Gladio headed to the Martial Academy's Arena for his initiation quest into the fighter's guild, He wanted to get better with his sword skills, and also he liked to fight! So he figured it could be a good place for him regardless of his use of magic, hopefully that wouldn't be frowned upon. Much...

Either way he Grabbed his cloak and his sword, and headed to the arena. Apparently his opponent was going to be a lizardfolk by the name of Xalmann, He didn't know much else about him, but the guild gave them each other's name for the fight, hopefully it was sort of even, fights were more fun when you don't know who'd win and if either of them was much stronger than the other it would probably end too quickly. So Gladio hoped for an even and fun match.

Walking to his side of the Arena he waited for his opponent to arrive and the fight to begin.

Xalmann walked behind a guild official who was guiding him to a fight with someone as a test of their initiations into the guild. He had been invited to join as a strong warrior, but he needed to prove himself in a fight before being fully welcomed. He could respect that. He had a very similar way of assessing people. He wasn't particularly interested in joining any organization or making allies, but they apparently had some secret techniques he could only learn if he joined and he wanted anything that would make him a more powerful warrior. These techniques could be useful.

The red scaled Lizardfolk and his guide entered the arena and Xalmann could see his opponent was already waiting for him. A man named Gladio who apparently was also trying to enter the guild. The guide motioned for everyone to take their positions on the arena and stood between Gladio and Xalmann who were facing each other from a short distance.

"Alright, the both of you were chosen to fight each other because you both supplement your weapon skills with magic. There's no need to hold yourself back in this fight, except of course, that you're not to kill your opponent." the guide said, very seriously, looking back and forth between them with a serious expression.

Now, you two introduce yourselves. You'll soon be fellow guildmates, after all!" he added cheerily with a smile, completely breaking the serious mood.

"Xalmann Dakarr." the Lizardman introduced himself simply, looking at Gladio across from him.

Soon enough his opponent arrived together with a guild guide, Gladio walked a bit closer to the center before the guide explained that they shouldn't hold back much, except to avoid killing the other. That was fine by him Gladio enjoys fighting but not really the result of it, he didn't like to kill or extremely cripple his opponents, but he still liked the art of combat that's mostly why he felt the fighter's guild could be a good place for him. He nodded at the guild officer, suddenly he changed his demeanor when he asked them to introduce themselves, the guild officer seemed quite cheery about it which took Gladio a little by surprise.

"Oh, I'm Gladio Aurum! Let's have a good fight!" he introduced himself with a smile having the cheeriness of the guild guide rub off on him a little. But that didn't last much, as his face turned serious yet again when they told them to get ready.

Gladio unsheathed his sword and prepared to fight, they signalled the start of the fight, and for now Gladio would wait to see what his opponent did first, not used to charging in blindly and preffering to fight on the defensive at least until he could tell how strong or skilled his opponent was. 

He simply gave a nod in response to Gladio's introduction. He wasn't very talkative, but he could at least acknowledge his opponent. The guide moved to the side, out of the way of any danger and raised a hand in the air. Looking between the two fighters, he suddenly dropped his hand to signal the beginning of the battle.

Xalmann stood, watching his opponent warily. He held his axe and dagger at the ready, but didn't act immediately. He was already aware his opponent could use magic along with his weapon, but he hadn't actually been told what kind. He'd have to wait and see for himself what exactly his opponent could do. But, if they weren't going to make the first move, he would.

The Lizardman charged forward, the head of his axe beginning to glow like it had just been removed from a forge. With a swing, a ball of fire flew from the axe toward Gladio with Xalmann running directly behind it.

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Fire Bolt
Arcane Focus

For a bit neither of them moved, but then Xalmann charged forward and as he did his blade began to shine red, Gladio watched as his opponent began to swing way before being close enough to reach him, so he had to have a trick up his sleeve, he either expected his opponent to move closer quickly, maybe with a blink or bullet dash, or shoot something out, so when a fireball came out of the axe Gladio was not completely taken by surprise. As this happened Gladio's own sword began to take a shine in the form of golden sparks which surrounded the blade.

He waited a bit, fighting the instinct to roll away immediately, He wasn't trained enough yet to not have that instinct, but he knew it was better to stay calm. As the fire ball got close enough to his face Gladio quickly ducked sideways to his left, while moving his sword to point at Xalmann's chest, suddenly Lightning shot out from the tip of his sword, arcing towards the Lizardfolk.

