundary, it must be an overwhelming one. Not this near match that leaves question as to which might be the strongest.
There is change in the atmosphere. Whatever combat senses the Sable possesses from countless years of surviving Deepground are likely to be struck by the sudden, utter sense of absolute danger. As if something ripped through every talent Vincent had in suppressing the extent of one's blood lust to minimize how easy their attacks are read.
Or what was just a ripple of deadly skill before has been suddenly replaced by quaking threat of an ocean's pressure about to crumple the sole thin barrier holding it back. And it is not a familiar echo of the dark, chaotic energy.
Metamorphosis rips through Vincent, whose face can't hide the effects of pain and feral and cathartic release that come with it... at least as long as his features are still recognizably human. The horned, massive beast that towers even more than fairly tall Vincent Valentine can be likened to the appearance of a behemoth, though its conformation suggests a bipedal creature. And some of the man's attire seems somehow merged or factored into its existence.
This is not Chaos. It's something else. And the change from man to beast doesn't seem to have done much to stall it from pressing the attack again. If anything, Vincent is more aggressive, seeking to bear down on his foe and beat him into the very ground.
The beast roars its challenge. Vincent sees no reason to hold that back, focused instead on riding the feral mind that he might see the end of this without the loss of life. So long as he leaves an inch... ]