The shadow mage was asleep... again. Lying on the small fifteen meter island in the middle of "his" lake. Today one of his apprentices was supposed to show up. Hopefully he'd be a bit better this time. Things had gotten quiet recently and the LAST thing he wanted was another boring battle or idiot who thought he could make a name for himself by killing him. Mortimer sighed in his sleep. Maybe today his apprentice might provide him with something worth waking up for.

Taurou had been called to his "master's" island for a small sparring match to loosen up. He was up for it, like he always was. Sad part though, was that his master was asleep. Again.

Master, you sleep too damned much. I'm the cat afterall, I should be the one asleep. He said to his master's sleeping form. He kicked his master lightly in the ribs to wake him up.

Up up,you lazy ass. he said as he kicked him.

The young dopeelganger had already been there awaiting for his partner arrival for some time already while he stares at his sleeping 'master' thinking that he actually looks kind of cute somehow. He rests his eyelids for a moment to feel to cool windy breeze flowing through his smooth hair and did a soft inhale smiling away, opening his eye, he graze at the wide blue sky and then face his direction of focus back to his Tau kicking Al.

He wanted to giggle or even better laugh it out loud but he wanted to see the funny reaction that Al may do soon enough. "Hopefully he doesn't get in trouble" is what Daisuke thought about as their cute little sleepy Al may get a bad temper from his sweet dreams~

Mortimer groaned as Taurou kicked his ribs. It wasn't a lethal attack and so his unconscious didn't react to it. Didn't mean it didn't hurt. "Unh" rolling away from the kick and onto his hands and knees before standing up. Rolling his shoulders and extending his spine, all the joints in his body creaked and cracked before resetteling in their right places. Rewetting his dry mouth he turned back to his students and said "welcome to your final examination! Passing means you will have graduated from my apprenticeship and may proceed to bigger and better things... Faliure means another year under my tutalege. Sound good?"

Mortimer once again made that same self-satisfied sleepy half smile as his eyes seemed to look at something which wasn't in front of him. "You have until sunset to defeat me... good luck" And with that he stirred his shadows, causing them to coalesce around his hands as spiked guantlets.

Taurou stepped back a couple of paces as Mortimer equipped his shadow gauntlets. He puffed his cheeks in a small, frustrated manner.

Bloody gauntlets... he muttered to himself. He unsheathed his small, black sword and held it in his right hand with a loose, lay grip. He crouched low in a fighting stance and right eye. His left arm was hanging lazily at his side and now held his walking staff.

He wasn't about to wait for his master to attack so he took the initiative. He was going to test how strong his master had gotten first, and keep his "trumps" in check when things got a bit risky. He crouched even lower before lunging forward in a high jump. Taurou flipped over Mortimer and landed behind him. He spun on the ball of his right foot and lashed out with his walking staff, aiming to hit Mortimer in the back of his head with the butt of the staff.

"Examination huh..." Hearing as what Mortimer had to say after waking up and then he thought about what he said "What's tutalege?" Very well anyhow, since all they had to do was to win this game against Morti~ which was what he understood mostly.

The first move was given to Taurou or what though it may seem as unless Mortimer had already made a hidden move which Daisuke is currently observing fraom a short distance before heading in for action. Meanwhile, he created a number of 16 Sagitta Magica of lightning going biri biri 'DopPeRu, 16 Spiritus Fulmine Coentes Sagittet Inimicum' he whispered to himself. Those floating balls of lightning did apparently nothing for the time being but surrounds Daisuke moving along to create some sort of spherical barrier of lightning around.

Mortimer followed Taurou's arc as he flew up and over bending his head all the way backwards to even look at when he got behind him. Unfortunately, he was in too awkward a position to turn now and so was smacked square in the forehead by his apprentices staff swing. Crouching down he held his forehead going "Owowowowowowowwow" apparently realling from the bump Taurou gave him.

Mortimer waited for Taurou's next move, the boy's victory or defeat would be decided by what he did next. Even as he crouched in pain he grinned to himself thinking to himself of his plan.

Daisuke on the other hand seemed to be following his teachings well, always assume the enemy has something planned, prepare for a counterattack before the first attack is made... and always let the pawns go first. He was so proud.

