Erza Scarlet (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
redhairedknight) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
genessia2018-11-16 03:01 pm
redhairedknight) wrote in genessia2018-11-16 03:01 pm
Entry tags:
Twelfth Mission [Action]
[Nova City was still a strange place to Erza; she felt far outside of her element when she visited it. Still, if there's one thing that she could easily adapt to, it was the Holodeck - holograms might not be the same as the real thing, but it worked well for training, especially once she learned how to create holograms from her memories when preparing for a date with Mirajane.
Today, Erza decided to test herself, facing off against any opponents who had given her a real challenge in the past. She would only leave out two of her tougher foes - Mirajane (because she could spar with Mira whenever she wanted) and Erza Knightwalker (because she was convinced that the fight with her alternate universe self would inevitably end in a draw).
She figured that she'd take breaks to eat or heal up, but otherwise, she'd spend the morning training and be done by the afternoon. However, what started as a fun way to test herself gradually turned into a grueling day-long gauntlet. She'll still be taking breaks after each attempt, but as she gets farther and farther along, she refuses to surrender until she's overcome the trials that she's placed for herself.
When her first battle involves a swordswoman who can attack faster than the eye can follow, it's clear that Erza's in for a rough time. To Erza's relief, she can actually follow Ikaruga's attacks now, so after a few attempts where she overwhelms Ikaruga with her stronger or faster armours, she focuses on learning to defend herself against the mercenary's attacks. Her next opponent, Azuma, isn't the type to go down easy, especially since Erza sets the fight in a forest where he can control and draw energy from all of the surrounding trees. Still, she didn't set this up to go easy on herself.
After the previous two fights, the fight against Kagura was a lot more relaxed. Erza didn't mind if she lost, and she saw it as a chance to improve her own skill with a sword. The two were evenly matched, and while Erza would prefer to have the real Kagura here, even this sparring session is a nice reminder of home.
All of that goodwill goes out the window for her next scenario, where she's up against the demon Kyouka. It's clear that Erza still holds a significant grudge for her treatment at the demon's hands, and any loss is met with a frustrated scream. Whether Kyouka was in her base form or her Etherious form, where her strength increases exponentially and she can increase her foe's pain sensitivity to the point of making a gust of air feel crippling, it was anyone's guess as to who would come out on top.
Compared to Kyouka, Ajeel was relatively straightforward. Sure, he was durable, hard to hit thanks to his sand magic, and required her to think outside the box, but in her previous fight with him, she hadn't been able to use magic for part of it. With that no longer an issue, he wasn't as likely to get any major hits in.
The problems began again with Neinhart. On his own, Neinhart wasn't much of a threat - he could be taken out in one good hit - but originally, he had summoned Ikaruga, Azuma, and Kyouka at the same time. Erza stubbornly wanted to prove to herself that, if she hadn't been damaged from the fight with Ajeel, she could fend off all of them, which was easier said than done.
Last, and certainly not least, is Irene Belserion. She turned off the ability for the holograms to actually cause damage for this one, making it so they stop once she would normally be incapacitated, but even with that, it was still an extremely frustrating experience. No matter what armour she tried, or whether she added a simulation of Wendy to help her out, she would lose horribly nine times out of ten thanks to Irene's enchantment abilities that let her boost her already monstrous strength, manipulate the area around her, or turn Erza's weapons or clothes into bombs, among many other things.
There are some occasions where Erza manages to damage Irene enough to force her into her true form, but once things get to that point, her opponent becomes a wall that Erza can't surpass. Mere swipes of her hand cause enough damage that, according to the Holodeck's systems, would cause enough damage to break quite a few of her bones, and if she manages to dodge those, she can't damage the armour-like scales. And then, Irene starts dragging meteors down from space.
Regardless, Erza refuses to believe that there's nothing that she can do, wanting to prove to herself that she can beat Irene. So she keeps trying, despite losing...] Again! [...and losing...] Again! [...and losing.] AGAIN!!
((OoC: Feel free to have your characters spectate, help Erza out in any of the seven scenarios, or introduce training scenarios of their own!))
Today, Erza decided to test herself, facing off against any opponents who had given her a real challenge in the past. She would only leave out two of her tougher foes - Mirajane (because she could spar with Mira whenever she wanted) and Erza Knightwalker (because she was convinced that the fight with her alternate universe self would inevitably end in a draw).
She figured that she'd take breaks to eat or heal up, but otherwise, she'd spend the morning training and be done by the afternoon. However, what started as a fun way to test herself gradually turned into a grueling day-long gauntlet. She'll still be taking breaks after each attempt, but as she gets farther and farther along, she refuses to surrender until she's overcome the trials that she's placed for herself.
