Deniel's C rank Exam!

Deliver My Letter! 25 Exp

The Rarest Flower 25 exp

Spy Criminal Watch 25 exp

Find the Ring! 25 Exp

Breaking and Exiting!  25 Exp

Hanted!  25 exp


Total exp: 150

OOC: Approved! Let's get this started.

IC:

The sound of a gong echoed loudly through the streets of Karakuri City. The ceremonial training grounds of the Eclipse Soul guildhall had been prepared. A large circle was carved around the training area and set on fire. An audience of curious monks and residents of the city came to watch, as well as some other guildmembers. Today was Deniel's examination to be officially recognized as a C rank mage.

Zeno was meditating in the center of the circle. As soon as Deniel was ready, he would only have to give Zeno the signal.

Deniel stood in the circle of fire in the arena, adjusting one of his gloves a bit by making sure it was on all the way and not loose. He didn't feel nervous nor was he shakily anxious; he knew he was ready for this, and that Old Man had faith in him, even though he probably wasn't watching. Much to his surprise, though, there was quite the large crowd of people. This was only a C rank exam, he didn't think it would be made to be such a big deal. He stared at his guild master meditating in the center of the circle.

"So you're the guild master, eh? I don't think we've met before."

Zeno breathed out and stood up calmly. He had a welcoming expression on his face and even displayed a small smile. He extended his hand for a handshake.

"I must apologize, it isn't customary for a new guildmember to be welcomed into my guild without a proper meeting first, and this is the first time I get to meet a new member of the family at an examination. I... was away for a while. I was needed elsewhere. Regardless, I have heard about you from the others, you're hardworking and eager to move forward on your path," Zeno spoke, the tone of his voice was formal, but full of expectation.

Then it turned into something more serious, and perhaps slightly intimidating.

"I hope I won't be disappointed."

His guild master's last words went through his head several times. Deniel showed no signs of a mood change, but it did make his heart beat quicken a bit. He had never felt this feeling before. Regardless, he did have an attitude to maintain, and that's exactly what he did. "Well, that all depends on what exactly I'll be doing. I gotta' say though....." His attention turned to the crowd, as he circled in place, holding his arms out to the surrounding amount of people. "There's quite a crowd for an exam. Especially for a no-name like me."

His attention finally turned back to his guild master, with a new face that said only one thing: he was ready.

"Bring it on!"

Zeno smirked.
"This guild has a reputation for holding exciting examinations."

He looked around from left to right, only shifting his eyes. His body remained calm and perfectly still.
"This examination should not be too hard anyway. Your task is actually quite simple: throw at me all that you can."

A grin appeared on the guildmaster's face.
"But you have to stay inside the circle of fire. If you fall outside of it you'll get burned and you will have failed your exam," the man in the hood spoke. Zeno's eyes were set on Deniel's. The grin was still lingering.

"Let the examination begin."

That part was even more surprising to Deniel. His eyes widened for a few moments at what he was supposed to do. Staying inside might have not been a problem, but he was going against someone way out of his league. Still, Deniel had to do whatever it takes. "Alright, fine." In a few moments, Deniel came up with a couple of strategies for staying away from the fire should he get sent back, and now all that was left was to show his master what exactly he could do.

"Arm of the Black Devil!" Deniel shouted those words as he ran straight toward his guild master. He had to make the first move, or else this would just be a stand off. Although reckless, a sneak attack wouldn't have worked either. As he ran towards him, Deniel's right arm shifted itself into black reptilian scales and razor sharp claws quickly. When he got close enough, Deniel honed his claws by bending his fingers, and the first thing he did was send one scratch straight at his master's right cheek, although he was confident it wouldn't hit.

OOC:

Take over Cost used: 10

Take Over duration: 1/3

A demonic take over magic... interesting.

Zeno watched Deniel prepare for the attack, the young mage seemed willing to give his all, but Zeno could tell in his eyes he didn't actually believe he could land his hit. He ran towards Zeno, black claw reflecting the sunlight, after which he swung it right at Zeno's face.

As straightforward as I should have expected, I suppose.

As the arm lunged for his face, Zeno ducked underneath it elegantly and with a quick sidestep he was already behind Deniel before the young take over mage could even finish his swing.

Zeno calmly placed his boot against the lower back of Deniel and pushed him forward, straight towards the flames.

As he expected, his hit didn't get through, and he was counter attacked. Reflexes, strength, and speed, his master did have it all. Yet, he knew that he was only toying with him. As he was sent straight to the flame, Deniel used his first method of making sure he didn't get it. He sent his clawed hand straight into the ground, and dug them in deep. They made a harsh screeching sound, but they still kept Deniel from being sent to the flames, as they slowed his speed down slowly. When he finally came to a complete stop, he dug his claws out of the arena floor and stood up straight again.

This time, he decided to go with a different tactic. Although he seemingly made the same approach, charging straight to his master, at the last second, he crouched down put one foot at the master's side, swiftly pivoting himself so he was behind him. Once he was, he held out his hand for another attack, but gave this one a twist. An arched blade of darkness formed on Deniel's right hand, which was used as the weapon this time. And this time, he was aiming for his master's back. "Devil Slash!" He pulled his arm back, and then sent it straight forward for a back stab.


OOC:

Take Over Duration: 2/3

Devil Slash: 1/2

Zeno was happy Deniel managed to grind to a stop before getting burned. Swiftly after he recovered from Zeno's counter attack, Deniel charged at him again.