Taurou was taken aback at his master's lack of counter attack and his "comical" reaction to the hit. Something's going on and I'm afraid to know what is gonna happen... he thought to himself. Taurou backpedalled quickly, taking large leaps back. When a safe-ish distance from Mortimer, he started his magic release keys: Poen a Dioddefaint... Flans Exarmatio!

There was a blast of wind, and then dust kicked up all around Taurou, making him disappear in a plume of dust. He was hidden well, even from the keen eyes of his master. He summoned his strength and cast a saggitta maggica at the ground, kicking up more dust and creating a hole, and he dove in. Completely vanishing.

Daisuke just remained where he normally was now observing the situation outside of the dusty field since it didn't really reached up to him somehow or probally thanks to his Sagitta Magica but nevertheless ''DopPeRu, 32 Spiritus Fulmine Coentes Sagittet Inimicum,'' Now it had came into a number thrice it was not too long ago. He created what not a larger e spherical barrier but instead a double layer one for better precautions but wait what happened to the third layer?

Apparently, Daisuke already send forth the earlier 16 from different directions of 8 scattered and towards the coordinates he memorised of where Mortimer would be in that field of dust. The second counterattack to deal with Mortimers dodging skills was pretty much the reason why he chose the lightning element as Daisuke is going to use its energy field to sense the presence of Mortimer and control the Sagitta Magica from afar like a heat sensor missle.

The reasons why he made the Sagitta Magica scattered this time was not his usual trick from long ago to distract the enemy but with the lightning element fused into it, the field is surrounded by the electro waves impulsed from each Sagitta Magica therefore if there's a solid medium in the way, its signal would be interupted at one point and that point is where Mortimer stands. Daisuke pretty learn a large sum of information after a long time though he won't be revealing it in words anyhow.

Mortimer was at once pleased and disappointed with Taurou. He'd read the situation but only just below the surface level. The truth was that Mortimers confidence was part of a bluff. Had Taurou attacked him then he would have struck Mortimer while he was still vulnerable and gained the blow he needed for victory. The dust cloud was a nice move though, it blocked out his line of sight almost entirely. But then again, it would also have blocked out his partner Daisukes.

He wasn't sure what the loud blast was but he sensed Taurou was now further away from him... possibly up in the air maybe? That was when he smelled the crackling ozone. He was able to see the ones directly in front of them and hear the crackling of those behind him. The one thing about lightning was that although it was definatly powerful it was also incredibly obvious... and fast. He didn't have time to incant any spells before the reached him and so qucikly extended his croauched shadow around himself, covering himself in the protective cocoon. He felt it buffetted by the lightning attacks and it almost cracked but it still held. Had it been much stronger his hastily made shadow construct might not have survived.

Continuing to build his defense Mortimer encanted one of his favorite spells, Nocturna Nigridenis, causing the hulking figure to surround the sphere encassing the fetal positioned Mortimer. It was a good extra layer of protection... but he was curious as to how his apprentices would try to break through the double barrier... and how he was going to figure out what was going on out there.

Taurou now had to act fast. He wasn't sure what was going on above ground, but his ears told him that there was some fighting going on. He used the shadows on his arms as two small shovels and dug his way to under where his master was. He placed his hands on the ground above him and cast a saggica magica spell, tearing through the dirt and shooting up at his master.

Though at first there had been of a small obstacle in the way of the electro wave indicator but which has now grown in size of a circular shape which what Daisuke would expect of it to be a barrier of numbers of layer which he was uncertain of but that didn't matter much as he could only expect shadow manipulation from his precious Mortimer. "A barrier hmm...Ah wells," He controlled all 16 lightning based sagitta magica that was send off to find Mortimer which had now reform its position to surround the spherical barrier around him that was only at a distance about 20 cm surrounding it.

Meanwhile he does not know of what may Mortimer of Taurou may have been doing for this short moment of time. He on the other hand has his own plans to manage on. "Gather, 16 Sagitta Magica of Lightning," The second barrier consisting of 16 gather infront of Daisuke and started to combine into a large single lightning sagitta magica. "Compress, compress, compress," He said as the giant ball starts to become smaller and smaller but yet more powerful with lightning surging throughout the area. "Fire!" The compressed... lightning beam... or whatever it should be called as went ttraight towards Mortimer's barrier at well... the speed of lightning?

