New School Year (Open)

Ethan slowly walked into the courtyard as the bus was leaving, he had just gotten back to school after the summer vacation. And from the looks of it, he was one of the first ones to arrive. He walks over to a group of friends who a couple had stayed over the summer break because they had no where to go. He figured he should grab his bags and head for the dorms because he didn't want to lug around two suitcases and a duffle bag all day. So of course he headed on over to the boy's dorms and swiped his card to get in. He walked all the way to the end of the hallway and entered the last room on the right, the smallest of the rooms, but also probably the biggest for a single person because it was only a single person dorm room. He walked in after unlocking the door and laid stuff down. He didn't feel like unpacking, well not everything anyways. He unpacked a sleeveless shirt, and some polyester athletic shorts. He filled up his water bottle at the sink in the bathroom and headed for the gym. He got lazy and complacent over the summer break and didn't workout as much as he should've. He swiped his card again to get inside the gym and then headed downstairs. Ethan noticed a couple other people down there as well. A couple training on dummies, some just messing around and using their powers on each other. He headed straight for the punching bag as he was in for a long night.

Dylan sighed as he lay on his bed, it was so boring! Having just returned from summer vacation, the other students were all just milling about or unpacking their belongings. His roommate hadn't come back yet so he had the room all to himself, for the time being. Groaning, Dylan rolled onto his stomach and buried his face into the comfortable pillow. He didn't have all that many things to unpack, just some clothes, his uniforms and a few other random trinkets.

Dylan let out another pitiful groan, he didn't have a single thing to do! He was already full on Darkness so he couldn't just create more of the damned sludge, the entire room would be flooded and he didn't have a clue about how he would clean up the mess. With another sigh, Dylan pushed himself off the bed and walked over to the windows, he had a nice view of the school's courtyard from his room.

A bus had just arrived and was dropping off a few students, the place was still rather empty, showing Dylan just how early he was. He turned around and looked at the clock mounted on the wall, it was a little bit past two o'clock, taking a look back at the courtyard, Dylan shrugged and closed the curtains. He opened up his wardrobe and took out a dark blue short-sleeved shirt and a pair of black shorts. Putting on the selected clothes, Dylan made his way to the gym.

Entering the gym, Dylan saw that there were a few people already in it, some were just playing around with their powers while a few others were at the dummies and punching bags. Dylan shrugged at the sight and walked towards the punching bags, ready to start his routine.

Ethan walked towards one of the bigger sets of punching bags. Dropping a bag on the ground he pulled ankle and wrist tape out of the bag, wrapping up from his mid calf to just before his toes on both legs, and wrapping up from his forearm to just on the other side of his knuckles. He stretched for a little bit as he looked over and noticed Dylan a few punching bags away. Ethan just faced back towards his punching bag and sighed. He had hoped to get some training in without being bother too much, but he already knew they were going to end up fighting each other.

Ethan stretched his leg back as far as it would go as he swung it forward, planted in onto the ground, pivoted, and brought his other leg into a full swing motion against the punching bag. As he did this he let air escape his lungs and then we quickly breathed back in. The reason most fighters lost fights is because they became winded.

Dylan heard the sound of a bag hitting the floor, completing his punch, Dylan took a step backwards and took in a quick breath, didn't want to get winded this early on. Turning his head to the source of the earlier noise, he saw Ethan doing a few stretches. He quickly turned back to the punching bag and continued his routine. Ethan was a bit of a sore spot for him, Dylan could see that Ethan knew how to fight, but the smaller boy so damned timid and never spoke up for himself. Dylan hated it when people did that.

Letting out a sigh, Dylan walked towards a water dispenser and filled up a plastic cup with cool water. Taking small sips of his water, he watched as Ethan brought his leg against the punching bag in full swing, his breathing was also good, another sign of a trained fighter. He decided to wait and see how long it would take for either of them to lose their patience, placing his cup down on a bench and walking back to his punching bag, Dylan resumed his routine.