The guildmaster was curious to see what Deniel's intentions were and how he'd keep it coming. The main idea behind this examination was to find out how his new apprentice would behave in a desperate situation and how long he could keep going, how long it would take for him to give up, but more importantly whether or not he could surprise himself and accomplish something he didn't think he was capable of.

Zeno always wanted his students to learn something and find something within themselves during the examinations, that was the true sign of improvement.

The Arcane mage was prepared for anything Deniel was willing to throw at him. He was actually suspecting another claw attack like before, but this time Deniel pivoted. Zeno decided to mirror him and pivot as well. He did so calmly, but with speed, control and accuracy. The moment he saw the slash coming his way, Zeno twisted his body a little bit more so that the sword would barely miss him. As Deniel lunged forward, Zeno grabbed the man's wrist with his left hand and used his momentum to lift Deniel off of his feet and into the air again by twisting further.

Zeno just swung Deniel into the air by the arm with only one hand. The guildmaster then let go of Deniel's arm which would send him flying towards the edge of the arena once more.

"Not again!" This time, Deniel was flying with his stomach facing the ground, which would make it a little bit more difficult to stop himself. Still, he went with the same tactic as to stopping himself by digging his claws into the ground. This time, though, he also used his heels to slow himself down just before he hit the fire. When he came to a complete stop, he dug his claws out once again and stood up. He looked down at his right arm, which made it obvious that his take over had timed out. The blade vanished and his arm swiftly shifted back into his normal skin and glove. Still, he wasn't completely out of ideas.

He faced Zeno with the same face as before: not showing any signs of fear, nervousness, or anxiety. Although he did have quite a smirk on his face, as if he were having fun being toyed around. "After this I guess I'll have to pay Old Man another visit. I've still got a lot to learn, I guess." Deniel went in for another reckless attack. With the fact that this was his third one so far, it made it obvious that these were intentional. Once he got in close enough, he ducked down again as if he were going to pivot a second time, but he did something much different.

When he reached close enough and ducked down, Deniel turned himself around and sent his elbow straight to Zeno's stomach, following up with using his knuckles as well by sending it straight up. Whether it hit, missed, or blocked, Deniel went with it.

Zeno was slightly impressed by the way Deniel managed to stop himself from flying into the flames after being thrown like that. Nevertheless, by the time the young mage stood up, his take over magic was gone.

Zeno raised an eyebrow, questioning Deniel's will to carry on the fight. As if he were saying "No magic, now what?"

Deniel replied with a solid an unchanged facial expression. He dashed for Zeno once more with the same energy as he started the fight with.

There were a few things Zeno could conclude from that: his demonic take over did not have any ranged attacks yet, and Deniel had more up his sleeve.

This time, Deniel did not throw a straight punch or pivot to any side, he got low and used the force of his run to spin around and elbow Zeno in the stomach.

Zeno let it hit him. The elbow simply bounced off his armor, he didn't even feel it. Deniel followed up by performing a rising uppercut. The guildmaster lifted his chin and leaned back just a little bit with excellent timing. The fist passed him by just a few inches away.

Before Deniel could even pull back his fist to perform another attack, Zeno's foot left the gound and flashed forward. The kick was aimed straight at Deniel's chest and it would launch him clean off the ground, sending him flying towards the fire once more. This time, his face would be turned towards the sky, preventing him from planning a proper move to land and stay inside the ring of fire.

As Deniel flew towards the fire with his head first, it seemed as if he had given up. He made no movement to resist going towards the fire, until moments before he went head-first into it. "Wings of the White Angel!" From his back, Deniel sprouted two white feathered wings, which he put to use immediately. He flapped his wings as fast and as hard as he could flying straight up towards the sky, avoiding the fire narrowly. With the problem of the fire out of the way, Deniel slowly descended to the ground with his new pair of wings. "Whew.....close one. Alright, again!" Deniel braced himself, as if he were about to charge at Zeno once again.

But with his wings on his back, Deniel did something even more reckless: As soon as he propelled himself off the ground, as if sprinting, his wings took effect to make him glide through the air, over twice as fast as he was running. He charged head-first at Zeno, and he learned from his mistake last time. Instead of going for his stomach, he readied his fist, and when he got close enough, sent a blow straight his Zeno's face.

From his earlier move, he noticed that he made no effort into dodging his jab to the stomach, but narrowly dodged it with his face. And that, at least from what Deniel thought, is where he should strike.


OOC:

Wings of the White Angel Take over: 1/3

A slight smile appeared on Zeno's face as he watched Deniel reveal another aspect of his takeover magic. His suspicions had been proven correct. There was more to this young mage than what meets the eye.

The exam was over.

As Deniel charged at Zeno, the guildmaster clapped his hands. The fires died down instantly and the crowd started applauding. The takeover mage's fist flew at his face, but Zeno calmly intercepted it with the palm of his hand and then moved Deniel's arm down slowly to a resting position.

"Congratulations, you are now officially a mage of C Rank power and capabilities. Go ask Kyll to cook you something special and... Welcome to Eclipse Soul."

Deniel let his takeover end early, his wings going straight back from where they came from. He gave a breath of both relief and happiness. "Thanks. And it's a tempting offer to have some food, but I'll pass. I'm going to get back to Old Man as soon as possible." He gave a small bow and walked away from the arena circle to the exit. Before he left, he turned around and said one last thing: "I guarantee you this: It wont be long 'til the next exam." He gave a wave with a jerk of his wrist and two fingers as he does with everyone and finally exited the arena.

"Alright, Old Man, let's see what you've got for me this time."