Once it had struck upon the barrier, those of surrounding it earlier had also combined into the beam as though it now consists of 32 sagitta magica in one whole attack but... this was totally uncounted for as Daisuke didn't want to send a strong attack that would somehow kill anyone... "Oh fudge!" If the sagitta magica were to eventually break through the barrier, Daisuke himself would try to intercept his attack in however he could but the only way was it to explode so one way or another... Mortimer might actually be harmed if the barrier were to break unless a miracle happens...hopefully...

The Nocturna blocked Daisukes first attack, suffering some damage but holding. However it could not defend against the uppward shot from Taurou's attack at the same time, causing the shell Mortimer was in to suffer damage. Before he could react however, another massive burst of energy occured, striking out at his nocturna, destroying it in a single blast. Mortimers sphere was on the verge of collapse. His defenses had almost been destroyed in their totality. Choosing to cut his losses, he released himself from the crumbling shadow sphere.

Thinking of whether or not he should mince words with his students he decided against it. Honestly anything he said would just come out as arrogant anyway so it was better to say nothing. "Vente" he encanted blowing away the dust cloud and allowing a clear view of the island. Surveying as fast as he could, he had a clear view of Daisuke but not of Taurou... he seemed to have... dissapeared. He'd have to worry about him when the time came. Meeting Daisukes eyes he encanted his fastest and easiest spell "Evil Eye"

Taurou saw that his attack missed and clucked his tongue in disappointment. He sat there and listened for movement. He listened and listened, his ears twitching at every sound made, natural or otherwise. Finally he heard what he needed, his master encanting a spell. Taurou dug his way to the source of his voice and was going to repeat his performance. Hopefully Mortimer wouldn't move.

Daisuke had a direct effect of Mortimer's Evil Eye, he was about to charged in with another aerial attack but he started to feel weak and was somehow having a headache. "What's going?!" He closed over the lid on his right eye with his right hand when he was checking his temperature. He then thought that Mortimer would have made a move, a non-physical one therefore it must have been magic.

"I gotta' do something just incase!" He used those surrounding of 16 remaining sagitta magica to keep on moving, maintaining the barrier. Despite in his own condition, he thought of a plan. He placed his left hand on the ground and used "Overdrive!" While it may seem as Daisuke was resting for a moment, he actually send some arrow-like threads to move through the ground in the number of 50 without being noticed of around him.

Strangely enough, it was Taurou's attack which saved Mortimer from being destroyed by the arrows. He was hit by taurou's attack and his footing was blasted out from underneath him. His legs were sore and aching from the attack but they still seemed sound enough. As he was backflipping through the air, he managed to see the mass of Saggitta Magica coming from Daisuke, at which point, he began encanting again, even as he focused his magic into his shadow, desperately trying to form a shield of some kind. Landing in the water with a loud splash, he bobbed up in time to see the attack soaring at him as he sputtered out the last line of the spell, summoning three shadow soldiers of the guardian variety to act as a barrier between himself and the arrows. All three were destroyed in the blast leaving about five arrows to hit Mortimer square in the chest and head. Although addeled and acheing he was still far from out. "LIberatio" he said as he drew the gun out of his coat, forming it into a gunblade. The real fight was still getting started afterall, and now he knew that someone was attacking him from underground, and Daisukes shields was down.

(Hey sorry for the long absence... I've been sick -_-;;)

Taurou knew that Mortimer probably knew he was underground now, and cursed himself for being so reckless. He heard him encant his "Liberatio" spell and realized what he was doing. He was pulling out his shadow artifact from a while back, and he smiled to himself. He took out his small figurine of a spear and toyed with it a bit as he figured out what to do. He decided to go after Mortimer head on. He popped out of the ground in a large backflip bravado and in mid air he called out "Liberatio!".

He landed in a low fighting stand with his large shadow spear held horizontally behind him. His left hand was placed on the ground infront of him, the shadow wriggling on his hands as the magic coursed through him. He smiled a wicked smile, baring his fangs and said, "Well Master, how about a little one on one; artifact to artifact fight, hm?"

