“Jin the windmaster versus newcomer and underdog, the dragon demon Cassiel!” echoed a female voice throughout the stadium as it erupted in roars and shouts.
“Don’t get to comfy now,” laughed Chu as his pointy-eared comrade jumped onto the stage, waving to the crowd. “Jin’ll make quick work of this newbie, especially with that trainin’ he’s gotten from me.” The group stood off to the side of the ring, sitting or standing in the grassy area below the seating.
“Don’t get too cocky,” Touya said in a cold voice, arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was directed towards the opposite side of the ring, carefully watching the mysterious opponent step into view, seemingly oblivious to everything around him. “We don’t know what abilities he possesses yet.”
With a huge grin, Jin also watched the new demon’s first appearance. He seemed like a frail one. Blue skin, wee little dragon-like wings, and a few silver tattoos did nothing to improve his thin, weak looking frame. But the guy’s eyes were something creepy: the irises such a light blue it almost looked as if they weren’t there at all, and nearly sent chills down his spine. A single strip of silver hair ran down his scalp, pulled into a long ponytail at the back.
“Well now, I hope your skin’s not as cold as that look you were givin’ me,” Jin joked, extending a hand to his opponent. The dragon demon looked at it, looked back up at Jin, and simply stared. Jin waited a moment longer before recoiling his hand and laughing. “Alright then you’re that kinda fella. No worries, but I’m not gonna let my guard down so you’d better hope you’ve got a favorable wind today.”
The black wrap around Cassiel’s waist began to flutter, then blow around in a fury as Jin levitated, tornado force winds swirling around him. In a flash he was gone, the dragon left standing alone on the stage. The announcer began shouting out a play-by-play. Cassiel had yet to budge an inch, even his gaze. Staring straight ahead, the crowd cheered loudly as Jin reappeared behind him, arm locked back, then extended as he threw a hard punch that landed squarely on the back of the dragon’s head. Or should have. Jin hesitated as the blue-skinned demon that was standing there suddenly evaporated into thin air. Now he was the only one visible, hovering in midair with a baffled look on his face.
Jin dodged to the left, just as a small bullet flew past his right shoulder. With a blast of wind he shot up into the sky, looking back over his shoulder to see Cassiel standing just where he had been moments ago, now looking up at him.
Something pierced the wind demon’s forearm, going straight through and drawing blood. He cried out only in surprise, then gritted his teeth. What on earth was that? The blue demon hadn’t even moved! There was no way he could be that fast. But the panic was short-lived, as a smile drew itself out on Jin’s face. A worthwhile opponent after all!
He dove down, angling himself as he created a barrier of wind between himself and the ring. Loud popping sounds, hundreds of them at once, filled the entire arena. Though the crowd whispered in confusion- and probably boredom- Jin caught a glimpse of the small glimmers just a split second before the noise.
“Ah, yer a sneaky one alright,” Jin said, circling the stage. “So ya control the water in the air, now there’s a useful talent. But looks like you’ve got a bit of a handicap on this lovely, sunshiney day with this nice dry air.” in breathed deeply, coming to a stop where he’d started off the match. The other demon didn’t move. “Seein’ as I’d care to move on it’s time fer me to end this match, nothin’ personal.”
Another whirlwind whipped up, Cassiel at its center. Jin was all but an orange blur as he picked up speed, trapping the demon within the vortex. But it didn’t appear to have any effect. Cassiel stood his ground, ignoring threats and jeers from onlookers. Then there was a sudden tightness in his chest. Cassiel clutched at it, his narrow eyes widening. Hands went to his throat as he fought to breathe against the strong vacuum that Jin had cleverly created, obviously a new trick. To walk into the wall of wind that trapped him would mean being torn apart, and despite the wings, they were too small for flight. Helplessly he dropped to his knees as his head spun in oxygen deprivation. As he the ground, falling onto his side, Jin saw the opening, diving straight downward, his fist fracturing the concrete through Cassiel’s stomach as it connected.
But once again Jin realized he’d been deceived as the figure evaporated, swirling upwards in the remainder of the swirling winds. Just another doppelganger. Then out of the corner of his eye, Jin saw him standing on the edge of the ring, silver hair whipping around behind him.
“Yer like a chameleon just blendin’ in with everythin’ an’ all ,” Jin exclaimed, his foot sliding back as he prepared for an attack.
“I’d hoped to tire you out more than this,” Cassiel said, finally stepping forward. His voice was very deep and mellow, his speech slow and careful. “It seems you’ve improved past my own calculations. But you’ve yet to land a hit on me while I’ve already injured you. You’re right, my power is limited by this weather and my time limit for invisibility has already been surpassed, though I doubt that will help you much.”
“For a small guy yer a pretty big talker,” laughed Jin as he rushed in, throwing punches left and right. Cassiel dodged, only a few grazing his cheeks, but was caught by surprise by the knee thrown into his gut. He stumbled back a few feet, catching his balance and his breath. “So that makes us even then,” remarked Jin before rushing forward for another attack. The dragon sidestepped to the left, putting Jin on the defensive as Cassiel very nearly ended him in an attempt to plunge his open hand into Jin’s side, succeeding only in landing the follow-up move, a quick strike to his neck. Jin jumped back, gasping as his entire right side hung limp.
Onlooker’s insults turned to excitement as Jin began to rotate his left arm in a clockwise motion, starting up his infamous tornado fist. Wasting no time, Cassiel gathered what humidity he could find left in the air, gathering larger droplets all around the wind demon, and shot them off all at once. With such sheer force behind them, the droplets became invisible as they shot forward. Some shattered against the miniature tornado around Jin’s forearm, some barely grazed his skin, but a many shot through his flesh and muscles, leaving small spurts of blood covering parts of his body and the searing pain. As he fired off the shots, Cassiel rushed straight forward, an open hand ready to slice into the wind demon’s throat. He’d learned through countless trials that a lack of physical strength could be made up for in careful technique and aim. Jin, unflinching, flew forward to meet Cassiel halfway, then veered off to the right. Cassiel skid to a stop, whipping his head around to face Jin. And face Jin he did when, in the blink of an eye, the dragon found Jin only inches away from his face, and was knocked to the ground with a headbutt. With the wind already raging around his arm, Jin extended its force outward. It hit Cassiel like a brick wall square in his chest. The wind was knocked out of him, and he was left helpless for a couple seconds, which was more than enough time for Jin to scoop him up around his thin waist with his working arm, shoot into the sky a couple hundred feet, and begin a dive-bomb, releasing the dragon at the last minute. Jin pulled back up as his opponent’s body was crushed against the stone.
“Alright Jin, that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!” roared Chu in a drunken fit of joy. Jin, once again hovering in the air, ears twitching slightly, listened as Cassiel’s time was counted down, and was eventually disqualified. As he was announced the winner and his opponent was dragged away, Jin slowly made his way down to join his teammates. He saved the look of pain until he was partially hidden against the wall.
“I could take Urameshi’s punches but this guy really knew the soft spots on a guy,” Jin said, wincing as Touya inspected his injuries.
“That’s very true,” Touya said, standing back up. “He was aiming for your vitals. You’re lucky to have only gotten away with partial paralysis. That should wear off in a few hours. Otherwise you’re fine.”
“Of course I am! I’ve gotta keep myself kickin’ until I can get a rematch with that punk.”
“You’ll never change.”
