Veiled in Blood

[DeathToll]

[[DREAM BATTLE: 1v1 or 2v1, canon but in the mind, OPEN to any force sensative of Knight/Crusader level or higher.]]

Sitting there, lost in delusion, Phili'p found himself without purpose. He was a beast without the color, the red, to signal his charge. Having stowed away on a small freighter in chase of a disgusting murderer, he had lost himself. It didn't matter anymore. The corpse lay out before him as he sit folded there, that ugly face staring up at him with blood and fluid seeping out of every opening didn't have the same effect it might have once. He was almost completely detatched now, in this state after his rage.

His emotions had worn on him, the stress too heavy to bear without consequence from years of depression and loss; hating the very thing he had become, forced to embrace that which made him strong even as it made him mad. It was crazy, even as he trained here. As he trained in specialty of the veil, further seeing though without sight and further knowing without touch; he resisted the man's sadistic pull and found a solidity to what he was, whatever that was. His master had begun to show him the way, only to loose him when needed the most. Was there another way? A third way.

The Crusader began to meditate in this fog of a trance, loosing himself in the moment. He drifted, his mind like the nebula he waded in, until reaching another's. Their dreams connected, until they could see...

 

[Black Noise]

((I SHALL JOIN!))

Sogar had slipped into hs meditative trance once more. Really, the Iktotchi never slept, but rather only meditated heavily to restore himself. However, with his natural telepathy and ability of premonitions, he often drifted into the minds of others. He had done it once more, and standing in the familiar fog, he knew he had done it once more.
This time, however, Sogar was strong.

His blade activated before him, yet instead of its blood red color, it came out blue. Strange he thought to himself. Looking out, he was compelled to call out from the distance.
"Hello?"

 

[DeathToll]

((Yay!! .../I totally forgot about this. But I'm on it!))

Phili'p snapped up -violently-, out of body. He looked around, eyes settling back into a deadened state. For a moment, it was as though he had been force-fed a mouthful of rubber-metled power cables that jolted him into awareness. He was still in the ship, sort of. He got up and followed the thickening smoke, loosing himself down a short hall of dense fog.

Reemerging into a new place, some unfamiliar place filled with fog and the Force knows what, Phili'p saw a blue light in the distance. Then, a voice called out; though it felt like it was the second time it had, for some strange reason. His mouth opened to say something, but did not. Cautiously stepping forward, the thought of his own lightsaber came to mind and he took it up and ignited it. A dark red beam shot up before him.

Expecting the wielder of the blue beam to be some sort of Jedi and come to attack him, that mistruth soon became clear as he felt the darkness between them. It twisted in his gut, lumping up a ball of tension in his throat with that familiar anger; as an uncontrollable twitch started in his upper lip.

"I. Will. Kill you!!!"

Phili'p charged with a crossing stab at the blue lightsaber, pulling it back for a readying counter as he replace his footing, and return with a rounded slice.

 

[Black Noise]

"You will try."
Sogar had whispered before dropping into the Shiem So defensive style. He stepped back and slapped the blade awau when it came in for a stab. Bringing his saber up horizonatally, he blocked the rounded slice and held his enemy's blade there. Using his superior strength, Sogar forced the blade to the side and leaned back to slam his foot into the man's chest.

Regardless of whether or not he dodged the kick, Sogar still disengaged and stepped back. Turned to the side, he unleashed a flow of lightning, arcing from his hand and toawrds his enemy.

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p was unyeilding, like a charging freight-train. He was not one to sit still. And after his blade was caught, and while that blade was being pushed off to the side, he instantly checked in his opposing shoulder straight into Sogar's open chest.

"Raaah!!"

Since Sogar had just begun to lift his foot for a kick, yet with Phili'p cutting his body inside of that kick to shoulder check Sogar with a tight twist of the body, Sogar would likely be caught off balance and in motion of leaning backwards and without defence due to his lightsaber being off to the side. Even if Sogar wanted to bring another lightsaber into the mix, he would be caught by surprise in this instant. Sogar's inside arm, if both hands were on his lightsaber when pushing Phili'p's aside, would be caught between their close bodies and rendered useless in this instant.