"Dop Pe Ru, Spiritus Lucis Coentes Sagittet Inimicum," He whispered to himself from afar calling upon light based sagitta magica which did not reveal itself in number but when straight into his overdrive into a combination. He remained his head facing down and eyes closed to relax and calm himself down. The effect of Mortimer's magic spell had not wear off. It remained a mystery to Daisuke as to what had happened as he could only recall a short moment of direct contact eye to eye with Mortimer before being covered by the flash of his earlier sagitta magica.

Meanwhile trying not to figure out what may the cause be of as it'd just worsen up to a result of a bad headache, he knew the obvious as to use the light against shadow to erase it and that was his plans for the time being. The ground slowly started to glow here, there and everywhere in the area due to the merging of his light sagitta magica merged with those arrow thread.

Out of those 16 lightning sagitta magica which had been maintaining his barrier, he ordered half to head towards Mortimer in well… lightning speed! But, it did not strike him as anyone would expect but instead surround him while moving clockwise around him horizontally at the level of his waist with a distance of 1 meters like a circle if observed from above.

He was not able to catch what Taurou had said to Mortimer due to his condition and the distance they were from each other so he didn’t meant to interrupt intentionally. Those lightning sagitta magicca acted as electromagnetic wave producer where his next attack would be directed to him and also as a locator to find out his coordinates which Daisuke is now looking at him with only one eye with a sweatdrop due to the effect. Lastly, he charge those 50 light arrow-threads in the ground towards Mortimer to bind up his movement and emit the light to disperse his shadows.

"One moment please" he said to Taurou as he clearly saw the weakened Daisuke furitively casting spells. However much he might try, lightning and light spells couldn't reach the speed of light at his level. As he did this Mortimer encante his own spell summoning three assault shadow soldiers to charge at Taurou. One would come in from his right and seek to grab the spear arm or at least the spear. The second one was charging in low at the front attempting to slash at the neko-boy with its razor sharp claws. The third was as subtely as possible seeking to circle around him and sever the neko boy's spinal cord.

As the massive bolt which would split into many smaller bolts fired at him, Mortimer raised his sword and attempted to perform a shundo through the attack, trying to break through the mass of magical energy. Hopefully with a magical blade it would be made easier although he would most likely take some damage along the way. Once he emerged from the shundo, he would be right in front of Daisuke, far from the point of his initial attack and ready to enter melee combat with the weakened doppelganger...or at least that's what he planned.

Taurou rolled his eyes as Mortimer sent the shadow soldiers after him. He saw three. They did the most common thing possible, attack from different sides, which was easily avoided. Taurou, instead of waiting to be attacked, charged forward after the one with its claws brandished. He leapt up high to avoid any strike from the short ranged weapon and lashed out with his massive Halberd like spear at the soldier's back, hopefully tearing it in twine. Taurou landed on his left foot and without even waiting to see if his strike slew the soldier, he pounced by stomping his right foot and shoving off with his left after the one that was originally on his right. Once his feet touched ground after the short pounce, he spun into an almost squatting position and swung his spear at the soldier's waist, aiming to gut the shadow soldier. Once he swung at the second soldier, he wasted no time getting to the one that was originally on his left. He saw no visible weapon but instead of being cautious, charged straight forward with his spearhead pointing at the soldier's chest, ready to impale.

Despite Mortimer did quite well challenging against Daisuke's attack, but he did not however use those lightning sagitta magica to attack as it was a trick to direct those light arrows towards him. As of now, as Mortimer was moving forward to Daisuke, those arrows chased after him from behind. He could tell that Mortimer was incoming therefore, there was no point in dodging in his current state and a chase from his light arrows from behind may not be in time therefore in instant contracted its length to be of a few centimeters in range and then expants upward from the ground surrounding Daisuke for protection. It was like a number of 50 like poles was around him and then it loosed the top to curve around each other to form a hemisphere cover around him.

