Trial or Routine? [KOTR Recruitment - Iko + K]

It didn't take long at all for their hostess to finally show up - and just as she was described via Tamernet, a Leomon. Though Iko knew of the species, he'd never seen a Leomon of K's variety, both 'female' and with a different color, but it made enough 'sense' at least.

"Good to see you too, K." The wolf gave a grin, standing up to greet his soon-to-be opponent. Luke spoke up in response to the offer for questions:

"Yeah, what's all this about, I guess? Iko showed me the text line, but how are you-"

"Honestly, let's save that much for later, Luke." Already focusing on the fight at hand, Iko took to more immediate matters: "Besides, I think we'll get a good idea of how serious we all are during this bout. Now, how do we want to do this? Are we following the traditional Colosseum rules, or are we just going until one of us taps out?" The wolf gave a grin at that: "Either way, I hope we plan to use more than just our hands and feet this time. Important as that is to practice, I don't think we're going to get anywhere unless we take this seriously."

"... Well, when he's on a roll..." Luke muttered to himself. "Fine, I'll save it. But be sure to at least make a good case for yourself, wolf."

The questions would have to wait, and as K spoke of the terms of the spar, Iko gave a nod. "That works well-enough for me. Not having to keep track of points in our heads is going to be nice enough as it is." The wolf gave his own chuckle, a grin spreading across his face as his opponent's blade was raised.

"Either way, I'm glad. To be honest, ever since the mountains I've wanted to get a one-on-one spar with you. Such a revolving door of forms... just makes me wonder how much polish you have on each one."

"Hm? Looks like we're up." As the clock ticked over and a small 'ding' filled the room, Iko tilted his head, leading on towards the arena proper.

---

As could be expected for this time of day, the arena's stands were not packed at all. A few bored bystanders came to watch the practice bouts - basically just an excuse to keep concessions open - and as the two stepped onto that stone circle of an arena, Iko gave a wave, moving out towards the further end.

"Well, hopefully I can establish a decent enough resume, here." Tensing both of his fists, Iko's tried and true Crescent Blades appeared on the outside of his arms, extending out from his wrists, curved back to his elbow. From there, he simply took a stance, leading with his right side, tensing his right fist forward.

"How about you start us off, grand lion?"

Not a lot of practice? It made sense, a slight grin visible on Iko's lips at that admittance. Hopefully K wasn't taking him too lightly?

Well, that snark wasn't held for long. Perhaps that was just part of the test, or perhaps K simply wanted practice in an unfamiliar form. In either case, Iko would still stand at the ready, awaiting the lion's approach. Should she be flattered?

"Up to you."

That grin was once more shared, and as K made that rather obvious approach, Iko's eyes tensed. An overhead swing, against his Crescent Blades? If anything, he appreciated her bravado, but he wasn't going to let that opening go to waste. Instead of simply trying to dodge or even meet the blade head on, Iko instead gave a step forward - intent on both breaching the range of that sword and put himself right against the lion's body. If his step would work, and if K would follow through, her closed hand would be lined up right with Iko's shoulder...

... As he would slice his arm across, intent on using that smaller, curved blade to cut through the opposing champion's midsection! In doing so, he'd try and brace the side of his bladed right arm against her torso, leaning in with his weight to keep up the pressure!

K could not afford to look at Iko as a hypothetical evaluation target: even as she thought that, the Ankomon had already moved onto the next step. After all, his specialty did not lie in blades, but in the manipulation of shadows and darkness.

Right here, standing point-blank in front of the Leomon? Their shadows had already intersected.

Gotcha.

Of course, K would counter - and Iko was more-or-less expecting that blade to follow through. As K held the blade in her right, he rolled his left arm back with the blow, gritting his teeth as he felt the weight of that heavy blade sink in. In that same moment, however, K would feel the ground beneath both of them grow very hot - his own shadow, and the shadow beneath her feet, igniting into a black fire.

A fire that would quickly work to try and snake up the Leomon's legs! Burning Darkness!

Of course, there was also the matter of K's follow-up: rather than try and stay right in front of her, the wolf would lower his head, and try and slip around her left side in a tight circle around. He wanted to stick very close to his opponent, it seemed!

Right now, the momentum was clearly in Iko's favor. The Ankomon had managed to get a deep cut across the opposing Leomon's torso and - of course - that shadowfire flowing up her legs wasn't going anywhere soon.

Of course, he didn't expect K to yield just from that. The fight had just started, after all, and at this point, Iko was interested in seeing what K would do to deal with the situation at hand. To his surprise, it was the blade itself: made shorter and faster, she could much more easily swipe right at the wolf's side, and more easily throw away attacks. That quick slash forced an answer out of the wolf, Iko bringing his left arm up at an awkward angle to let that smaller sword connect with his Crescent Blade.

Like that, he would attempt a 'hold', putting more weight into that arm to try and bring K to a draw. More to the point, he kept one foot deep in the Leomon's shadow, continuing to channel the 'Burning Darkness' as long as he could manage.

She's thinking too light. Internally, Iko gave a sigh: She's too used to blades. Last I checked, 'Leomon' didn't rely so much on tools...

THERE it was.

Almost as the Ankomon gave that thought, K's free hand was bathed in flame, that annoyed growl evident as those words rumbled out to him. Having anchored himself against the smaller sword, Iko grit his teeth.

As before, the black flame answered his call, streaming up his own frame to cover his free arm. That wouldn't stop the attack outright, however: the sheer force of that punch met that arm, raised to block, sending the Ankomon back several feet.

Skidding on his feet, he managed to catch himself, an annoyed twitch entering his eye. Through that whole exchange, he'd kept track of K's expression.

Her annoyance. Her fear. Her distraction. Rather than poise himself to look for another opening, Iko gave a low, calm breath out.

"Are you even looking at me?"

At those low words, the shadow beneath his feet flared once more, the dark fire blazing in front of him, leaving the wolf behind it, in K's vision, a wavering form, obscured by the heat.

"Well?