The Wasteland [TRAINING]

[nascent]

"A more... direct approach than I'd anticipated, but successful nonetheless." Magus replied. Now, what to teach Dante next...

Magus pondered it for several long moments before continuing. "Tell me about the one you hope to oppose, especially anything you know about their powers. Perhaps that knowledge will help me better understand what your up against... if we're fortunate, perhaps it will even suggest a strategy."

[Dante]

"Well, her name's Madam. She's some big witch who makes Apprentices of Darkness by picking them out from worlds that have been overcome by the Darkness. It really makes her job easier, you know. She has an excellent grasp on Darkness and, at my current state, I'm no match against her" Dante placed his hands behind his head and looked up at the cieling, eyes tired already. A strategy, hm? Didn't sound like a bad plan to him.

Maybe she became stronger since the last time he met her. Either that or she's training another Apprentice, but st... That's it! In a sudden jolt, Dante swung his focus on his feet, his hand on his jaw. Madam must not have time to annoy him because she already has another Apprentice! Why didn't the warrior think of that earlier!? Dante just realized that he had done all of this right in front of these people, some who he didn't even know yet.

The Ex-Apprentice went back to looking casual, waiting for any type of reply from Magus. "So... Any ideas?"

[OOC: Congrats on becoming G-Mod, Nascent. Now I'll have to get used to the blue name. I got used to the black one easily, but the light blue may take a while. Congrats, nonetheless.]

[nascent]

(OOC: Thanks Dante. It should be an interesting job, that's for sure. ;D)


"A witch... who seeks out apprentices from worlds overcome by Darkness..." Magus contemplated that for a moment. Not a lot of info to go by, but intriguing nonetheless. He wondered briefly if perhaps there wasn't some connection between this Madam's power and the apprentices she chose...

Dante's reaction didn't slip past Magus' notice, though he decided that whatever was going through Dante's head wasn't his to meddle in. "The question comes to mind: why does Madam seek out these apprentices? Do you have any ideas, Dante?"

[Dante]

"Well, to be truthful, I have no idea. She really only uses them for missions. Although, there is the occasional Apprentice Wars. It's where Sisters of Darkness and Light show off their Apprentices and, during the time, I was Madam's only student. Let me be the first to tell you that those fights are something to behold." Dante stared at his right hand for a bit, seeing the Nobody decal. He wished that he could tell Magus a bit more about Madam's reason for the Apprentices. It bugged him that he didn't ask Madam about it when he had the chance.

"If I gave a guess, she would be using them to destroy those Sisters of Light." The warrior said all of this like it didn't bother him a bit, but, in all honesty, it did itch at his insides. If only he had been taken over by the Darkness completely... "If you want to know anything about the life of an Apprentice, I'm your number one source for all of your needs." Dante chuckled a bit before returning to his silent self. He remembered a joke he had shared with an Apprentice of Light before their match.

All of this talk about the Darkness and Madam made the Ex-Apprentice pretty edgey.

[nascent]

"I see..." Magus said, musing over what Dante had just told him. "Well, that's rather revealing. So it's likely you won't merely be facing this Madam herself, but also however many other Apprentices she has... and possibly the other Dark Sisters as well."

The mage leveled a very serious look at him. "This is no simple task you undertake, Dante Hyubasi."

"We will have to focus more than anything on direct combat application, both offensive and defensive." Magus explained. "While I have yet to recover all the powers I once possessed, I believe my experience can still be of use to you... and, when you decide you are ready to confront this Madam, I will offer to fight at your side."

"For now, however," Magus tossed his cape back dramatically. "We have much to do. I must know the full extent of your current powers, Dante, and to do that..."

The warlock's stance shifted to a combat posture. "Come at me! No weapons, other than Darkness and our own bodies. Show me your determination to defeat Madam!"

[Dante]

Dante, stunned, stood in his casual stance as he watched Magus go full combat. He wasn't sure if he should go head on or stay safe and play defensive, but no matter what he chose, he would still have to face this mage on full throtle. Copying Magus, the warrior got into his own battle stance, his hands flexing. It was strange how a little talk turned into a big fight like this, but what else was to be expected? They were training, correct? "I won't hold back, Magus!"

The Ex-Apprentice decided to use a Shadow Melody tactic for his first move. His hands began to glow an eriee black before the straight measures appeared under the shadowmage, the musical notes already starting to appear as Dante conducted a deadly tune. The notes shot out quickly, the attack hoping to catch Magus offguard so he could sneak in to grab a quick blow. If he learned anything from the Shadow Duplicate, it was that abilities can be the turning point for any battle.

[nascent]

The Shadow Melody was a cunning tactic; Dante had a good tactical sense about him, that was becoming quite clear. Magus smirked slightly. "Very good."

The notes shot up around him, moving quite rapidly, and Magus did not move to evade. Instead he stood his ground, bringing his forearms to a defensive position and thusly guarding his upper body from severe damage. Shots of dark energy peppered the shadowmage from Dante's attack, but still Magus bent his will to endure even the worst. He had to experience as much of Dante's power and combat style as possible if he was to help the youth grow his abilities. If that meant he was wounded in the process... then so be it.

"Come, Dante..." Magus whispered to himself. "Come get me. Show me... show me your power!"

