Kael vs Roten [Saber Clash]

[Flame of Rebellion]

​

Off to the far side of the biodome, a thick swamp is seperated from everyone else. Willowing Trees, and an ankle-high water give Roten and Kael Vayra a very wet and humid atmosphere to fight in.

"Round one! Fight!"

A robotic voice sounds off, leaving them to their duel.

 

[Roten]

Zoro Laha
Tags: Kael Vayra

Kiba no Shimai​

Roten let out an exhale as he felt the water slosh between his claws. He did his best not to focus on the fact that he was gonna be picking gunk out of his fur later. There was the much more pressing matter of combat.

In his hands Roten held two training sabers. His Kiba no Shimai, the blades he were so fond of, were far too lethal to be using in a tournament like this. He wasn't looking forward to fighting without them. They had a natural pull towards him and always drew back easily when thrown. He would have to throw these training weapons far less.

No, he wasn't actually happy about the location he was stuck with. This muck was gonna drive him bonkers.

"Round one! Fight!"

"Great," Roten muttered before calling out to the other contestant. "Kael, was it? Can we make this quick? I'm not eager to stay in this place longer than I have to..."

He was gonna need a shower after this.

 

[Kael Vayra]

​

Kael felt no nerves as he stood within the swamp. Not for lack of his body trying to summon them. Anxiety was natural in moments like this, when eyes watched and expectations weighed heavy, when a single misstep could define the outcome. Yet beneath it all, Kael felt only a quiet certainty. This was his moment. A chance to prove himself not through words or titles, but through motion and will.

Combat had always stripped away his restraint. Despite his efforts to temper his ego, it was here, in the anticipation of a fight, that his instincts surged strongest. The thrill sharpened his focus rather than clouding it, and he embraced that edge instead of fighting it.

He wore nothing ornate or ceremonial. Simple brown and white robes clung to him, their hems already darkening as water and mud soaked into the fabric with each step. The swamp tugged at his boots, cool and slick, splashing against his legs. Kael paid it no mind. Appearances meant little once the duel began.

When he stepped fully into the open, Kael closed his eyes and drew in a slow, steady breath. The humid air filled his lungs as he let the rhythm of the swamp settle him. The subtle pull of the water. The sway of the willowing trees. The quiet life humming beneath the surface. When his eyes opened again, a faint smirk touched his lips as he looked toward his opponent.

"May we both fight well today," Kael said, his tone carrying genuine respect. "I hope we both prove to be entertaining."

His hand dropped to the training saber. With a practiced motion, he ignited it, the green blade springing to life with a steady hum that grounded him. Kael lowered his head and bowed deeply, arms extended slightly at his sides in a formal gesture of respect.

"Let's not rush our dance, my friend," Kael said with a confident smirk as he lifted from his bow. "Let's give the judges a show."

Speed was where Kael thrived. Ataru was built for momentum and motion, for turning aggression into fluidity. If his opponent wanted quick, then Kael was more than willing to oblige.

He burst forward, water spraying as his boots cut through the swamp. His training saber came alive in a rapid flurry of strikes, tight and precise thrusts aimed to probe defenses rather than commit too deeply. Each motion flowed into the next, his footwork light despite the uneven terrain.

Kael drew on the Force and channeled it into his legs. With a powerful push, he launched himself upward, body twisting midair as he brought his saber down in sharp, controlled jabs aimed at Roten's shoulders. The strikes came from above in quick succession, forcing a reaction.

As gravity reclaimed him, Kael attempted to carry his momentum past Roten, angling for a landing on the opposite side. His intent was clear. Overwhelm with speed. Keep the pressure constant. Slip in unexpected angles and timing to catch Roten off guard before he could settle into his rhythm.

Roten

 

[Roten]

Zoro Laha
Tags: Kael Vayra

Kiba no Shimai​

Banter aside, the knight certainly made good on getting started quickly. Ataru was something that Roten was familiar with by now. He had run enough simulations with training droids and faced a few opponents who utilized the style. Uncharacteristically of him, Roten opened his mind to the Force and tapped into his instincts.

Would Matthew of Valendale be proud of him for making use of a less aggressive style like Soresu?

Maybe.

When the flurry of blows came towards him, Roten activated both of his blades and maintained a rigid defense, blocking most blows without much in the way of redirection. Then came the leap. That was the Ataru signature, flip over somebody and attack from the top and the back. When the strikes came for his shoulders, the Bursantian opted to rotate his body 90 degrees to avoid the strikes. He gritted his teeth as he felt the heat of the plasma singe the ends of the fur tufts that adorned his shoulders. Even non lethal plasma didn't feel good to be hit by, so he wasn't eager for that blade to get any closer.

