caughtinanetwork | .2

[Okay, this time, the post is deliberate. Hubert is addressing, well, everyone. He pushes his glasses up out of habit before he begins speaking.]

My name is Hubert Ozwell. I've been in Vatheon for several months now, and... some of you likely saw me on the network a few weeks back. I apologize for not realizing my SFC was turned on.

That aside, I was part of the residents that were taken to a strange place some time back, and the dangers presented there were many and difficult. I realize the longer I remain stationary here, though, the more likely my combat skills are to atrophy. That's not something I would like to happen.

I am aware of the defense force, however I haven't decided just yet if I want to join. If anything I would like to ensure that I'm not going to be a liability and that I haven't lost my edge.

[Yes, it's only been a short time and he's already worried about this.]

Would anyone be interested in sparring at all? I extend this offer to anyone with decent to passable combat skills, as there isn't much I haven't dealt with. I also have healing artes, so I have no concerns or qualms about injures.

I await responses to know if this is something worth perusing. Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Healing's useful. I can think of a fight where we were very lucky to have a healer on our side, and several I could have used one.

We can still take this somewhere else. Normally, I'd fly up and just say you should send it there, but I know there's a bounce back effect on the island. I don't know what's been done to the dome. But if there's no one on the island, that works, too.

We have several. I'll admit it's my weaker skill by far, but useful none the less.

[He pauses thoughtfully and pushes his glasses up]

The island sounds like the better place to try.

Do you want to walk there?

[He doesn't mind carrying people, but will admit it might be awkward, with the missing arm. Hubert might feel less secure.]

I don't mind walking.

[he nods, bringing the pistols back to blades and tucking them away underneath his jacket.]

[Gohan nods, and jumps up, skyward, and flies a tight circle, double checking his orientation. Once satisfied he knows where he is and where he wants to go, he waves Hubert over, and lands.

He takes the journey at a brisk walk, to the elevator, to the island, and then to a wide, isolated clearing, ringed with large trees.]

Good targets, all of them. And I still want to finish our spar, derailment aside.

[Hubert follows quietly, watching Gohan closely so as not to lose him on the way there.

Once they've arrived, he gives the island a once over, having not actually spent a whole lot of time there.]

I wouldn't mind continuing.

Does that mean you're free to use me as your target?

[He takes a fighting stance again, just to be sure, gathering ki and forming a spherical shield around himself.]

This would better let me test the strength.

Yes.

[He watches cautiously, but as soon as he sees the shield he readies he staff. A breath, and he begins to spin it rapidly in a circle, darting at Gohan. Just before he reaches the other though, the staff breaks in to two blades that he uses to start striking swiftly at the shield.]

I'll show you everything I've got!

[Up, down, across, one blade, two blades, hit after hit, over and over again until finally he jabs one blade hard forward.]

And this!

[And the other snaps back in to a pistol as he starts firing in to the shield]

And some of these!

[And just to finish it up he jerks the one blade back, clicks it in to a pistol and fires both in one final explosive shot of Eleth.]

EXPIATION!

[His teeth grit as he carefully tracks each hit. Never a puncture, but the hits are good and solid. There's strength behind the skill. Swiftness, too.

Still, it's not until the final shot -- first, he's amused by the pistol shape; he's bulletproof, after all. But this isn't an ordinary gun, this is the grand finale, and while the shield doesn't crack, he can feel his energy draining to power it. It's taking a solid effort to maintain in the face of that.]

I think that would blow me back a few feet, if I took it head-on.

[Hubert jumps back after its over, returning his weapon to the staff. He stands, relaxed but ready to continue should Gohan desire to.]

Mystic Artes are powerful and varied. You should consider it a good thing that you have the strength to take one on.

I'll consider it better if I learn to take on stronger ones.

Do you have any defensive techniques? [He asks, because he's reached up above his head and started charging a beam.]

Some, yes.

[Hubert quickly returns his staff to it's base state, holding it up to prepare for the hit. He's not entirely sure how is usual barriers are going to hold up against it, but better to try now and find out.

At least he has healing spells too.]

[The blast Gohan fires is generic and slow-- strong enough to break through a wooden wall, but not a brick one. That seems like a fair compromise, but he'll still say:]

It's okay if you need to dodge, or I can get ahead and block it!

[Hubert doesn't answer, instead waiting for the hit. He would rather not run away before knowing for sure that it's going to be a problem.

And it does hit the shield pretty hard. Not enough to break, but it certainly weakens it enough that Hubert can feel it. He skids back a few feet before finally slashing his staff downward to dispel the rest of the power.]

Nn... that's... impressive power.

And an impressive block.

How long have you been training?

Since I was a child, though I didn't join the military until I was fifteen.

[And even then he had to be on recommendation from his adoptive father. Not that it mattered in the end. He more than proved himself within a matter of weeks.]

That seems a bit young for a formal military. [Although, he was doing plenty of informal fighting since his own childhood...]

Are wars that commonplace?

No, not at all. I simply knew what I wanted to do and had the skills to get the attention of higher ranking officials.

Granted it still took a commendation from my father, but in the end I made myself a more than valuable asset to them.

[He envies that, somewhat. He'd known what he wanted, but circumstances being what they were...]

I believe it. Impressed by it, too. It must have been a lot of hard work.

It was, but I was willing to do what it took.

I can't say anything to compliment you higher.

.2 | video;

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