And as soon as that shoulder checked hard into Sogar, Phili'p would immediately twist free his blade and step back away (with the same foot that stepped in for that shoulder check) in order to draw back in his blade for a one-handed crossing slash through Sogar's chest. Phili'p's other hand lifted up with a drawing power.

 

[Black Noise]

Sogar was not a fool, he knew what was happening, he knew it as soon as he saw the man moving to shoulder check him. Sogar would not be put off balance by this move, in fact, perhaps it would even help him. The second Phili'p twisted free of Sogar to draw back, Sogar had already flung his foot back and onto the ground to steady himself.

As Phili'p blade came screaming down for Sogar's chest, he drew off his free left hand and used Tutaminis to directly block Phili'p saber. For any other Sith, this action would have been impossible, but Sogar had trained Tutaminis since being an acolyte for the very reason of being able to use it unconsciously. His right hand, and blade wielding hand, was too far off to come around in time to stop Phili'p's other hand, which was drawing a power that Sogar could not yet Identify.

But who said he needed to dodge? As Sogar brought his blade around, he shoved his shoulder, coupled with a small, focused barrier around it, into Phili'p's rising hand. Sogar immediately gave a quick repulse, a power that, at his level and at that strength, required no charge. The repulse was weak, even Sogar knew, but it would be enough to get Phili'p to back up just an inch, and an inch was all Sogar needed.

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p's blade was effectively blocked, and his hand was quickly recognized and denied its intention. Before Phili'p could let out the energy that had not been fully charged, his hand and entire body was pushed back by the pop of Sogar's small repulse.

Phili'p was fully pushed back into a two-step, since his own lightsaber was not "caught" in any trap but had only been "blocked" or stopped by Sogar's hand before the repulse. Now he freely stepped away, yet with his saber still before him.

 

[Black Noise]

Sogar had effectively pushed back Phili'p, and that's all he needed. Sogar gave no quarter as he charged forward even as Phili'p was pushed back. He flipped his saber down in a vertical manner and angled it to block Phili'p's own saber. If Phili'p didn't put all his weight behind his saber to continously block Sogar's, then the other side of Sogar's blade would twist around Phili'p's saber and into Phili'p's chest.

Sogar had his saber in only one hand, but was putting the full weight of his body through it as well. He hand, which he had Tutaminis already gathered in, refocused the energy into Lightning, which he pushed forward and directed at Phili'p's chest.

He was attacking from two places while keeping one hand of his locked on the saber. For Sogar, the fight was getting very interesting.

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p was stumbling back, being overpowered in every turn; his anger, building to that point.

Jist when Sogar began manipulating Phili'p's saber inward on himself, he caught his steps; having only taken two or three. Phili'p whipped his free shoulder back like a door thrashing open, and Sogar was crashing through it. He allowed his saber to be forced in and past him as he twist, where Sogar's lightsaber followed with the force of his weight still lumbering forward due to Phili'p's backward motion. Phili'p's saber kept Sogar's at bay even as he pass and fall forward, blocked in its forward motion as Phili'p's free hand pounded that palm into Sogar's spine hard with a burst of Lightning.

Sogar would have been practically running to keep up with Phili'p's backward motion when connecting sabers, and would have been interrupted just before converting techniques from Tutaminis to Lightning. Sogar's saber would have been allowed forward just as his free hand would have been tied in its upper held position as Phili'p turn back and away from it's aim, as Sogar was putting all his weight into that effort; and Phili'p's saber would have pulled back and away, yet guiding Sogar to his doom. And most of all, Sogar's back would be turned right when Phili'p's hand ruptored that blue stream of lightning into the bones of his enemy.

 

[Black Noise]

It was almost a blur, a blur that Sogar could have spun around and grapple with a bit more, but a new idea came to him. He didn't stop his momentum, nor attempt to turn and stop the Lightning coming at him from behind. He knew it would hurt, but he needed to break away from then endless close range that he could not beat his opponent in.

