Zalgo vs Johun

Zalgo thought that the fates must have been playing him for a fool, bringing him to a place of peace and tranquility. Little did they know, however, Zalgo preferred such beauty to the everyday dark and dank he was used to. It made it much easier to implode a sentient's mind. The water soaked through, into his cloak. He cared not for the health of the fabric, only that it would make maneuvers quite difficult.

As he tore off the low hanging cape to reveal a more traditional combat robe, ending just below the water line, he also began channeling the Force through him. his opponent would arrive soon, and Zalgo was going to give him a hell of a welcome.

No wonder the various fates had brought him here. They were not toying with him, but giving him a spot of fun! There was a Jedi in front of him, and Zalgo knew how zealous they could be in the name of false peace.

"Welcome Jedi." His voiced rasped, seeming to echo from places that could not be. It was the influence of the mask of Am Dhaegar, the floating mist that still concealed his face and neck. If one paid close enough attention, they might hear the screams of lost souls, bound by ethereal chains to Zalgo's own.

"This garden will be your final nightmare."

Zalgo unleashed the built up Force energies, trying with great ferocity to push his influence at Johun's mind. An illusion so powerful might break a weak mind, driving them directly to madness, where they might take their own life in desperation to free themselves from the feeling or pure horror. Even the most well trained Sith and Jedi minds would have trouble ignoring the sights and sounds Zalgo was creating around him. It was not simply creating an illusion that made them so powerful. No, no; Zalgo made them believable, Zalgo tore at the grievances and fears of mortal minds. It was the only entertainment Zalgo knew.

The landscape became darker at first, as if the sun were coming to a set. The fountain ran with blackened water, polluted by the runoff of war machines. The garden wilted, each plant seeming to die a death with sentience. A Jedi of any caliber would understand the feeling of hundreds of life forces suddenly screaming out in pain, only to be quickly silenced after. It was a powerful illusion, for certain, one tailored specifically for a lightsider; for someone who cared about life.

"Shall we begin?" Zalgo asked, in a lighthearted tone. He too, would feel the illusion. He would bask in it's glory, the ecstasy of death filling him from every direction; the horrors of wartime filling his mind with gruesome pictures that only further fueled his lust for a hands on killing.

Zalgo rolled his shoulders, blowing smoke from his nostrils, and quite literally. The mist over his face flowed coldly over the hooded figure as he dropped into a half crouching defensive stance. His saber ignited out of his left hand, crossing his body parallel to the ground.

"Then shine bright, Jedi. Can you quell the dark this day?"

Johun could not have seen, but Zalgo was smiling. This was the purest elation, the perfect moment. Death surrounded them, violence was in the air a la the scent of blood and the sounds of wailing. This was everything Zalgo could ever desire, as emotionless as he seemed.

He laughed slightly as the Jedi opened his eyes. He seemed to be at tears already, and Zalgo hadn't even cut him yet. "What are your darkest fears, Jedi?"

Oh.. Zalgo thought, nearly out loud. It seemed the Jedi was preparing some form of retaliation. Too bad he'd never get the chance. It was easy enough to maintain an illusion in place during combat, though it would slowly fatigue the master mind-bender. Using other Force abilities was rather out of the question as well, as his concentration was already going towards relative combat. Still, this illusion was one of Zalgo's favorites, and most used as well. He knew it's intricacies well, and hardly noticed the strain on his mind.

"You'll get nowhere fast like that, Jedi whelp."

Zalgo jumped out of his defensive stance, charging at a controlled pace towards Johun. His blade was still parallel to the ground as he came into striking range of the man, and he attempted to push the boy's blade into his own face with sheer force. His right hand cocked back, ready to strike when the moment came.

"A ??????b??o????????y???? ???i???n???? ???t???????e??? m??u???????c?k????,??????? ????l????i?????v?i?????????g??? o?r???? ???????d??e??????ad, s????t???il??l??? d????e????c?????o??????m???p??o?s????e????s???!" With the yell, his voice became even more distorted, hardly even recognizable now, as the souls trapped just beyond the veil screaming in eternal anguish.

ooc: sorry for the delays. Life punched me in the guts.

Zalgo felt the electricity, the hum of the air struck the right chords in his mind. It was time to get all the way aggressive. Johun locked his saber, just what Zalgo was looking for. Zalgo pushed his blade into the lock as the lightning crashed off to their side. He felt the air pressure in his lungs make a noticeable change as the thunderclap rang out, and the heat seared the cloth on his left shoulder. He angled his blade off towards the his left, Johun's right, to try and push it away slightly, making his opponent a bigger target for the already lined up punch.

Zalgo pushed with all the might he could muster while maintaining control of the illusion. There was no Force to add to his strength, but that was hardly relevant; he had a fist made of metal. Zalgo's gauntleted fist practically launched itself at Johun, opening at the last second to reveal a set of highly sharpened claws. He aimed to grab Johun's elbow, as it was not only the closest target, but there was hardly any consequence to grappling him at such an angle there.

Zalgo had the opening he had wanted to whole time. To get the lightsider into combat with a mind being torn up by his illusions. Zalgo was feeling the wear on his mind as well, being so aggressive. Even with such a familiar scene, there would always be effort required; but the usefulness of the illusion had already proved it's point. However, wishing not to distract himself from what could be the finishing blow, Zalgo tore into the last reserves of what he had in his mind to carefully maneuver his blade as he wanted.

Zalgo ended the bladelock just as Johun's head was coming forward, slicing it quickly at the lightsider's exposed and undefended neck, flicking his wrist to make sure it would pick up enough speed before retaliation would be an option.