Ethan continued to slam his legs into the bag, unrelenting with his flurry of well timed kicks to the bag. Each kick met with a quick breath in and out. He wasn't a powerful person or anything, but his stamina was insane, he just continued and continued. The bag almost straining under the blows. That's when Ethan messed up, kick didn't land right and he twisted, hand on the ground as he changed direction with just his hand. Other leg coming over and slamming into the bag. quickly regaining his stance peppering in punches. Ethan was quick to change the flow of hand-to-hand combat into his favor, that was just how he was. Then again, he wasn't in hand-to-hand combat, but if he was. The person he would've just done that to, wouldn't have seen it coming. Ethan was small, but quick, and had immense stamina.

Dylan rained blows on the bag, his punches were quick, precise and efficient, using as little movement as possible while keeping strong force. Dylan definitely wasn't the strongest person around, but he could confidently say that he had quite a bit of strength going for him, add that with the efficiency of his movements and you got one deadly fighter on your hands. Going at it for a few more strikes, Dylan started to up the difficulty, attempting to mix in kicks with his punches. Dylan wasn't as comfortable using his legs as he was with his arms, but he was fluent enough with them to still give the average martial artist a run for his money. Dylan furrowed his eyebrows as he continued his assault on the bag, punches and kicks flying at great speeds and force, he could feel the bag straining slightly but he wouldn't have to worry about it breaking. This was a school for people with special abilities, naturally the equipment would be much more durable than the average ones found in the outside world.

Ethan backed up and took a breather as he eyed the punching bag intently. he grabbed a zippo lighter out of his bag and flicked the flint switch which sparked a flame. He placed the lighter on the concrete floor and slowly sucked the flames from the lighter onto his hands and feet. He quickly went at the bag with even for ferocity than before. Scorch marks started showing up on the bag quickly as he attacked it with a flurry of extremely precise kicks and punches. If someone was watching, they'd notice that the bag started to wiggle after he'd hit it. The bag was slowly heating up from the inside out with each punch and kick. Ethan knew what was happening and continued to attack the bag with extreme prejudice.

Dylan backed up from the punching bag, using the time to catch his breath. He could go on for longer, but he didn't see much point in doing so. His punches were devastating as usual and his kicks were improving, but if he wanted to get better he'd need a practical experience, not a static one like with the punching bag. Shifting his gaze from the swinging bag, Dylan looked over to see how Ethan was doing, raising an eyebrow when he saw the flames on the smaller boy's hands and feet.

The punching bag had scorch marks all over it, also, it was wiggling ever so slightly with each hit. Curious, Dylan picked up his plastic cup and sipped at the water, watching Ethan attack the bag. Dylan figured that the bag would pop like a balloon in the next couple of minutes if Ethan kept up his attacks.

Ethan continued to attack the bag as it swelled and then, BOOM! Ethan is thrown back by the small explosion from the punching bag. He started to laugh as he laid there on the ground. Ethan just looked up at the ceiling for a short while as the flames disappeared from his hands and feet. He slowly stood up as he eyed the wraps he had on. Well what was left of them. They too had been burnt to a crisp by the flames he possessed. One downside to his power, only his body was protected from the flames, not anything he wore. He reached into his bag and pulled out a water bottle, popping the top and squirting water into his mouth as he looked around the room at the few people still training.

Dylan saw the bag swell, it was going to burst any time now. Sighing and rolling his eyes, he brought both of his hands to the sides of his head and plugged his ears. Just in time too, as the bag exploded and sent Ethan flying to the ground, the sound let out by the explosion startled the few students in the gym, but they quickly went back to doing their own thing when they saw the sophomore laughing on the ground. Smirking slightly, Dylan got up from his seat and walked towards Ethan, whom was now drinking from his bottle.

"Wonderful, only your first day back and you've already damaged school property." Dylan remarked drily, speaking while the smaller boy was busy looking at the other students training.

Ethan didn't even turn around when he held the bottle away from him and spoke, "Good on you Dylan, you've got eyes." He sighed a bit as he stood up and jumped and grabbed what was remaining of the punching bag and chain. He pulled himself up and grabbed the I beam that the bag was hung by. He was hanging there by one hand as he unhooked the punching bag remnants and tossed them to the floor, "Why don't you go hide in the shadows like you normally do, Dylan? Everyone likes you better there." He picked the remnants up again and walked them to the corner of the gym where a pile of beyond repair items had started to accumulate.

