Draconis

Glancing up from his origami crane, the shadowy figure realized he had been called out. Fan anamma. The first guard had fallen quite handily, though the second had the promise of a more entertaining fight. To fight along side the entertainment or the entertainer? No, it was too early in the morning to start burning bridges before what lie on the other side could be seen. And three bridges are always better than one.

In a falling leap, the figure tumbled to the pit's floor, landing in a crumpled lump. Slowly unfolding himself, he towered above the others in the arena, casting a long shadow upon the dust and pebbles, and proceeded to speak in a sing-song tone;

"Ah, to watch such great spectacle, this you cannot deny me
What keen eye and cruel fate have robbed me of my vantage
Point well taken, my good sir, you may call me Onigami
At your service, and if so asked, to do unspeakable damage."

Onigami stretched out his arm and unclenched his fist, revealing a perfectly intact and unharmed origami crane. Presenting it to Kuro, he simply stated, "En gåva av välvilja."

Bypassing Kuro and the rest, Onigami grabbed another piece of paper from his pouch and began walking towards the guard, folding all the while. "Och för du, en plåthatt," with a laugh as he placed a paper soldier's helmet on the guard's head, "Now you look like a good toy soldier guarding his sand castle."

Turning beet red, the guard tore the paper hat from his head and swung his fist wildly at Onigami, connecting dead center in his chest. Sent reeling backwards, he could hear Kuro mutter under his breath, "This guy is a joke." The guard drew his sword and pointed it directly at Onigami, proclaiming, "You will die for your insolence." Jävla idiot.

"What was that quaint little word you use?", Onigami shouted, "Ah yes, kentou." In the same instant that kentou was uttered, the crumpled paper hat exploded in a cloud of smoke and Onigami leaped straight at Kuro feet first, his sword drawn. Planting his feet firmly on Kuro's chest, Onigami pounced towards Kin, ricocheting off his chest into the air directly above the smoke screen. Landing on the side of the door behind the guard, Onigami fell vertically down until he was a foot above the ground, his head barely missing a wild swing of the guard's blade, then rocketing just behind his opponent's legs to the other corner of the door. From there, he form tackled the guard out of the smoke screen, carrying the two of them halfway across the arena. Leaping backwards away from his opponent, Onigami looked down smugly and replied as he placed his blade in its scabbard, "If one is to die for insolence, then one should be truly insolent, äcklig byracka."

"All that, all of that for a tackle. Cheap tactics and magic tricks will only lead you to an early grave.", the But no sooner had the guard spoke that the damage became apparent, for as he tried to stand, the slashes on his Achilles tendons opened. Aki could only look on in horror and dismay while the guard screamed in agony as his calf muscles rolled up on themselves under his skin. Turning to her, Onigami gave her a few conciliatory words, "Come now. I did have the decency to not jump off of your chest." And at that, she fainted.

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STEVE MCKENNA!