RA: Ranking match

Grav walked into the middle of the room. The walls were made of metal and concrete, sturdy enough to survive most beating, while strip lights flickered above his head, scattering shadow all around him. He’d been here several times before. This room was used as a training room, but it was also the room for ranking matches. Gazing round he remembered the other matches he’d thought. All against untrained reckless idiots who hadn’t controlled their power. He heard footsteps behind him but didn’t turn, no need to look interested.

“Acknowledge your seniors”. Grav turned to look at the voices owner. A woman stood there, probably no more than two years older than him. “Are you the next rank match?” she asked rubbing her eyes with a gloved hand.

“I am. Who, may I ask, am I addressing?” Grav sneered, staring into her blank dark eyes.
“My names Obsidian, runner title Lichen, Gluttony of the seven sins, and your next opponent”.

Grav looked at her properly now, his attention grasped. She was wearing a grey, long sleeved t- shirt & black jeans, ripped and stained in several places. Her left arm was completely encased in slender armour, as if covered in scales. Her hair was cut short, arching from her head like feathers, eyes staring blank and dark back at his. But Grav couldn’t help but stare at her. This was one of the seven sins, like Sloth, the spindly man who hadn't flinched at having to butcher his comrades. These people were dangerous, even if Grav hadn't seen the powers they possessed. He just knew.

"Off the record here, I have a couple of things to say. Staring is rude, I'm not evil and I don't need to use my powers to wipe you out." Grav was about to open his mouth when she started again. "No I’m not a mind reader that would be pretty dull. I’ve just met lots of runners like you who think they know everything." She slowly bent down as if tying her shoelaces.

"You know nothing" Grav jumped just as the claxon blared to signal the start of the match, just avoiding the knife that Obsidian produced from here pocket.

"I KNOW HOW U FIGHT!" She roared in triumph “I watched your last match, I know all your moves" Grav snorted, clicking his knuckles. That trick with the knife was cheap, was she expecting to win this fight through tricks and words? Grav ran backward, placing his foot on the wall. Clearing his mind he shifted his gravity to rebound him into the air. Turning in the air to look at Obsidian. She hadn't moved an inch, she was just staring at him As soon as he was close enough above her, then he released his power. Massing all the willpower he had he brought his clasped hands down on Obsidians head, increasing the gravity behind his hands to the most he could. Flipping back he allowed himself a quick look over his shoulder at her.

SHE WAS SMILING! She hadn’t even flinched from the blow that would have killed any normal person. But of course she wasn’t a normal person. She was one of the seven sins. Grav flipped in the air, producing a knife from his coat.

“I will not lose", the words came out no more than a whisper, but as soon as they did he swore to himself. Suddenly a sound clipped his ears, a sound that clouded his mind with rage. She was laughing. Grav lost it, smacking himself off of the wall knife extended. Obsidian moved like liquid, grabbing his forearm. She wrenched him round forcing him to drop the knife and let out a small cry of pain. He armour was cutting into his skin causing him to bleed slowly. Not releasing her grip, she slowly lowered her mouth to graze ear.

"You aren't a real runner. Your a fake. A brain dead fool. I have no idea what exactly you are. But theres no way in hell your defeating me." and like that she let go, letting Grav slump to the floor. He lay in a heap on the floor cursing to himself. "I bet you don't even know your own name". She walked out of the room, laughing.

How could he have lost so easily? What did she mean he wasn't a runner? But what scared him the most was that he knew here power, why he couldn't find the strength to stand up. Just before she had grabbed him, when she laughed at him. She had taken a glove off. When she had grabbed him, she had used her bare hand to grab his wrist. She had drained his energy. She had looked into his memories in that same touch. Memories he didn't even know existed.

"What am I" Grav whispered.

"What is my REAL name?”