B.o.t.S.: Bloodied rocks

Straton walked gradually out of the hole and towards Termite, arms spread out like a bird with weapons in hand. Alexandra took one of Straton’s swords out of the ground as some form of protection. Termite just looked at the 2, more trying to figure out how Straton survived the attack.

“Lass, you can take a seat” Termite said.
“Why should I trust you?” Alexandra protested.
“I didn’t interfere with your battle with Wasp and I’d like the same curtesy” he said. Alexandra growled out of anger but stopped when Straton was next to her.
“I can take this guy” Straton said surprisingly well for the large hole in his chest.
“Alright” Alexandra said and ran as fast as she could to a safer place, sword still in hand.

Straton raised one his swords and lifted his head which showed some blood coming down the center of his face.

“You asked which is stronger, your soul or my earth” Termite said lifting his hands, “let’s test them”

Termite quickly lowered his hands and the wall he made earlier came down in sharp shards.

“Second step, sixth blood slash” Straton said and swung one of his weapons to the falling earth. The 3 crimson slashes were more than enough to make a safe opening. Termite made a finger gesture and a large spike came out of the ground like before when the match started only now Straton was ready. He interlocked his swords and blocked the spike from impaling him again though the force was still enough to send him flying. Straton tried to put his feet on the ground but he couldn’t get a grip. He then moved his arms to the right to try and slide it off. As the rock spick slide past Straton, he could finally touch the ground. He then started a full on charge with his swords scraping the ground behind him. Termite stomped the ground and a ring of spikes surrounded Straton. Straton jumped over them and continued on.

“So you’re better than I first thought” Termite said and snapped his fingers. A sudden earthquake caused a Straton to stumble for a bit but that didn’t stop him. Then a crack formed far in front of him and the ground started falling. Where Straton was made it impossible for him not run into the wall. He staggered back holding his head and a groan of pain. Straton looked up and started climbing with his swords. As he reached the top, the wall started to crumble and the pit he was in earlier now had spikes at the bottom.

“Damn. False step, Phantom” Straton said and the Straton that was falling and then several others appeared, each with a sword.
“Just give it up” Termite said swung his hand. Several spikes started flying towards all the Stratons.
“Advanced step, Grand Arc” the Stratons said and they all swung, each swinging at different angles. The pink colored slashes all homed in on Termite yet none of them seemed to want to dodge or block the attacks. All the Stratons were impaled and turned into swords while Termite taped on of his heels on the ground to make a dome of rock around him.
“That all you got?” Termite said mocking Straton.
“Second step, Arced Spear” Straton said stabbing the center of all the slashes. The dome broke to even Termites surprise. What he didn’t see coming was the claws falling from the sky. Straton dropped the sword and grabbed the claws. Termite stepped back and made a pole of rock.
“Fine, face to face a lot more interesting anyway” Termite said and prepared for combat.

Straton slashed at his opponent but the pole Termite held deflected each attack easily. A quick spin and a overhead swing was enough to destroy Straton’s guard and force him to the ground. Termite put his foot on Straton’s chest and then slammed the pole into Straton’s head. However this one was another clone. The real Straton appeared from a sword and cut his hand for a ‘Blood Draw’, his hands already had several cuts from his ‘Blood Claws’. Straton swung horizontally to try and cut Termite in half. Termite kicked the bottom of his pole and let the top drop down and slam on Straton’s head. This lead to a slight delay in the attack which gave Termite enough time to block. He then slammed Straton’s side, drew back and thrusted into the large wound Straton got in the beginning of this fight. His opponent in pain, Termite drew back again to do a heavy overhead swing. Straton brought up his sword to block but this only accomplished preventing his head being bashed in as he was bashed to the ground. Rolling out of the way of Termites next slam and grabbed one of the claws and got up.