Dylan had anticipated the reply and rolled his eyes, not dignifying the barb with a response. The follow up was slightly more stinging than the first and Dylan decided to bite back. "Why don't you stop relying on your powers and start trying to get some muscle then?" He shot back at the smaller boy as Ethan brought the remains of the destroyed bag to the pile of hopelessly destroyed items at the corner of the gym, he noted that the pile was starting to grow. Guess the staff were on vacation too, they usually cleared out the pile before it could accumulate like that, Dylan thought to himself.

Ethan chuckled a little as he turned around, "It's true, I could be stronger, but then I wouldn't be me." He rubbed his hands together as he walked back to his bag and continued to drink some water, he eyed the other students knowing full well he could push Dylan's buttons rather easily. Out of no-where he pointed the bottle towards Dylan and attempted to squirt water into his eyes to quickly follow up by two quick punches to the chest and one of his famous full power kicks to Dylan's right leg, that is he tried to do such things.

Dylan didn't have anything to say to Ethan's reply, so he just kept quiet as the smaller boy rubbed his hands together and continued to drink as he walked. Suddenly, Ethan pointed the bottle at him and squirted. Dylan scowled and side stepped the arc of water, quickly bringing his arms up to his chest. Seeing Ethan coming at him with a punch, Dylan stepped into the punch, using one of his hands to push the attack away from his body as he stepped past Ethan's side, the smaller boy's second punch missing him completely.

Now standing behind Ethan, Dylan decided that it was time to fight back, launching a vicious snap kick to the boy's back. The move was executed with as little wasted movement as possible and with a great deal of strength.

Ethan quickly rolled forward as soon as he saw Dylan move out of line of sight. He spun around and brought his hands up. Keeping his eyes on Dylan, studying him. He would step back if Dylan advanced as he tried to get an exact distance away. His eyes darted to the zippo and he pulled fire towards his hands again. Ethan wanted to end this fight quick.

Dylan grit his teeth as Ethan managed to roll away from his attack, he allowed the boy to get up and into a proper position, he didn't use dirty tactics unless he had to. Dylan could see the fire being pulled towards Ethan's hands. "In quite a rush today aren't you, Ethan?" He called out, Darkness seeping through the skin of his hands and shaping itself into gloves. Dylan mentally set the gloves to become as hard as brass knuckles, if Ethan would boost his attacks, so would he. "Well, come on then!" Dylan challenged.

Ethan sidestepped to his left as he kept his eyes on Dylan, "I've got things to do before others arrive." He'd quickly step forward twice, just out of the range of Dylan's strikes. Right before he'd step forward again, he'd jab with his right hand towards Dylan, feigning the attack. The flames from that hand would disappear and appear right on his left foot as he'd attempt to kick right for Dylan's calf again. This time the kick was quick and he'd hope the feigned punch would catch Dylan off guard.

Dylan took a couple of quick steps backwards to avoid the incoming jab, he didn't want to get hit by the flames and burnt on his first day back to Darks after all. His eyes widened as the flames on the extended hand vanished. Knowing Ethan's style from the many times he'd come to blows with the boy in the past, Dylan grit his teeth and forced the Darkness to seep out of his legs and wrap around them in a form of armor. Seeing the incoming kick, Dylan ramped up the Darkness' hardness. He got ready as Ethan's kick slammed against rock hard armor, taking the opportunity to quickly step closer to Ethan and attempt to launch a few quick and painful jabs, he did have gloves as hard as brass on at the moment after all.

Ethan noted the darkness, as all the fire quickly moved to his chest taking the brunt of the impact of the hardened jabs. He stepped back as he clutched his chest. He quickly stepped forward again, fire moving to his hands again as he attempt to jab at Dylan three more times. He'd quickly step back whether or not they hit. Ethan stared into Dylan's eyes as he sprinted forward and jumped into the air as the fire engulfed his entire arm to make the punch stronger. He'd attempt to punch Dylan directly in the face.

His jabs connected, there shouldn't be any damage except for possible bruising with the level of strength he was using. He saw Ethan clutch his chest for a short moment, Dylan was tempted to press the opportunity and attack while his opponent's defenses were down, but he decided to wait. After all, Ethan was in a rush, what better way to get on his nerves than to waste more of his time? Noticing Ethan stepping forward, Dylan readied himself for the next salvo of attacks.