When Kael landed on the opposite side of him, Roten was quick to turn his body the other 90 degrees and bring up his guard.

"Chit, at least you decided to make it snappy," Roten huffed.

His own speed wasn't really gonna give him an edge here. Not against someone who specialized in quick battles. He needed an edge. The terrain was there to use as they saw fit, right? The young man let the old tongue slip through his teeth, speaking runes to let the Force flow through him.

Chill

Roten lifted up one foot and set it down on the surface of the water. It froze beneath him, creating a platform to stand on. He followed suit with the other foot. He then let out a Force Bellow, not a particularly powerful one, but just enough to turn the water from still to wild. The swamp now surged like a wave pool, adding a new dynamic layer to their battlefield. The Bursantian took one step, then began to skate slowly around his opponent.

 

[Kael Vayra]

​

Kael smirked as his boots found solid purchase again, water dripping from his robes as he settled into his stance. He could feel the rhythm of the fight beginning to tilt, subtle but undeniable. Roten had drawn inward, adopting a defensive posture that Kael recognized immediately. Soresu. It was a smart choice. Patient. Enduring. Designed to weather storms rather than break beneath them. If Kael allowed the duel to stretch on, that discipline would begin to work against him, turning his speed and aggression into exhaustion.

"I aim to please," Kael replied, bowing lightly in acknowledgment of the comment. The gesture was playful, almost theatrical, but his focus never wavered.

He was preparing to press the advantage when the temperature around his feet dropped sharply. Instinct flared. The water beneath him crystallized in an instant, ice creeping outward in jagged patterns as Kael was lifted abruptly from the swamp's surface. He felt the Force gathering, compressing, and knew what was coming a heartbeat before it hit.

The Force Bellow slammed into him like a physical wall.

Kael thrust his hand forward, pouring energy into a hurried push. It blunted the worst of the impact, but not enough. The remaining force crashed into his shoulders and chest, spinning him sideways and sending him stumbling through the slick footing. His boots skidded across ice and mud before he caught himself, breath leaving him in a sharp exhale.

He barely had time to steady before he saw it.

Water surged toward him in a rolling wall, the swamp itself rising in answer to Roten's command. Kael's grin returned despite the danger.

"Well, that's cool," he said, laughter slipping through his words.

He looked up and acted without hesitation. The Force surged through him as he leapt skyward, vaulting into the canopy just as the wave thundered past where he had stood moments before. The swamp exploded into motion beneath him, branches snapping and water churning as the surge tore through the clearing.

Kael landed in a crouch on a thick tree limb, fingers curling into the bark as he balanced with ease. From above, he called down, voice light and impressed.

"Hey, man, that's not a bad idea. Using the environment to your advantage."

As he spoke, Kael's focus shifted. A familiar thrill sparked behind his eyes. It was time to change the rhythm.

The Force twisted subtly around him, light bending and presence splitting. Beside Kael, another figure took shape. Identical in form and movement, a perfect copy crouched on the neighboring branch, mirroring his posture and expression. The illusion breathed when he breathed, shifted when he shifted.

Then they moved.

Kael and his double sprang into motion, darting through the trees in tandem. Branches bent beneath their feet as they leapt from limb to limb, green blade flashing between leaves and shadow. The illusion matched him step for step, impossible to distinguish at a glance.

"Which one is me?" Kael called out, laughter ringing through the canopy as he relished the chaos, clearly enjoying himself.

Roten

 

[Roten]

Zoro Laha
Tags: Kael Vayra

Kiba no Shimai​

"You've gotta be..."

Two. What the hell was this? Roten tried to concentrate, but the energy of all the plant life got in the way. There were too many living things around for him to quickly determine what the illusion was. His eyes danced between the two, unseen in their pupil-less appearance, trying to figure out which one was his actual target. To say that he was getting nowhere was an understatement. Roten needed a solution that would give him his answer quickly. Really there was only one thing that he felt he could do.

Operate as though he were fighting two targets.

"Aw, what the hell," the Bursantian muttered.

He slammed his foot down against the surface of the rocking water and froze a large portion of the top layer. The violent sloshing of the swamp quickly broke the ice into fragments. Roten telekinetically lifted the shards of ice up and hurled them at both Kael's in a cloud of debris.

