<div class="floatleft">(https://31.media.tumblr.com/359840f5e176bf6b11081caf6991e7e9/tumblr_n8pvg0uwLd1r7wrq1o1_250.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Avery (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=207204.msg10203807#msg10203807)<br/><strong>Cabin:</strong>Unclaimed Resident of Hermes Cabin<br/><strong>Location:</strong>September 23rd, evening.<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Ezra<hr/><br/>Avery's lips tilted upward at Ezra's frown, painted a knowing smile, when realization dawned upon his face that her clones would not be so easily dissembled. Only a fool would issue challenge to a child of Ares without an actual plan intended to level the battlefield. Perverse pleasure rippled through her body, of her own accord, upon hearing his first true scream of pain. "Tell me how it feels," she taunted softly, knowing her voice would be more jarring to his senses spoken aloud rather than within the already tormented corridors of his mind. She tilted her head to the side and she evaluated his bent but not fallen body. This simply would not do.<br/><br/>She was prepared to put an end to their battle of wills and bring to existence exactly what she wanted initially at the start of their bout. A humiliated Ezra who had been given a mere taste of his own harsh medicine. However, what would become the final stroke in a masterful creation, intended to crumble the forceful demi-god, was parried away with yet another singing clash of their swords against each other. Avery growled deep within her throat, shaking with the force of undiluted rage. It left a bitter taste in her mouth because there was no heavenly being she could invoke for assistance. All she ever had was herself and those brought under her protection. Her body remained poised before that look which reeked of arrogance was issued from Ezra. It was then she heard the steady sound of Ezra's voice within his mind, whispered at first but consistently building with fervor with each spoken word. No horror Avery visited upon him could detract or silence it. Her body remained poised even though the faintest of shudders edged down her spine upon being gifted with a look which reeked of arrogance and power. Somewhere nearby daughters of Aphrodite were likely swooning.<br/><br/>A heavy price was paid for her failure when the very soil underneath her feet started to creak and moan until the very land split down its belly and fire bled upward from its wound. She stepped backward, seeking stability in the midst of the quake, before finally plunging the crimson stained sword into the ground. There was nothing to be done but watch as the gaping laceration within the Earth widened. It was then Avery realized this recourse was the work of the Gods, and more specifically the one her opponent worshiped and paid constant homage to. This blatant work of the divine should have by all rights amazed her with its power, the birth of violent beauty, but all it left was a nasty taste in her mouth. Her ears rang painfully when that wretched scream heralded itself into existence before the wound gave birth to a creature born of fire and blood. Avery ripped her sword from its dirt sheath as the ground became still once more and then took a precautionary step backwards. Her heart screamed as it was wrenched when the creatures called upon by her power was completely destroy by the charging horse as it laid to sunder all which stood within its path.<br/><br/>Cruelty had been rewarded. There was no other explanation for this injustice. Yet, she did not balk and run like a coward for protection when faced with certain defeat. Avery's pride was not injured as she never sought might nor glory. All she wanted was vengeance but apparently the Gods had seen fit to deny her claim. Again. She screamed, not from agony, but frustration when the flaming goliath slammed its heavy chest into her body and consequently sent her flying backward, only stopping once the unyielding trunk of an ancient tree bit its bark into her back. Every inch of her body ached while her mind throbbed with the promise of a murderous headache. Yet, physical injury paled in comparison to the hurt she felt when faced with Ezra's face, still painfully arrogant and devoid of any lesson learned. He was still very much the same person who would betray a vow just as quickly and easily as he would strike out at the vulnerable.<br/><br/>Avery did not wince away when the blade nearly penetrated flesh at her side. Instead, she stared upward into those crimson eyes. "I will<strong>never</strong>bow before one who would crush the heads of innocents and foes alike in order to rise." Before what could translate into a killing blow from Ezra, thorny veins erupted with the force of molten lava from a geyser then wrapped forcefully around Ruin's powerful body. It constricted tightly enough to elicit sound before it tugged mightily downward, causing the crunching sound of bone being broken to echo across the land as it was pulled mercilessly back down into the earth. "Bless you, Fortuna," Avery thanked softly then rose upward to take advantage of the good luck bestowed upon her head.<br/><br/>Drawing on what little reserves left within her mind, she ignored the throbbing eruption of agony within her skull and forced her final illusion into his brain. The unyielding force of water filled his mind, forced its salty presence down his throat and raped his nostrils. Its weight added to that of his armor and tugged downward, intent upon having him kneel. The mind of the warrior was conquered and not soon after the body followed as pressure slowly started to build from a nagging ache into a burning spear within his lungs. The brain screamed for air but was constantly denied. "Yield, Ezra, or I will rip any sanity from your mind until you are but a shell of your former self. But, unlike you, I will not hide behind the name of a God for my actions. I, alone, will carry the burden of ruining you until Asphodel takes me."