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Lightning Bolt

Arcane Focus

Xalmann could see the sparks crackling along the blade and knew now that Gladio could use lightning magic That was certainly a powerful, dangerous magic to be facing off against. With the blade pointed at his chest, the Lizardfolk leaned far backward to avoid the bolt of lightning that shot out of the tip. Using his tail to maintain his balance, he jumped back to his feet in front of them.

With his fire magic already revealed, there was now no reason to hide his magic. While he was in close proximity to his enemy, now was the best opportunity to use his best fire spell. His scales began to glow just as hot as his axe and the air around him wavered from the heat around him. Gladio would find just being near the Lizardman a more and more painful experience.

With the temperature around him rising, he stabbed forward with his dagger, toward Gladio's shoulder.

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Prehensile Tail
Heat Cloak
Dagger of Torment

As his opponent dodged his lightning Gladio got in a ready position again. Alright, this is gonna be interesting Gladio thought as Xalmann approached, he saw that he began to shine as well, but couldn't really tell why, until he began to feel it, the air suddenly getting hotter, it wouldn't do to stay next to him for long but he probably would get exhausted trying to take him out from a distance, so he would have to be crafty.

Gladio used his sword with both hands to parry the dagger lunge aimed at his shoulder by swinging the flat of his blade towards his right, with almost no wind up, he used his left hand at the back of the grip to push while he pulled with his right hand creating a fast slapping motion at the dagger, he followed this up by pushing through the heat to attempt a strike with the pommel of his blade aimed at his opponents face.

Whether the pommel strike hit or not, he would try to make some distance right after by jumping back a bit.

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Longsword (Arcane Soul: Lightning)

Xalmann quickly raised his axe to deflect the sword pommel headed toward his face, smacking it upward with the back of his axe.

It was a little surprising that he had chosen to stay in such close range of the Lizard now that the heat around him was rising rapidly. Most people wouldn't want to want to stand so close to a burning fire, let alone get closer. But, it wasn't that surprising. Xalmann knew himself that repeatedly throwing spells would be draining and most likely a waste of energy. Staying within melee and trying to defeat the Lizardman quickly was probably the smartest move. He had to give Gladio some credit.

But, a bit of respect for his opponent wouldn't make him concede the victory to them. He intended to follow through to the end and win this fight.

With both Xalmann's axe and Gladio's sword knocked upward and out of the way, Xalmann tried again to strike with his kukri dagger, swinging the blade toward Gladio's ribs in a chopping motion, almost as if it was also an axe.

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Dagger of Torment
Heat Cloak (Ongoing)

After his pommel strike was deflected by his opponent Gladio had no reason to stay on the offensive, and not only was the heat getting unbearable but his opponent also had the advantage at that distance since a dagger is way more effective when in grappling range than a longsword, So he used the momentum of his sword being deflected upwards and back, to jump back at blinding speeds while covered in sparks.

Landing some 20 meters away he stood again at the ready pointing his sword towards Xalmann's chest, He has some fast reflexes, and that heat spell will be annoying... gotta be careful... Gladio thought to himself while a bit of sweat ran down his forehead from the heat he just got away from, even though it looked like it, he wouldn't shoot a lightning bolt again, not until a proper opportunity presented itself, Instead he would wait for Xalmann to charge at him yet again. He probably wouldn't be able to close the distance very fast, so Gladio probably had the speed advantage.

Xalmann could see Gladio beginning to sweat and knew the heat was getting to him. As long as he could keep close to him, keep the heat on him, he should win this battle. He just needed to be cautious of their spellcasting. His opponent still hadn't revealed much, only one of their spells so far. It was very likely they'd have more up their sleeves. Xalmann himself had more he could do but was keeping in reserve.

With Gladio taking some distance to get away from the heat rising around Xalmann, the Lizardman didn't charge forward like his enemy might expect from him doing so previously. Gladio was smaller and faster than him. He'd jumped back very quickly. They'd have no trouble keeping a distance if he didn't do something about it.

Xalmann held his axe to his side, the blade heating up a bit more than usual. With a slight swing forward, flames broke out across the ground into a tight ring around the two combatants. With this, Gladio wouldn't be able to go much farther from the Lizardman.

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Ring of Fire
Arcane Focus
Heat Cloak (Ongoing)

Gladio soon noticed that Xalmann wasn't charging at him again, was he letting Gladio recover? why? unless... He began walking forward a bit, as his axe began glowing like an ember again, Another Fireball? Gladio wondered, No... he must have a trick up his sleeve... As soon as he finished thinking that a flame ring appeared with a swing of his opponent's blade, now trapped he would have to keep close... He would have to try and end this fight quickly.