Something had to show him where he ought to be aiming his blows.

 

[Kael Vayra]

​

Kael and his illusion danced through the trees, their movements fluid and perfectly mirrored as they bounded from branch to branch. Leaves shook loose and water splashed below with every landing. Kael felt it then, the subtle click of confidence settling into place. Roten's attention was divided. His focus strained. Kael was certain he had finally pushed his opponent off balance.

That certainty lasted only a heartbeat.

A sudden surge of cold snapped through the air, and shards of ice tore free from the swamp below, rocketing upward in a violent spray. Kael reacted instantly. He abandoned his attack and dropped hard, fingers latching onto a low branch as the ice screamed through the space he and his illusion had occupied moments before.

"Missed me," Kael called out with a laugh.

The sound cut short.

One of the shards punched cleanly through his illusion. The copy rippled and flickered, its outline distorting for an instant before stabilizing again.

"Dang," Kael muttered.

He released the branch and landed lightly in the shallow water below, knees bending to absorb the impact. Ripples spread outward from his boots, but he did not pause. Roten had proven he could adapt, and Kael had no intention of giving him time to think.

Drawing the Force into himself, Kael surged forward, speed flooding his limbs. He and the illusion launched together, crossing paths and switching positions again and again in rapid succession. They leapt past one another, reversed angles, and split apart only to converge once more, each movement designed to scramble Roten's senses.

At the last second, the illusion peeled off and swept wide, circling toward Roten's flank. Kael stayed directly in front of him, blade humming as he closed the distance. The illusion struck low, aiming to draw a reaction, while Kael followed through with a precise cut toward Roten's shoulder.

It was a deliberate gamble.

Roten had to choose.

One strike was real. One was not.

Roten

 

[Roten]

Zoro Laha
Tags: Kael Vayra

Kiba no Shimai​

Roten didn't have enough time to celebrate the fact that he found the fake. Kael and his illusion went back on the offensive, swapping position in rapid succession as they moved towards him. It was so fast that, once again, Roten lost track of them. Then they split ways. One moved straight for him and the other moved to flank. This was bad. As Roten scrambled to wrap his head around the situation, time seemed to slow for a moment. His panic faded away as he reflected.

Why was he panicking? He had seen countless battles before now. What he needed to do was take a breath, clear his mind, and feel the truth for what it was.

The Bursantian closed his eyes and let the energy of the Force reveal the truth. He didn't let the noise of all the living things around him overwhelm him this time. Focus. One was real, one was fake. He just needed to hear where the heartbeat was. When he was certain that he had it, Roten open his eyes and raised his training sabers up in an X shape to catch the incoming attack...

...right in front of him.

Hopefully he had chosen right.

 

[Kael Vayra]

​

For a brief, electric moment, Kael thought he had him. He saw it in Roten's eyes. The hesitation. The flash of uncertainty as Kael's blade pressed in and the pressure mounted. Victory felt close enough to touch, a surge of confidence rising in his chest as he committed to the strike. This was it. He was going to take the round. Then the moment slipped through his fingers.

Roten recovered with impressive speed, his defense snapping back into place as he intercepted the attack. The clash of training sabers rang out, firm and controlled. Instead of frustration, a bright smile spread across his face. There was no bitterness in it. Only admiration. His opponent had adapted, steady and composed, letting the Force guide him through the opening Kael had tried to exploit.

"You are really good at this," Kael said sincerely. He drew his lightsaber back and took a few measured steps away, giving the duel a moment to breathe. Water rippled around his boots as the distance opened between them. Kael rolled his shoulder once, loosening tension, eyes never leaving Roten.

"When this is all said and done," he continued, voice calm but energized, "I think you and I should train together. I could learn a thing or two from you." The words were genuine. Kael meant them.

His expression sharpened just slightly as he settled back into his stance. "But one of us has to win today," he added, a playful edge returning to his tone. "And I sure hope it's me."

He spun the training saber in his hand, the motion smooth and practiced, before bringing it back into guard. His free hand rose, fingers spreading as he drew the Force inward, energy building in his palm like a tightening coil. With a sharp exhale, Kael thrust his hand forward and released the gathered power in a focused push.

He followed it immediately. Kael surged in behind the Force wave, closing the distance in a blur of motion. His blade came alive in a renewed onslaught, strikes fast and relentless, each one layered atop the last. This time, his intent was clear. Overwhelm. Deny space. Keep the pressure so constant that Roten would have no room to draw on the Force again.

Roten