Con the Con [Marick B Rank Exam; Private]

His experience thus far was the only thing that had prevented Marick from taking too much damage from superior mage, being able to roughly predict some movements or react to them instinctively. However, as he released his Chain Lightning, Marick had let Zenshin pull a trick of his own. The Wizard Saint link-stepped behind his elder guild member, before delivering a punishing slash across the Solitaire's back, cutting almost to the bone. There was little Marick could do as the pain gripped his body and caused him to fall to one knee. He'd not sustained an injury quite this bad in over a year but, more than that, he was now essentially defeated. Zenshin was behind him, had struck him and - were this a duel to the death - would have ended him there and then. "I guess the age gap only helped for so long." he chuckled as he turned his head slightly so that his guildmaster could hear him.

This wasn't a duel to the death though, and Marick still had a card or three to play as he gripped three cards and, in one quick motion, rolled to the right and launched them at Zenshin, once again creating space between the two. The Sabertooth Guildmaster had both linkstepped and used his other spell, meaning he probably hadn't very many options left to close the gap between the two.
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MP: 55 (-5%)
HP: 70 (-15%)


Card Shield - 1 post cooldown
Water Pulse - 1 post cooldown
Chain Lightning - 3 post cooldown
Deny - 5 post cooldown

4 posts until Quick Shuffle.

Not sure how much damage the sword would do yet, so the HP may be changed.

Marick's cards dropped to the ground beside him as his body was push to the ground. The gash in his back was causing him to lose a lot of blood and, although he was still conscious and perfectly aware, the pain was certainly pushing his pain threshold to its limit. He looked up at his guildmaster, a look of determination in his eyes even despite his loss. He felt he'd put up a good enough fight to at least be considered to be passed. Zenshin stopped in front of the card mage, looking down at him.

"Marick. Do you really believe in our cause to create a paradise? Are you really willing to die for our cause? I need to hear you say it and I need you to mean those words."

Marick pushed himself partially upright, holding himself up with his right elbow as he chuckled. "I came to you because a paradise is what I was seeking in the first place." He dropped back to the floor with a grunt of pain, closing his eyes tight for a moment as the wound on his back stung. "No...I don't believe in the cause...it's become like the air we breathe." he said calmly, before looking up at Zenshin again. "But for the sake of clarification...yes, I believe in that paradise, and I would die without a second thought to bring that paradise to life."

"I'm glad you feel that way Marick, and you'll be glad to hear that you'll be able to test your selflessness too"

The entire scenario probably lasted for a total of ten seconds, but in Marick's mind it felt...timeless. He knew he was dead. Zenshin had ensured that.

Marick's eyes opened, and widened in momentary shock at the sight before him. He was stood on a high platform, no larger in diameter than the length from his shoulder to the tip of his middle finger. "If this is heaven then those religious nuts have it all wrong." he chuckled to himself before hearing his own voice echoing as if bouncing off of the walls of a cathedral. This was clearly not any kind of a reality, but he was almost certain this wasn't the end either. As if on cue, multiple platforms appeared before him to create a path that appeared to go on forever. As he stepped onto one platform however he was suddenly stood at the very end of the walkway looking up at a pair of large silver and gold doors. ...next time I see Zenshin I'm telling him to lay off of those noodles...

He stepped forwards and pushed against the doors in an attempt to open them, only to find himself stuck to the spot as he felt some unfamiliar energy flow through him from his left hand, right through his body to his right hand, before leaving through his fingertips. He removed his hands immediately and looked down at them. They seemed to glow gold momentarily as if the energy had left some kind of a residue, before returning to their normal flesh colour. "Well...wonderful as this trip has been, I have places to go and people to see." the Solitaire spoke almost casually. ...talking to yourself is the first sign of madness Marick... he thought to himself as he placed his palms against the doors again and pushed them open. Behind the doors was simply a black abyss that immediately engulfed him.

Marick's eyes opened, this time to the sight of Zenshin stood over him with his sword still in his hand. "I guess it's normal to complain of a dry throat right?" he said with a smile, content that this time he was back in the land of the living; his voice hadn't echoed this time. Despite having been...well, dead, the card mage actually only felt tired, as if he'd woken from a long, deep slumber. Renewed was possibly a word to be used...but tired was definitely what he was feeling right now.