The lightning slammed into his back and Sogar arched as it hit. He fell forward, and used him momentum to roll a few feet. He augmented the force into his legs and forced himself to move forward two meters and into the smoke, where he would be partially hidden.

He deactivated his lightsaber, and stepped back, becoming invisible to the naked eye in the smoke. His back was blistered, burning, and causing antagonizing pain with every second that it existed. The pain was shooting all down into his legs and even down to his feet. When Phili'p hit Sogar's back, he electrocuted the spine.

Sogar breathed in deeply, Phili'p would be taking a moment to regain himself after that, and a moment was all Sogar needed. There was no possible way that he could have followed Sogar, because, if there was anything Sogar knew how to do, it was run and actually get away.

He revitalized his back, slowly causing the pain to stop. It would have stopped immediately if he had his full focus on that, but he did not. He divided it three ways, one, revitalizing his back, two, sensing for Phili'p, and finally, gathering the Dark Side. Sogar planned to use Force Net on Phili'p, which would effectively cut him off from the force while draining him.

All Sogar needed was a moment, just that, and he would be ready. But, would he get that moment?

 

[DeathToll]

Phili'p's aim followed Sogar into shadow, until all that was left was the trailing light of his previously released burst of blue Lightning. Sogar had disapeared, though periodically his presence flickered; no doubt due to his conflicting focus on his wounds. They would no doubt continue to hinder his abilities even as time progressed. Phili'p knew he'd have to act fast if he was to avoid becoming the victim here, though it would appear as though he'd lost control.

There was a flicker in Phili'p's own presence, though he still remained; possibly something to be overlooked when one was consentrating so on so many things - like healing, further revitalizing, sustaining stealth of presence (otherwise Phili'p would easily be able to sense Sogar's location), sensing for Phili'p, and gathering the Darkside to him (which would only work against his efforts to conceal his location).

Phili'p's image began screaming incoherently at the darkness all around him, turning to face one spot and then another. He kept turning and turning with a blind challenge to what could not be seen, as it seemed Phili'p had no idea where Sogar was.

As far as Sogar would be able to tell, Phili'p was helpless at the center of their arena. ...Things were not as they seemed.

 

[Black Noise]

((Sorry for taking so long!))

Sogar could sense his opponent attempting to mess with him, and it was causing his blood to boil. What the man was doing now was not at all in line with how he had fought. His opponent was deliberate, strong, and intelligent. He was currently only sensing stupidity, which was a bad sign for him.

Sogar diverted from sensing almost entirely, keeping a keen sense on only was immediately around him. He then dropped trying to heal his back, he wasn't done and it still was burning in pain, but he would handle the pain. He was gathering the strength for his next move, which would require a great amount of Force to complete successfully.

If he could do it, he would win, he just had to do it. Meanwhile, he knew his opponent had a plan...
They needed to act fast.

 

[DeathToll]

All he could do was persist. The image of Phili'p kept on screaming, one way then the next; back and forth at random, still standing boldly with an animalistic abandon.

Yet in secret, he too was gathering strength; not to attack, but to survive.

The fact that Sogar had not yet shown himself or attacked, only lead Phili'p to believe his enemy knew that it was not truly himself roaring in the center; or at least Sogar had a suspicion. So, he'd force Sogar to come out and find him. And when he did, Phili'p would be ready.

 

[Black Noise]

((Assuming the Phili'p in the mid of the arena is an illusion. Not quite sure.))

Finally, Sogar had enough strength, more than enough strength really. He reignited his lightsaber and walked up to the prohection of Phili'p in the center of the arena. He swung his saber, swiping it through the illusion and calling out.
"Come and get me! You worthless, pathetic excuse for a Sith!"
Sogar was trying to incite him. But a sickening feeling in his stomach told him Phili'p would come out without insults. After all, the Sith he was facing was no fool.

 

[DeathToll]

Too slow.

Curious that the Sith Master had not errupted with an all out Force attack. It was what Phili'p was expecting. But the act of first igniting the lightsaber, and then 'walking' over to Phili'p's projection, and then slashing through it - gave Phili'p so much time to react.

