Smog.
The very smoke that debilitates the senses. Upon inhaling such, it could damage the nose and force it to filter out every particle left behind in the black gas. On more severe conditions, it could even lead towards anosmia, the loss of smell entirely. Whilst Adel's performance was meeting with Taro's expectations, that very smog has begun acting on the Dragon's will. Such a noxious poison that lingered in the air forced the Serpent to pull back, rending himself fully blind across the world. Sure, he could return his eyesight, but doing so would lend the risk of the smoke damaging his eyes mid-transfer, as well as having to weaken himself slightly against the Vritra, a gamble that he isn't willing to push for. Taro would exploit this weakness further, another black cloud of smog escaping from his mouth, breathing it around the area, as he'd hide himself within. The serpent's fingers were able to dig into his body again, though now with this black gas, he doesn't know exactly where he struck him. A click of the man's teeth was heard as Taro braced his body for the impact, the air around the two being warmer once such clatter was heard.
A Bomb was set off.
KA-BOOOOOOOM!!!!
"AN EXPLOSION!! TARO WAS FORCED TO BLOW UP HIS VERY OPPONENT TO SMITHEREENS!!! THE HUMAN VRITRA WAS PUSHED TO ERADICATE THE HUMAN SNAKE TO ENSURE A LETHAL HIT!!!" The announcer cried, having the crowd forced to watch as the smoke departed, with Taro far away from the blast and raising his fist, the crowd roaring once more, the bias being somewhat visible, bringing a disgruntled face out of the children. Though as the clouds were gone, the boys would look down to see Adel's status, a smile on their faces as they'd see him still standing after the bomb. His body was cooked on the outside, second and third degree burns visible across his chest and stomach, his arms scarred from the impact, but was still alive. "AND HE LIVES!!! HE SURVIVED IT!! HE ENDURED THE BREATH OF THE VRITRA ITSELF!!!!"
Taro can't help but laugh as he'd see the man's deformed figure. "YES! Very good! C'mon! Let me see you try to take another hit! You're exciting me over here, Outsider!" Praise being given towards Adel, as the dragon approached the man. As he tried to get closer, however, he noticed that the man's body was a lot more flaky than usual, small settlements and pieces of flesh falling off. He began to grow worried as he pondered if the man truly was alive after such a stunt. "Oi. You didn't die there, did you? A Dragon shouldn't be left unaccounted if such a demise fell upon the opponent!" Taro asked, walking forward a smidge, his hand reaching out to see if the Serpent was alright. The one moment his guard was down.
THWACK!!!
A heavy hook. The body reacted near instantaneously the second Taro took his step. The anatomy shifted wildly and threw itself to try and land that left, forcing the Dragon to raise his guard and block the hit. Off the corner of his eye, he'd see the man rushing in, aiming for a body blow that forced the man up in the air, before kicking his discarded body and letting it change hands, a haymaker that spiked the Dragon back down to earth. As he had a closer look at the peeled body, he could see that the man shed off the damage, his new, fresh body shining with the light, the old being puppeted through his own attacks, kicking the skin and letting it freely swing forward to get the Vritra caught in the brisk moment where he cannot fight back. Adel kept the pressure going, as he'd strike at the shed skin by the shin so that it can duck down and aim for a body blow, pushing the Dragon back, allowing the Serpent to aim for a strike at his temple, sharpening his nails to tear down the pressure point in his head, before doing a knee and letting the discarded flesh rise up to lunge an uppercut to push him away, leaving his neck open for another potentially lethal strike. "Such valiant effort! Such strength! Such speed! I may have a potential match now!!" Taro thought to himself as he'd back himself away before the uppercut connected, blasting down the black smog to conceal his body and disorient Adel, rushing forward to elbow the skin off and leaving Adel alone in his new, fresh body. The Snake was quick on trying to back away in order to get a proper field of view, yet right at the very cusp of the dark cloud, the Human Vritra has shown that he was able to think further ahead than any fighter he would have seen.
Click!
KA-BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Another heavy explosion, the audience watching as both would be damaged, yet their King taking advantage of the momentum and raising his arms, aiming for a clothesline against Adel mid-launch, striking at the man's neck and flipping him over onto the scorched ground, blood spewing out upon both impacts, as the Dragon stood firm. Even when he was caught off guard, even when he was pushed into a corner, the Human Vritra merely raised his hand to show to his people that he can still fight. The crowd cheered as they'd see him overcome such a maneuver, before Taro looked down to watch Adel struggle on getting up. "Had enough? Your body looks like it has been in many wars. It looks tired, weary even." Partially as a taunt, but also as an act of concern. Adel would be able to respond by getting himself up, blood pouring down from his neck, but merely rubbing such a wound would let it slow down, his skin quick on reattaching thanks to the Carbon within his system.
"It's nothing." The serpent replied, as he'd get back into his stance, showing his mixture of boxing and Snake Style assassination.
"Whatever you say, Outsider. A Dragon hold no qualms if you wish to keep pushing your body to your very limits. That type of strength is a pride we all want within our very soul."
"Are you saying that I may be a Dragon?"
"Precisely! You have shown the strength and tenacity for it! I wouldn't mind having a personal soldier, nay, a general, to lead our people to the victory they crave to taste."
"Appreciate the offer... but I'll pass. I already have a Wife to watch over, after all."
Taro laughed as he'd hear such news. "Really!? Well then, you better make her proud then! Don't be dying on my watch, you hear me??" A demand set for the King, as the two locked eyes once more. In a weird way, Adel feels attached to this place. These people. This land.
Why does this place feel so warm to stay in?