A prolonged battle would not working Aubus's favor. He'd learned the last time he clashed with the android that it's energy supply and stamina were virtually limitless. As a divine being, Aubus's reserves of power and strength would far surpass that of any average mortal. In truth, his innate healing ability could quite make it near impossible for him to be killed in this fight. It wasn't that he was immortal—he could tire, required sleep and food much like anyone else.

But Aubus wasn't willing to test the limits of his divinity just yet.

Kaijin dodged his first attack, which was unfortunate, as Aubus has poured quite a bit of ki into that assault. He wasn't going to hold back, but at the same time, risks such as that would only wind up getting himself killed. Still, he needed to keep the pressure on.

He dodged the first blast, flickering out of place as it zipped past him and exploded. The second blast came as fiercely as the first, but this time, Aubus let it drill directly into him. Waves of heat rolled over him, the effects of the blast nullified by his aura so that it felt little more like taking a warm bath. It was good he had trained before confronting Kaijin again.

Using the dissipating energy as a smoke screen, Aubus flew backwards to keep distance between himself and the android, firing off a pair of energy bolts of his own.

He would not let the android get close, not unless victory was assured.

post count: 3 | Doctor Kaijin Vex

The diversion worked as intended. Kaijin seemed rattled as he dropped like a stone after Aubus struck him on the head. Beneath the sponge-like texture of his dreadlocks, the android's head was no doubt encased in some type of steel alloy, so the god doubted he seriously wounded Kaijin as he would have liked. But the chop did fulfill its purpose, which was to buy Aubus a breather or two of fresh air.

His dainty shoulders rose and fell with each shuddering breath, beads of perspiration coating his brow and cheeks as his crimson gaze studied his opponent. Aubus's remaining energy reserves were getting low, so much so he could no longer maintain his protective aura to shield against Kaijin's attacks, and the blustering heat from the assault made it harder to breathe. Sweat rolled down his face, fell into his eyes, the natural saline stinging them. He couldn't recall the last time he'd exerted this much energy in a battle.

In fact, aside from his previous battle with Kaijin, Aubus couldn't remember the last nerve-wracking battle he fought. There was much at stake, and a very real possibility that he could lose.

Not just lose, but die altogether.

Distractions might kill him as well. Even that brief lapse of concentration came at a price as Kaijin recovered from the Shinjin's attack, blundering past Aubus like a rocket as he propelled himself further into the sky. His hands flew up to protect him on reflex, the wind stirred at Kaijin's passing. Aubus followed Kaijin's movements with his gaze, wondering what the android could possibly be planning next. He did not like that he was on the defensive since this battle began. If he didn't turn things around soon...

He did not have to wait long.

Aubus's eyes widened at the massive surge of red energy that came hurtling his way. It grew in size and girth, until it was large enough to envelop him altogether. Aubus thought to block it, thrusting his arms forward to intercept. He had not expected the heat, and as it seared his hands, Aubus cried out and jerked backward. The massive sphere slammed into him with force, driving him backwards as it spun and rippled out of control, burning through the artificial layer of his robes. It was all he could do to regain his bearings, flickering out of view as the second beam of powerful ki crashed into the first, igniting in a brilliant flood of light and heat that filled the skies above.

He grimaced, lifting a trembling hand to wipe the smear of blood that dribbled from the corner of his lips. It was time for the gloves to come off. Spreading his hands wide, four large hands appeared in the air, constructed of swirling purple ki. Aubus thrust his hands forward, and two of the hands surged forward at Kaijin, forming a pair of fists that looked to squash him in between.

While this took place, Aubus also leveled a hand at Aubus and fired a bolt of golden energy. It surrounded Kaijin, infusing the air around him with godly energy before igniting and exploding, catching him in a vicious blast!

post count: 5

Everything was subjective, when subjected to one's own perspective.

It was obvious Kaijin believed himself to be some sort of hero—some crusader with the purpose of eliminating a 'demon' such as Aubus. The thought was so ludicrous, so absurd, that if this weren't to settle the matter of who would live and who would die, Aubus would allow himself a moment of uncharacteristic laughter.

There was hardly time for anything of the sort. Kaijin propelled himself at Aubus like a rocket, aiming to drill a hard knee into Aubus's stomach. Teeth gritted in determination, Aubus thrust forward a knee of his own, and the pair collided in a shockwave of concussive force. Though he negated some of the damage, his knee was no doubt terribly bruised from the interception.

Kaijin wasn't done. Thrusting both of his hands in Aubus's face, he fired off a power blast of energy at point-blank range, looking to wipe the Shinjin out. He would be a fool to block it, so Aubus flickered out of the way, the attack blowing past him and exploding in the distance. It lit up the atmosphere in a brilliant flash of light, the uncomfortable heat washing over the pair of combatants.