Looking back for a second to see the flames behind him he sighed "... Alright." Suddenly he began running towards the Lizardfolk, After just a few steps he changed how he gripped his sword to be able to throw it like a javelin, and launched it towards Xalmann while running behind it, the sword was faster so it would reach him about a second before Gladio did and as the charged sparking blade was about to reach his opponent, Gladio would shoot out a lightning bolt from his left hand as he ran. hopefully catching his opponent off-guard.

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Longsword (Arcane Soul: Lightning)

Lightning Bolt

Xalmann knocked the sword away with his axe again, but was surprised by the lightning bolt that came at him right behind it. There was no time to dodge it completely. It was frustrating for the Lizardman to have to take the first real hit in the fight, but he had no choice but to let the bolt strike him in the right shoulder, leaving a black burn mark. He grit his teeth from the pain and glared at Gladio.

No, this was just a duel. He shouldn't be so angry. Taking damage from an opponent was to be expected. This just meant they were a strong fighter. He should be more respectful. His angry glare quickly change to a nod of respect while the wound on his shoulder rapidly healed itself as if it had never been there. Now he'd take this fight a bit more seriously.

From behind Xalmann, another Lizardman appeared, but this one waa bulkier and more muscular than Xalmann, but also shorter, standing about 5'10". This Lizardfolk was translucent and covered in horrible burns, with a large war axe in both hands. On closer examination, one could also recognize that their face was also a bit different than Xalmann's.

The aura of heat around Xalmann flared, the area of it seeming to suddenly expand.

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Sharing Essence (1/2)
Spirit Shroud

Yes! it worked! Gladio kept running determined to keep the pressure on at least for now. Suddenly the heat began to rise as a Ghostly figure appeared... another Lizardfolk, this one with terrible burns, apparently it was giving Xalmann power somhow... but now was not a moment to be distracted, He was approaching and had to be ready to strike again, he had to bear the heat even if it was starting to get hard to breathe, there was a lot of fire around so he'd have to be careful.

Gladio Used his left hand to grab his cloak and spun it around it, at the same time he raised his right hand as if preparing to slam his opponent. Suddenly Gladio's sword appeared on his hand seemingly out of nowhere and as he had already prepared to strike he just slashed Downwards as he activated the double strike rune to immediately thrust, the two motions connected seamlessly leaving almost no time for reaction between them both.

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Always there (Weapon teleported to hand)

Longsword (Arcane Soul: Lightning, Enchantment: Double Strike)

Xalmann raised his axe up to easily block the downward swing of Gladio's sword, but the sword suddenly went into a thrusting position and lunged at him. He was caught off guard. This opponent apparently had quite a lot of tricks up his sleave that he was now using rapidly. The heat was obviously getting to him and making him want to end things quickly. Not only was the heat coming from the Lizardman already, but now he was surrounded on all sides by roaring flames. It was like being in an oven that just kept getting hotter.

Before the unexpected thrust could land a hit on Xalmann, the sword was suddenly smacked away by the larger axe of the ghostly figure behind him. The axe had passed right through the real Lizardfolk like he wasn't there, but clanged loudly against the sword, the apparition standing behind, ready to defend Xalmann.

With Gladio's lunge stopped and his sword swept wide to the side, Xalmann swung his axe toward them in a similar downward chop to what Gladio had done, his dagger up and ready to keep Gladio's sword from returning to a defensive position.

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Heat Cloak (Ongoing)
Ring of Fire (Ongoing)
Guardian Spirit (1/2)
Battle Axe (Arcane Soul: Fire)
Dagger of Torment

Gladio didn't manage to catch his opponent by surprise by making his sword appear back in his hand, but just when he thought he had gotten his opponent the Lizardfolk apparition suddenly blocked the strike knocking his weapon to the side, with his dagger ready to stop any attempt of using it to block, Xalmann chopped down with his axe.

Gladio had thought about the possibility of a counter attack although which one, That's exactly why he had wrapped his Cloak around his left arm, As the axe came down on him Gladio used his cloak as an improvised gauntlet and while he couldn't block the axe, as that'd probably break his arm, he did slap it away. With the heat getting unbearable he had to make some distance so he attempted to kick his opponent's stomach with a front kick using this same motion to generate a gust of wind strong enough to lift a person and push them a few feet back, Hopefully throwing Xalmann on his own ring of fire, what he didn't foresee was his cloak catching on fire from the axe's heat so he would try to jump back and take it off before the fire could spread.

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Duelist Cloak (Caught fire)

Push/Pull