"This is bad!" He knew that the consequences of covering himself just like so may not work in a safe manner which there was only a limited space to spare for him to dodge Mortimer's attack within the hemisphere. He then realized he still had 8 more remaining lightning sagitta magica which he used them to merged together with his solid barrier and then the hemisphere started to form into a sphere carrying Daisuke inside and it was slightly floating though still close to the ground. Daisuke then did his best to move around while in his current state hoping that Mortimer doesn't get to him first. It was a gamble.

Taurou's attacks were flawless. Mortimer hadn't put much effort into their assault and so they were each easily dispatched. Still they had served their purpose. Taurou was a true combat mage and made excelent use of his physical abilities. He didn't rely on tricks as much and so in Mortimers eyes he still had a lot to learn. However it was because of this clear confrontational assault that Daisuke continued to attack him at range. It was a good combination but if Mortimer was able to take down Daisuke and prevent him from attacking while Taurou focused his concentration on Melee then he might actually lose this battle.

However, he'd managed to distance himself from Taurou, and was now about to assault the supporting mage. His gunblade came down hard, aiming for the doppelgangers head but was summarily blocked by the mass of saggitta magica energy Daisuke had redirected to act as a shield. It was effective but definately not efficient. Taurou was attempting to alter the nature of the saggitta magica spell from offense to defense. Theoretically, this should have been taking a lot of energy, even if altering the nature of the spell was his specialty it still must have been taking its toll altering so many at once. As the boy tried to cast a light spell on top of the sphere of altered magical energy Mortimer grinned as he thought of a way to use this to his advntage. "Umbrae" he incanted as a massive cloud of darkness left his hand seeking to envelope the sphere of light Daisuke thought would protect him. The two were exact opposites and thus the shadow wouldn't be able to fully touch the sphere, but that didn't matter as he sent a mass of magical energy through the cloud. It was a lot and he felt that as he finished, he was down to 75% of his total magical energy. But it was worth it as now Daisukes luminescent sphere of light was also encased in a solidified cloud of shadow... or at least that's what it seemed like to Mortimer. Using the strength granted by his artifact, Mortimer sought to grasp one of the harsher edges of the solid black cloud (with Daisuke inside of it) and through it in Taurou's general direction. Now it all rested on what he thought Daisuke would do.

Its rather sad that Mortimer was using the powers granted by an artifact against a little boy like Daisuke whom had none but its not in the restriction rule so the pity goes to him. Despite the harshness this is becoming, it finally was taken as a simple spar practice anymore but a battle so it was not the time to cry over spilt milk but fight with fury!

Daisuke's condition from Mortimer's spell earlier finally wore off which would be why he felt rather better than earlier all of the sudden. He felt so much better that an outburst of fire or in other meaning, he was finally up and ready to get excited in the battle.

"25 Spiritus Ignis Coentes Sagittet Inimicum!"

The spherical form had been called to a stop and then followed by the sudden outburst of strong flare. It was hot and bright, rather suitable seemingly and what was behind the glaring glorious flames of fury...what else could anyone expect, obviously it was Daisuke and he was burning in flames...literally! No, he was not being incinerated by his own flames but it did help to prevent the shadows from enveloping his body. Now the epic battle...continues! Melee-style~...probally.

Taurou was not ready for what he saw, a flaming Daisuke being thrown at him. He backpedaled and dove to the side, getting out of the way of Daisuke, scraping his arm and nearly dropping his spear. He stood up quickly in a fighting stance, ready to fight off anything Alberio throws at him.
(sorry for the short post. Wicked busy)

With room to breath and the nonstop assault halted Mortimer smiled. Daisuke had taken the bait and broken through the magical containment, damaging Taurou in the process. It wasn't much but it might slow his pupil down. Mortimer stirred his shadows once more, free from Daiskues light attacks and caused them to form around his body, creating a rough suit of plate armor. Shadows were technically weightless and so it didn't encumber him like real armor would.

He raised his gunblade aimed at Daisuke as if about to fire. This was a ploy as he silently encanted a weakend spell. Seeking to call up three weakened shadow soldiers of the sniper model. They were little more than floating spheres with barrels sticking out of their chests but they would still be able to shoot converged sagicca magica bolts from their chests... at Taurou. If Daisuke tried to charge him he would begin opening fire and once the shadow soldiers formed, apparently in support of his gunfire at Daisuke, they would actually shoot at Taurou.