Adel approached once again, his eyes tracking the man's body before losing such efficiency in sight, tasting the air to sense his next direction. He was able to notice that Taro's build felt entirely different in comparison to a standard person's body. From the kick he dealt, he swore it felt like striking a solid bar of metal, causing a harsh bruise across his foot. Had his attack connected, it would've most likely dug his nails deep into his own skin and caused internal damage in his own body, or would have made him stuck onto Taro, leaving his body wide open for an attack. If he wishes to make any true damage, he would have to rely on his own poison to weaken the build from within. A feat easier said than done, especially as he'd sense Taro getting up close and aiming for a strike with his left. His reactions and speed were akin to the Vritra's, as if the attack wasn't even dealt in the first place, parries upon parries to push the dragon back, whilst aiming for a slash across the man's neck. His nails secreted the dosage in such a high amount, almost as if it was pouring out from his fingers.
Taro would be quick on intercepting the hand and twisting it around, forcing Adel to bend and leave his chest open, his movements limited. As a response, the Serpent curved with the twist, raising one of his legs and letting him spin to deliver a heavy kick to the man's face. A grunt came out of Adel's mouth, as he'd feel the pain again. Like a wall of steel, he injured himself again, though at the very least having it be enough to push the Dragon back and let go. "You really kept up your training just as much as I do, huh?" He'd ask, being answered by the Dragon's laugh.
"Of course! A true Dragon never leaves sight of one's might! Feasts to strengthen our bones and nerves, Fire to push and forge our stomachs and hearts, and swords to break before our very skin! That is what it means to become such a majestic beast, outsider!"
"Steel scales, got it. Metal as hell, though." A small jab as the Serpent tried to get close, his hands and feet digging into the scorched earth as he rushed ahead, aiming for a left, right, and high kick against the man's head. Taro merely moved with his punches and kicks, letting him fight back with a mighty punch against the man's legs, aiming for the joints that connects his legs, dislocating it and forcing Adel to adapt. A smirk came onto the snake's face, however, as he'd use the dislocated leg to swing around and deliver a roundhouse kick, taking advantage of the severance of such nerves to push as much force behind the strike, pushing the Dragon back, a chuckle out of the King. A simple strike was made to lodge the joints back together, his tongue sticking out once more to taste the air. Taro would finally notice such a new style of sensory, pondering exactly as to why he would let himself go blind to achieve what is essentially a personal handicap. The dragon wasted no time in approaching, digging his feet into the earth, kicking it up and letting the debris scatter, trying to throw off his senses. Next, he'd follow along with the debris, shifting his body behind, as he'd prepare his main style, a deep breath taken in as he'd blast out a massive black smog behind the fighter. Finally, once he overwhelmed the senses, he'd shift again to his left, aiming for a direct punch across the man's face, letting him be rocked across his whole mouth.
SHIKK!!!! SHIKK, SHIKK!!!
"U-...UNBELIEVABLE!!!" The announcer shouted, as the dust settled and had the whole arena witness the Dragon King's body actually be pierced. Two strikes at the neck, the poison secreting slightly off of the wound, The fruits of Serpen's labor finally paid off. "THE FIRST TO DRAW BLOOD IS THE CHALLENGER HIMSELF!! HIS HANDS HAS NOW BEEN STAINED BY THE KING'S BLOOD!!!!" An uproar of excitement as they'd see the king injured, with Taro himself smirking at the attempt, looking back out to see the man's fingernails punched in.
"Alright.... ALRIGHT!! I might actually be getting a proper match here!" Taro's excitement was rising the more he stared at the injury, smoke coming out of his wound as the venom was being taken care of, an answer against the poison. Adel would try to come at the Vritra with a flurry of strikes, forcing Taro to dodge the barrage, aiming to strike at the man's neck once he tired himself out. As he waited, however, he noticed that the human Snake was not relenting. His movements were as fluid as the very oceans, his body as quick as light. His breath was being steady with each move, letting him swerve around and throw haymaker after haymaker, closing the gap more and more as he pushed on. Even with his injuries, the man didn't show any signs of weariness, his breath going in and out with as much focus as his movements.
Taro was starting to be more impressed by the second, pondering if there was any signs of stopping. It wasn't until he saw his chest heave up and down, his breath being kept steady, that he understood what was going on. "He's minimizing his energy. He's relaxing his own body and letting it act on instinct so he doesn't use as much magic as a normal person would. This man's INSANE!!" His smile brimmed further as his mind tried to wrap around such a near infinite state, before seeing what he's done to his fingers to ensure his attack connects again.
A dark color jutting out from the nails, a biological set of knives for the Snake man. The carbon within his anatomy molding with his fingers to try and achieve his next stab into the neck, laced with the venom he's willing to secrete.
SHIKK!!!!