When Sogar's lightsaber ignited, and his position was given away, the real Phili'p, in stealth, repositioned himself as Sogar began to step in closer towards the projected image of Phili'p.

When Sogar lifted his saber and cut through the false image, that image disapeared yet two more Phili'p's emerged; one standing at a distance with his arms stretched out in concentration, straight in Sogar's line of sight (12 o'clock), and the other screamed as he rushed in behind Sogar with a crossing single-handed diagonal slash through Sogar's back (6 o'clock). The Phili'p standing in front of Sogar, at a distance, glared with a lowered gaze; twisting those outstretched hands, a thumb over the unignited lightsaber hilt in one of those hands. He was doing something, but it was not clear. The other Phili'p who rushed in behind with a slash had a free hand held up near his own face, also doing something; similarly unclear.

All the while, Sogar would feel a strange void in a vacuum. It would seem as if he were being drained or blocked from his power, somehow. And if this image of Sogar was also a projection, Phili'p would now know it; but would remain in the dark to the true Sogar's location, however Resisting Sogar's influence and power.

((I have predetermined which, if any, is the real Phili'p. So, whatever you decide to do, I will have to be true to my decision that has already been made. There are three possibilities; the standing Phili'p, the charging Phili'p, and the unseen Phili'p - meaning that both are projections.))

 

[Black Noise]

Sogar sighed, things were getting troublesome. Sogar knew a few were illusioms, and perhaps all were ilusions. The power he had readied himself for would not be some easy thing he could conjure a thousand times. Sogar needed to know for sure which one was Phili'p.

He could see two illusions, one rushing behind him and one standing in front of him. Both were making some strange motion with their hand, but Sogar couldn't tell what it was. Thirdly, he could feel another Phili'p, perhaps another illusion, trying to suppress his power, that would not do.

He spun around with lightning speed, creating three actions simultaneously. He first brought his saber up, and while doing that, activated his Force Immunity to block out whatever was trying to suppress him. Lastly, he immediately brought up his hand the second he blocked the saber of the Phili'p who changed him and Force Pushed him away.

Sogar had spent time revitalizing himself, and he knew from experience that this many illusions exhausted even masters. Phili'p would be running out of options very soon, while Sogar was still ready to fight.

 

[DeathToll]

And there, again, Sogar presented his backside to Phili'p.

Sogar was stretched beyond his ability; revitalizing, healing, gathering power, focusing an immunity against what ..he did not even know. Sogar's eyes were spread so far apart looking for each and every possibility, that he missed the one staring right back at him.

Phili'p, the true Phili'p, was standing right there with his hands out in front of him.

But Sogar was too split apart over such a wide range of scenarios. And yet, Phili'p had only created one other projection. A simple thing. He'd been preparing his own resistance to Sogar's incoming attack, but when it didn't happen the way he thought it would; he came to this option. And Sogar played right into Phili'p's hands, literally.

Just as fast as Phili'p's illusion darted in behind, so too did Sogar spin around to deal with it. But as he did, his lightsaber went right through it; and it vanished.

Simultaniously, Sogar had stretched out his abilities to block that feeling of the void. Yet that too was but another form of blocking. This attempt was for nothing, and had targeted something it could not know for sure. Therefore, he could not be ready for what caught him now in the back... again.

Just as Phili'p's illusion had rushed in, the real Phili'p saw the decision made in Sogar's eyes - darting to the side and disregarding the true Phili'p as a threat. Phili'p sensed the outcome, he predicted the verdict. It was in this instant that the real Phili'p acted with as much speed as he possibly could, releasing his attempt at resisting Sogar with one hand (which would draw Sogar's focus of resistance out towards that vague presence to the distance away from the real Phili'p in order to properly block it) just as he released his lightsaber.

In an instant, the crimson of Phili'p's lightsaber would errupt out from Sogar's chest, only stopping when the solid hilt impacted with his spine.