When her first battle involves a swordswoman who can attack faster than the eye can follow, it's clear that Erza's in for a rough time. To Erza's relief, she can actually follow Ikaruga's attacks now, so after a few attempts where she overwhelms Ikaruga with her stronger or faster armours, she focuses on learning to defend herself against the mercenary's attacks. Her next opponent, Azuma, isn't the type to go down easy, especially since Erza sets the fight in a forest where he can control and draw energy from all of the surrounding trees. Still, she didn't set this up to go easy on herself.
After the previous two fights, the fight against Kagura was a lot more relaxed. Erza didn't mind if she lost, and she saw it as a chance to improve her own skill with a sword. The two were evenly matched, and while Erza would prefer to have the real Kagura here, even this sparring session is a nice reminder of home.
All of that goodwill goes out the window for her next scenario, where she's up against the demon Kyouka. It's clear that Erza still holds a significant grudge for her treatment at the demon's hands, and any loss is met with a frustrated scream. Whether Kyouka was in her base form or her Etherious form, where her strength increases exponentially and she can increase her foe's pain sensitivity to the point of making a gust of air feel crippling, it was anyone's guess as to who would come out on top.
Compared to Kyouka, Ajeel was relatively straightforward. Sure, he was durable, hard to hit thanks to his sand magic, and required her to think outside the box, but in her previous fight with him, she hadn't been able to use magic for part of it. With that no longer an issue, he wasn't as likely to get any major hits in.
The problems began again with Neinhart. On his own, Neinhart wasn't much of a threat - he could be taken out in one good hit - but originally, he had summoned Ikaruga, Azuma, and Kyouka at the same time. Erza stubbornly wanted to prove to herself that, if she hadn't been damaged from the fight with Ajeel, she could fend off all of them, which was easier said than done.
Last, and certainly not least, is Irene Belserion. She turned off the ability for the holograms to actually cause damage for this one, making it so they stop once she would normally be incapacitated, but even with that, it was still an extremely frustrating experience. No matter what armour she tried, or whether she added a simulation of Wendy to help her out, she would lose horribly nine times out of ten thanks to Irene's enchantment abilities that let her boost her already monstrous strength, manipulate the area around her, or turn Erza's weapons or clothes into bombs, among many other things.
There are some occasions where Erza manages to damage Irene enough to force her into her true form, but once things get to that point, her opponent becomes a wall that Erza can't surpass. Mere swipes of her hand cause enough damage that, according to the Holodeck's systems, would cause enough damage to break quite a few of her bones, and if she manages to dodge those, she can't damage the armour-like scales. And then, Irene starts dragging meteors down from space.
Regardless, Erza refuses to believe that there's nothing that she can do, wanting to prove to herself that she can beat Irene. So she keeps trying, despite losing...] Again! [...and losing...] Again! [...and losing.] AGAIN!!
((OoC: Feel free to have your characters spectate, help Erza out in any of the seven scenarios, or introduce training scenarios of their own!))
[action]
And that worried Homura. Given the power of Irene, it made her all the more uncertain of how strong Shin was. Couldn't even find anything useful in the holodeck to prepare her for that, only able to call upon previous fights and people in the past. Even as Erza vents her frustration, Homura can only watch, trying to figure out something. Any strategy she thought of was immediately shot down as she saw the dragon move. This wasn't something she could win without her team. Hell, even with them, she'd still have to actually pierce those scales.]
So this is the war mages fight...
[Was the power gap really so big? Apparently so.]
[action]
A hit like that would normally leave Erza unable to move if damage had been turned on, so the simulation ends as Irene rears her head back to prepare for a devastating laser breath attack. The hologram vanishes, and Erza gets to her feet, stomping towards the exit of the simulation room.]
Damn it... [Once outside, Erza punches a wall, frustrated with what she views as her own weakness.] There has to be something that could work...
Re: [action]
[Even if Homura viewed herself as the weaker party here, fighting was still her forte. She could take in the fight when a giant dragon wasn't taking shots at her.
That said, she still stood a safe distance. Anyone angry after fighting usually wanted to take swings. Not even Homura was going to push Erza's buttons in punching distance.]
How about you take five and cool your head? Might be able to think of something better in the meantime.
[action]
[Erza sighs, sitting down. She's more annoyed with herself than anything; she's used to being the dependable one in her guild, the one who everyone can rely on, so fighting an opponent that she has no way of beating doesn't sit well with her.]
I know I can't beat her on my own, but even when we fought back home, my friend and I only won because of luck. If not for that, then my friends and I would likely be dead, or worse.
Re: [action]
[Homura decides to sit next to Erza. Apart from it now feeling safer to do so, a lot of this seemed familiar to how she felt a few times, even now.]
It can feel frustrating, exhausting even. Always trying to close in on that gap, only to find out how truly big it is. Any warrior would get infuriated by that. I've been training myself to death in here too.
[action]
What sort of scenarios have you been using to train? Or do you prefer to spar with others?
Re: [action]
[And the first time she tried it at all, she nearly gave herself a concussion by accident.]
I also try past foes. Mainly Yoma to learn how they move and act. Also my sensei who blitzes around the area with absurd speed.