“Persistence is its own venture I guess” Termite said, “but this has gone on to long”

Termite fell apart as if he was made of earth and the broken dome was starting to reform. Termite pulled himself out of the ground, dusting himself off. When he was on his feet he spread out his arms and then slowly brought them together as the dome condensed. Confident in his victory he barely noticed the stream of ice behind him. Termite rolled out of the way and looked to see Alexandra with a ice covered hand in the ground, still clinging to one of Straton’s swords.

“Ya missed” Termite said in a cocky tone.
“Missed you maybe” Alexandra said.

More curious than anything he looked back and the dome and saw that it was little more than a frozen half sphere, out of his jurisdiction in terms of manipulation. He looked back to focus on Alexandra who was already on her way to him. Despite being structurally similar to her own weapon, she didn’t seem to know how to use it as well as her own saber. Termite however was still too focused on the dodging aspect at the moment. Then a almost glass braking sound grabbed both attentions but neither were really distracted. The dome blasted apart with crimson slashes with a mostly conscious Straton. Termite, pissed off, stomped the ground which made a wall around him. Termite was losing his advantage fast with a earth freezing chick and a adaptable close range fighter is starting to wear him down. Termite put his hands up and pushed in the direction of both Straton and Alexandra. Waves of earth spikes headed to both of them yet neither were ready to give up yet. Alexandra froze the area around her and her own ice spikes to block the attack. Straton threw his single sword forward that landed with its handle near the ground and charged with both blood claws in hand. Straton ran to the sword which was on a spike by the time he got to it. Straton stamped on the sword which become a kind of catapult device as it arced forward and allowed Straton to jump the spikes. Termite swung his hand upward and spikes flew skyward but Straton cut them to pieces as Alexandra entered the walled area. Termite made 2 short poles. The 2 fought as Straton landed in the area and then Termite combined both poles to make the one he had earlier. Termite was fending off both of his opponent’s quite well despite him being outnumbered. He had quite a bit of finesse with the pole with all the spinning momentum to block attacks but this too was wearing him down. As he prepared a attack of his own, Termite dodged Staton’s attack and slammed his back and then used a quick maneuver to slap one of his swords out of his hands. With a quick spin and slide of hands he spun around to bash Alexandra in the head, her weapon flying in the air. Straton went to attack but this was easily blocked though that’s actually this is what he wanted as he let go and grabbed the sword Alexandra had by the blade. With one quick to the chest, Termite took a few steps as Straton did the same. Straton put his foot on the claw that was on the ground and kicked it into the air. The blade spun somewhat, enough to have the blades impale Termites stomach. Straton grabbed that center handle of this weapon and prepared to lift it upwards.

“Second step, Bloody claws” Straton said pulled upwards, the glowing blades sending out 3 crimson slashes that ripped Termite apart.

Both fell on the ground but Straton was the one who was still, um, alive. The arena fell and all the destruction seemed to revert back to the way it was before. Straton sat up and struggled to get up but did so. He went to see how Alexandra was doing but she seemed incapacitated with her eyes were spirals of dizziness. Straton picked her up and put her on his back and took with her. Awhile later Wasp got up to see Termite having a smoke break. He stumbled a bit and cross his arms in a shivering fashion. He stood over him and gave a disapproving look.

“You went easy on them didn’t you?” Wasp asked angered.
“Phoenix already called dibs on him, what was I supposed to do, he out ranks me at the moment” Termite said.

Wasp raised his fist and anger which somehow had electric currents coursing around it but he calmed down and kicked him instead.

“He’s gonna be mad that’s for sure” Wasp said.
“Maybe but I rather deal with a little beatle than a flaming metal bird” Termite said standing up.
“Best remember your loyalties”
“Last I checked, she’s on a date”

They both left but their eyes where focused to the left as if someone was there. After starring it down for a bit, they stopped looking at. Either it didn’t pose a threat or it strained their eyes to much and stopped looking in that direction and continued walking.

Meanwhile back at their HQ, Nika and Adalgar started their own rounds to beat the crap out of someone. To those that didn’t know them they would look boyfriend and girlfriend but we know better. The 2 walked to a square where they met a familiar face.