It was time to adjust his technique. Taking a cue from Kaijin himself, Aubus ducked low and swooped in, throwing a vicious flurry of punches and wild kicks. There was little rhyme to his assault—it held no discernible pattern on purpose to keep Kaijin from deflect it.

Ending with a final thrust kick to create more distance, Aubus drilled his hands together in a clapping motion. The remaining two constructs moved with haste, coming together to crush him between their palms and grind him down to his essentials—a crumpled pile of synthetic machinery and fluids.

post count: 6

Aubus poured everything he had into that attack. The winds generated from the colossal hands clapping together could match any formidable gale. It drove him back several meters, his arms thrown up to guard against the brunt of the concussive force. His shoulders heaved up and down, his body sagged in exhaustion. A thin sheen of perspiration coated his face, stained the collar of his robes. The android had pushed him beyond the limits of his exertion—Aubus could only hope that he had finished it off for good. But that was the folly of hope—it was often mired in faith, and not in fact. He was disappointed, though not surprised, when the energy was once again absorbed. Though it seemed it was not all for naught, as Kaijin Vex had sustained severe damage. So the little android was fallible, after all. It only strengthened Aubus's resolve to finish him off once and for all.

It was Kaijin's turn to mount a counteroffensive. Aubus braced himself as the energy around the enraged android began to stir and heat the air around them. Black lightning lanced through the volatile red energy as Kaijin brought his hands forward, and with a cry of indignation, launched his offensive. Aubus's eyes widened at the volume of the assault. It seemed as if the android had stolen his ki, and used it to amplify its own power. For the first time, Aubus felt a tiny trickle of fear creep up his spine, though he steeled his resolve. Exhaustion proved his downfall, as he wasn't quick enough to flicker out of harm's way completely. The brunt of the attack caught him in its blast radius, throwing him tail over end, sending Aubus somersaulting up through the thin veil of wispy clouds that drifted around them. Half of his outfit had been burned away, his pale skin reddened and swollen with bruises and burns.

This was it. It was now or never. With his ki nearly gone, Aubus's time in the mortal plane was limited. He'd come with a purpose, and it would be fulfilled! Thrusting his hands wide, a divine insignia appeared in the air beneath the god's feet. It grew and grew, until it encompassed a wide perimeter—the strange glyph glowing with divine energy. "I summon thee, aid my cause in this fight. Come forth—Heaven's Avenger!" A large spherical being emerged through the portal created by Aubus. Its metallic skin glinted like gold, four glowing wings sprouting from its rear. It flapped its gigantic wings once, and the heavens shuddered from the force. A large ball of white energy began to form in front of it, growing in circumference with each passing second. Lightning crackled along its surface, and with a shout from Aubus, the giant ball of energy was launched at Kaijin.

Considering the density of the energy, it did not move very fast. No, I will not fail again! Though his stamina was dangerously low, Aubus stirred his resolve, gathering even more energy in both of his palms. With a defiant shout to the heavens, he fired the large beam, striking the rear of the massive energy sphere, propelling it forward at a greater speed than before! If it were to collide with Kaijin, the magnitude of such an explosion would surely wipe the android out of existence. And the world would thank its savior for ridding it of this synthetic demon!

post count: 7

This high up in the sky, the air was frigid. Every ragged breath Aubus drew into his lungs stung, cut as if the very oxygen were turning to ice inside of his body. His head spun, the world tilting on its axis. The edges of his vision had began to blur, and he forced himself to focus, forcing back the tide of drowsiness that was sweeping over his mind and body.

Were these the beginning throes of encroaching death?

To make matters worse, despite the effort poured forth from himself and his mighty avenger, there was little to show for the maneuver. He could not maintain the magical tether he needed to keep it there, and as soon as its glorious light had been summoned and launched its attack, it had disappeared, thrusting the leaden skies into chaotic darkness yet again.

If I don't finish this soon... he could hardly finish the thought.

As the smoke and dust cleared from the huge explosion of his assault, Aubus's eyes widened. His breath hitched in his throat, his heart pumping harder than before. A strange metamorphosis had taken place. Kaijin not longer existed—but something had evolved within it, and formed a completely different entity altogether. Still Kaijin Vex, but more than Kaijin Vex. Perhaps, if Aubus weren't so spent and injured, he could have appreciated the symbolism.

Vex rocketed after him, approaching fast. It was all Aubus could do to lift his arms to guard as the powerful orb of crackling energy hurtled toward him. The light so painful it blinded him. Aubus closed his eyes and... and... nothing. Opening them just a crack, Aubus noted that the energy had failed to reach him, dissipating just inches from his body. Perhaps a result of the hasty transformation. Perhaps the android was still getting used to his new form.

Whatever the reason, it was a god send. Too exhausted to use any more of his power, Aubus launched himself forward, his fists and feet a flurry of furious blows. His sight compromised, he fought like a primal thing desperate to survive.

post count: 8