In that instant, as Sogar had already commited to turning around and presenting his back to Phili'p, Phili'p had used the quickest of motion to throw his lightsaber in hand. So silently it would fly, not ignited. The red beam of Phili'p's lightsaber would ignite just as it reached Sogar, under a second's time and becoming a reality just as Sogar completed his previous action. Sogar hadn't fully healed his back from earlier, and therefore would be powerless against this second devastating attack as it connected with his back once more - peircing through the Sith Master's spine and main internal organs. Sogar had made his choice, he had decided to face Phili'p's illusion with everything he had. And Sogar's Force Immunity was something used only against Phili'p's Force attack's distracting Resistance.

This was the duel's defining moment.

 

[Black Noise]

To simply take his attention away from the other illusions would have registered Sogar into the grand hall of idiot fame. His opponent was attempting to catch him off guard in an area he had guarded. His back, being still injured, was the most guarded spot of his body, despite turning to to the illusion.

When a being is injured, it is natural tendancies that force that being to focus its attention into the injured areas. Because Sogar had been creating quite a few actions, he could suppress that natural function. The second he had turned his eye away from the Phili'p that was in front of him, he had sensed him throw his blade. All that was required now was to speed up, because he had his target.

His blade sliced right through the Phili'p that he had turned to, and the force push made sure the illusion did not have any physical qualities to it. But Sogar never stopped his turn. He dropped the immunity, he could the saber come at him through the force, and he knew he could not stop it. But Sogar also knew, he didn't have to.

Sogar's physical body was slow compared to the speed of his mind. In the very instant before he was hit, he gathered all of his enegy he had created and centered it into his chest. The blade erupted through Sogar, sending blinding pain through him, but it did not kill. Sogar instantly pulled Dark Transfer to force himself to stay alive and Tutaminis to stop the blade from cutting further.

In a very fast, very swift motion, Sogar yanked Phili'p blade from his chest. His stabbed chest healed as the blue lightning of Dark Transfer surged through his body. But even after he healed, the Exhaustion that followed permeated every muscle in Sogar's body. One of a lower constitution and skill would have dropped unconscious, but Sogar had immense constitution, and he had used Dark Transfer twice before.

He flipped Phili'p blade into an attack position. Sogar was conscious, in pain, and strong enough to move. But most of all, Phili'p was now without a blade.

 

[DeathToll]

Step one, Sogar was hit with Phili'p's blade. Step two, Sogar used Tutaminis to stop the blade from delving any further. Step three, Sogar pulled the blade out of his back. Step four, Sogar healed himself. Step five, Sogar switched Phili'p's blade into an attack position.

Phili'p didn't let Sogar get past step one.

As soon as the blade stuck into Sogar's back, impaling his spine just as his own lightsaber reached its highest point after cutting through the false image of Phili'p, and no later - Phili'p's fingers blasted out with a blue lightning storm. Catching Sogar before he turned around and before his physical could catch up with his mental, Phili'p's lightning would burn through all that Sogar was in this place. The lightning would be drawn to Phili'p's lightsaber, penetrating through the enemy, like the spire of a temple crying out for the god that it worshiped to strike it with a divine power. It received its wish.

 

[Black Noise]

Phli'p would simply not let up. The attack of lightning was unexpected, but generally useless. The lightning flashed towards Sogar's back and screamed towards where he had been impaled, but tutaminis was already active. The lightning was not even hard compared to Sogar stopping the saber, and his speed was being grossly underestimated. He had turned and healed even before the lightning had finished hitting him.

He brought both blades around to block the remaining lightning that hadn't dissipated around his chest. Sogar was fighting a losing battle, but he was still fighting. The Tutaminis hadn't absorbed all the lightning, as it didn't solely hit his chest. However, although he minor burns across the rest of his body, he wasn't dead.

Sogar running out of options, and Phili'p looked unaffected by the entire battle. He had successfully turned, healed, and neagted enough lightning so that it didn't kill him. But truthfully, Sogar was amazed he could still stand. Standing in face to face with his opponent, Sogar prepared one last harebrained scheme. A scheme that just might work. Provided that Phili'p didn't have another blade hidden somewhere.