Swatting away the first jab, Dylan shifted the darkness from his left hand to cover his chest, softening the next two blows and preventing any burns. Stepping backwards to create some space between him and Ethan, Dylan prepared to attack, only to notice Ethan sprinting forward and jumping into the air. Fire engulfed his opponent's arm, Dylan's eyes widened at the move, quickly hopping to the side to avoid the punch aimed for his face.

Fine then, if Ethan wanted to play it that way, so would he. Dylan darted towards the stumbling boy, launching a hard jab at Ethan's back with his Darkness encased right arm. If the attack made contact, Dylan would manipulate the Darkness to launch Ethan flying a few feet forward.

Ethan dropped to the ground as the jab made contact with his back, without any fire there he got hit rather hard. He laid on his side for a short while as he tried to grow accustom to the pain. When the boy finally stood up both of his arms were engulfed in flames, the "gloves were off" as some would say. He quickly lunged forward moving at the fast as he could, two jabs were attempted for the midsection. Whether or not those connected did not make him falter. He'd spin on his left foot as he attempted to roundhouse kick Dylan.

His blow connected with Ethan, good, now he would use the Darkness to launch the insufferable brat flying forward. An irritated look crossed his face as Ethan dropped to the ground and laid on his side in pain, making a grunt of annoyance, Dylan stepped backwards until he was a few feet away from Ethan. He was a fighter, not a bully, he didn't kick people while they were down, unless they deserved it. 

Ethan finally got up, both of his arms engulfed in flames, Dylan smirked at the sight, it was time to get serious. He allowed more Darkness to be released from his body, seeping through the skin and clothes of his left arm and wrapping around the limb. He ramped up the hardness of the newly released Darkness to be equal to his right arm's. 

Ethan was coming at him quickly now, he could see the two jabs coming his way but only managed to block one of them. A fire enforced punch caught him in the chest, causing him to let out a slight grunt and step backwards. Seeing his foe spin on his left foot, Dylan quickly brought an arm to intercept the incoming roundhouse kick, manipulating the Darkness into the shape of a medieval kite shield to absorb the blow. Tendrils would then burst out from the outer side of the shield and attempt to wrap around Ethan's leg, Dylan would then attempt to give a hard punch to his enemy's face.

Ethan eyed Dylan intently as his leg was caught by the shadow, he then smirked as the flames on his arms disappeared and the same amount gathered around the caught flame. His entire leg was radiating heat like the fire never did before. He however would use this to his advantage, hoping the amount of heat would catch Dylan off guard, and in that moment he'd drop to the ground as he attempted to roll himself backward with the shadow still connected to his leg. If such thing worked, Dylan would now be headed for the ground a foot or so from Ethan's head and Ethan would attempt to punch for right where Dylan would be in that moment if the roll worked.

Dylan smirked as the Darkness caught Ethan's leg, using the opportunity, Dylan attempted to punch his foe in the face. Only the flames around Ethan's arms to disappear, he felt a large surge of heat coming from behind his kite shield. Startled by the move, Dylan halted his attack and ripped his left arm away from the source of heat, leaving the shield connected to Ethan's leg.

Ethan dropped down and rolled backwards, seeing his opportunity, Dylan manipulated the Darkness stuck on Ethan's leg to pull the boy backwards a few feet in the middle of his roll. If it worked the way he hoped it would, Ethan would end up face flat on the ground whilst being dragged backwards for a short distance. Dylan would then have the Darkness connected to Ethan's leg stab itself into the ground and keep his enemy pinned down by the leg.

Ethan would ramp the heat up on his leg further by condensing the flames to smaller areas on his legs. Pockets of intense heat surely to destroy any shadows on his leg. He'd quickly stand up as he eyed Dylan intently. He'd bring his hands together in a praying motion as he calmed himself down. He'd dash forward the flames on the tips of his fingers only, concentrating the heat to said tips. Ethan was in a calm state as he attacked Dylan this time, he thrusted towards him with his right hand like a spear, quickly anticipating any movement from Dylan. Then Ethan would come in with his left hand with a spear movement and aim for Dylan's kidney.