It's Just That Simple
As the two seemed to fall into a bottomless sky, Askyros noticed floating platforms pass them by.
"Tergi Delain. Landform." [Askyros]
Earth sprouted from the small platforms, allowing Askyros to land.
"No you don't!" [Nikal]
Throwing one of his swords, it sliced off the extended chunk of land and forced Askyros to fall.
"How petty." [Askyros]
Askyros and Nikal stared at each other as they plummeted. They couldn't reach each other, but it didn't mean they couldn't fight.
"Vela. Return." [Nikal]
The sword Nikal had thrown flew to his hand.
"Askyros. You are mistaken if you think you can beat me. Especially in a place like this." [Nikal]
He then muttered something under his breath.
"Rapundos Stiva. Flight" [Nikal]
He suddenly increased in speed. Matter of fact, it was like gravity no longer had any control over Nikal as he zipped around Askyros.
"In this place, I reign supreme!" [Nikal]
He struck at Askyros from irregular angles. Front, below, above, behind. With the ability of flight and with a target that couldn't move, it was easy pickings.
"Is that so?" [Askyros]
Speaking with a calm demeanor, Askyros kept his eyes locked onto Nikal.
"What's with that look?!" [Nikal]
Nikal hated those eyes. Eyes that saw him like he was inferior. Eyes that made him feel like he was nothing.
"You… You think you're something?!" [Nikal]
He grinded his blades against each other, causing them to burst into flame.
"You're nothing!" [Nikal]
Moving even faster than before he whittled away at Askyros. The armor Askyros wore was slowly falling apart, not that he minded it.
"How's that?! What can you do against me?! Nothing!" [Nikal]
Nikal continued to accelerate, but Askyros had never broken eye contact. It implanted a sense of fear in Nikal, causing him to doubt himself.
("Is he really keeping up with me?! Is he just letting me hit him or is it that he can't do anything?!") [Nikal]
The off chance that Askyros may be holding back scared Nikal. Thinking that, he only went for strikes that could only graze his opponent instead of risking the chance of getting within Askyros' reach.
"Another minute has passed." [Askyros]
The scenery changed, and the two found themselves surrounded by lava. The two were separated on different platforms, but there were plenty of other rocks they could use to get around.
("Damn, this is hot!") [Adam]
Adam had forgotten that he could feel what Askyros could feel. It was known in his mind that he could truly experience what he saw, yet it had slipped his mind that pain was one of them.
"Lava…?" [Nikal]
Glancing around, he smiled.
"It appears the first titan wants me to win." [Nikal]
He dipped his blades into the lava, causing them to turn black.
"Okay." [Askyros]
Not wanting to do much in the sweltering heat, Askyros thought that reply would shut Nikal up.
"Stop mocking me!" [Nikal]
He flicked the lava at Askyros, who then jumped to another platform.
"..." [Askyros]
The heat made the inside of his armor feel sweaty, so he voluntarily unlinked it and let it drop into the lava.
"Are you insane? You just lost your only source of defense." [Nikal]
"It is hot." [Askyros]
Inhaling deeply, his veins began to shine blue. Within moments the burning sensation from the air faded.
"What… What was that?" [Nikal]
Eyes wide with confusion, he was unsure of what he had witnessed.
"I was adjusting." [Askyros]
"...Adjusting?" [Nikal]
"Like so." [Askyros]
Without hesitation, he dipped his hand into the lava and flung it at Nikal.
"You truly are insane!" [Nikal]
Nikal sliced the puddle of lava, allowing it to pass him by.
"Surely I have never seen someone as dumb as you. Your hand must be useless now." [Nikal]
Expecting to see a blackened hand, Nikal was surprised to see that Askyros' hand was unharmed.
"How… How did you…?" [Nikal]
"I adjusted." [Askyros]
Still standing in shock, their surroundings changed once again. This time, they stood in a misty forest.
"Hm… I detest smoke-like things." [Askyros]
Recalling a time he had fought an invisible opponent, Askyros heavily disliked having his vision impaired.
"Let's remove it." [Askyros]
Just as he was about to do something, his vision blurred.
"..." [Askyros]
Other symptoms started popping up. Drowsiness, nausea, and an urge to vomit. There could only be one conclusion to that.
"Poison…" [Askyros]
He wondered how he had been poisoned. That is, until he saw Nikal who was suffering just the same.
("The mist… It's poison!") [Adam]
Feeling it enter his system, Askyros took a deep breath as his veins shone blue once again. Within seconds the symptoms vanished.
"Urgh…! Minor… Cure…!" [Nikal]
Placing a hand on himself, it also seemed that Nikal had removed the poison.
"How can there be poison here?!" [Nikal]
He angrily muttered to himself.
"And how are you still standing?!" [Nikal]
That one he simply yelled at Askyros.
"I adjusted." [Askyros]