[Dante]

Throughout the entire attack, Magus never moved from his spot. It was as if he were taunting the warrior with his strength. The attack ended, the musical bars fading from existence. Dante decided to continue the onslaught of attacks, waiting for the right moment to go in for a real blow to the gut. He was beginning to feel a slight jolt of anger burn in the pits of his stomach, urging him to just go ape on the shadow mage. The warrior tried to ignore the feeling since he didn’t want to do something stupid.

Suddenly, darkness circled under Magus, signaling the pillar attack. ”Take this! Shadow Pillar” In a swift motion, Dante swept his hand in an upward thrust. If Magus didn’t move in the next few seconds, which would be the next four or five, the pillar would shoot him up. Still, the wait time was atrocious and it gave anyone the chance to evade and counterattack easily. It really did make for a dreadful disadvantage.

Still. Everyone, excluding a few fighters, would stand in an awed expression and allow the attack to hit. It could be compared with most games. If you’re ever facing someone and they throw a grenade into a giant, open space you’re not going to move. You spend the only three seconds you have either staring at the explosive, or you’re running around it.

[nascent]

”Take this! Shadow Pillar!”

That announcement was all the cue Magus needed, though the brief buildup of dark energy which accompanied the attack was also an ample hint of what was coming. Magus had the advantage of having seen Dante use this move earlier, thus its arrival came as no surprise to him. As the pillar formed Magus stepped back, avoiding the attack narrowly.

There now stood a visible barrier in-between the two fighters. Magus would use this brief opportunity for a quick lesson in strategy.

Even though he couldn't see Dante, the shadowmage knew where he'd been standing, and that was enough for this spell. With one finger pointed in Dante's general direction, a Dark Bomb erupted where the ex-apprentice was likely to be. It's appearance would be as much a surprise as the Shadow Pillar had been meant to be.

"No force can strike a target it cannot find." Magus announced by way of explanation. "If you cannot see your foe, you must sense them in some other way... and if you cannot sense them, you must be prepared to predict them."

It was now Dante's move.

[Dante]

Of all the things Magus could've taught him, it had to be this! Unable to dodge, due to him currently keeping the obelisk up, the warrior was blown away by the attack, grimicing as the darkness made its impact. It would've been quite easy to get back up to prepare for a counter, but there was also the factor of not having anything to counter with. At the moment, Dante was thinking deeply about his next move. He didn't want to go ahead with an attack and make a mistake, but he knew that mistakes led to learning, especially with Magus as his temporary mentor.

"All of the things I learned... I cant use any of it. Magus has me in an almost impossible to break stranglehold. No matter what I try to do, I fall on my face and get back up, just to be beat down again. What do I have in my arsenal that would really help me now," Dante thought as his brow caved in.

With a quick flip of his legs and his lower body, Dante swept himself up on his feet, keeping his eyes on Magus the entire time. "Whatever you hit me with, I can dish back ten fold!" A thin film of Darkness surrounded the existence of the warrior, increasing his speed and strength by exactly tenfold and no more. He zoomed forward, rearing up for a punch of complete energy. A smile seemed to be plastered across Dante's face, giving him one hell of an insane appearance.

[nascent]

Magus' eyes went wide as he saw Dante speed towards him, the attack coming so fast that he honestly had no chance to prepare a defense. The shadowmage was sent reeling, flying halfway across the room and landing on his back.

For several moments of utter silence no one moved. Kassom stood there, jaw hanging open in disbelief. Cordell's eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets; Melana and Iris seemed like they might jump to the warlock's aid at any moment, yet restrained themselves. Vates broke the silence with a muttered "Oh my...!"

And then... laughter. Low at first, barely a chuckle, but as Magus slowly got to his feet it intensified into a deep, full-bodied peal of vigorous laughter. Stopping suddenly, the mage reached up and tenderly massaged the spot where Dante had struck him so forcefully, then turned his gaze on the dark-powered swordsman.

"Yes, excellent!" Magus' voice was surprisingly positive and encouraging. "Well done, Dante. One of the greatest advantages you can gain in battle is making your opponent assume they know the rules of the game... then, as you just did, changing them suddenly and unexpectedly. I'm impressed."

"The way you fought, you had me convinced that your dark powers relied almost strictly on ranged attacks... and then you pulled out that one and took me completely by surprise. Well played."

Magus stretched his neck, realigning it in a series of cracks and pops, then turned away from Dante. "You know what you need to of tactics and strategy now. Of darkness I can only teach you so much -- to truly master it you must look within, discover the nature of your inner dark, and take it's power by force of will. But what you have learned will suffice... this lesson is at an end."

"So... would you learn under another now? Or do you wish to face the greatest trial that this place can offer?" The conjurer asked, looking over his shoulder. "The choice is yours."

[Dante]

That was it? The training was over already? Dante felt a bit let down, but even if he and Magus went on he wouldn't have had anything else up his sleeves. The warrior waited a minute before answering, because he felt like he wasn't quite ready to see what the final challenge held. In the farthest depths of his mind, though, he wanted to get it over with and see what was so difficult about this challenge. "The final trial, eh? Bring it on!"

If he were still here by the time he either passed, or failed the challenge, he would fight Kassom. It was something he felt needed to be done for some peculiar reason. What Magus had said before ending the training session really bugged Dante. "Take the power by force of will, eh? It's enough to go by for now. Still... What if that doesn't work?"