A lunge.
The Human Vritra raised his arms as he tried to block whatever attack was coming next. A massive slash across his body, the scales breaking off and the liquid hot blood pouring down in such a messy display. The Venom he was creating began to infect his own body, a green corrosive crawling across the wound, steam let out as it melts away his energy. The Dragon understood what was happening in that brisk second, yet his guard was dropped right as he planned for a counterattack. A kick to the temple, followed by an iron grip from his hand, following after the impact and dragging him across the arena, slamming his head into the bone-like structure of the arena and scraping his face alongside it. His eyes and face were full of a primal urge to maim. To slaughter. To kill.
Then a thought occurred. One that would catch him just as off guard as before. "Wait a minute. Haven't I already experienced this...?" He'd think to himself, as the Serpent followed up with a toss, grabbing him by the leg and slamming him straight into the wall. An Elbow to his stomach, a slash against his chest, the green toxin corroding away his scales, cracks of such color shining as bright as the star above. Right as the Serpent went for a third hit, Taro would throw his own attack, the Claw encompassing both of his arms, the flames consuming them both, as he'd aim for a chop to the neck, then diving his hand into the snake's mouth, aiming to rip it in two and exhale his fumes down his throat, clicking his teeth and letting his head explode in the process. The Dragon tried to take a deep breath as he'd stumbled away from the body, yet as soon as he closed his eyes, it happened again.
Slash to the body, Corrosive material in tow. Grip to his neck, dragged across the arena. A pattern was being made. What was he infected with!? Taro would try to use the Claw to separate the two and attack it into himself, burning the toxin away. The Serpent chuckled as he'd see the man be frantic, trying to understand what was happening to him. "Seems I finally pulled it off. Good. I've been training with my best friend a technique that would've ensured someone wouldn't have a chance of reacting until they recognized the toxin." His energy spiked once more as it coated his hands, ready to attack again.
A parry from the left and right slash, as Taro twisted his arm and aimed for a back kick to his spine, using the force from such a tug to arch him into the letter C, hoping such an injury is enough to break him in half. Adel, however, adapted, as he'd twist his body in the same direction, letting him grab ahold of his leg, pull him in, and headbutt the man directly, letting him let go so that he can follow up with a slash against his face, followed by a smack in the reverse direction, forcing Taro to look forward, then another headbutt, before finally finishing it off with a two handed slam straight down on his head into his knee, aiming to rip the jaw straight out from such dislocation. Despite the numerous damage, the Human Vritra was able to push him off and smack his own jaw back into place, letting him speak again. "So you managed to poison a Dragon. Impressive, though I don't seem to be suffering any symptoms. Whatever toxin you injected into me, a Dragon's Immune system has proven that it is useless!"
"Who says you were supposed to get sick?" Such a question stunned Taro, yet Adel explained further. "My Venom now is targeting straight for the brain, hitting at your occipital lobe. Upon interacting with it, your vision would start to feel off. A small amount of Nausea, a hint of amnesia, but most importantly...-"
"A hallucinogen." Taro can't help but laugh proudly as he started to understand, the crowd bewildered by his laughter echoing across the arena, standing in place instead of attacking his opponent. "So that's what this is! You forged a personal Illusion to repeat our attacks! I was wondering what was making me re-enact such blows before!"
"Surprised you were able to find out so soon. Most normal people would take around 5 tries to piece it together."
"Tell me, Outsider. Do you REALLY think any of us are considered 'normal' at this rate?" A cheeky smirk from the Dragon as he'd take a deep breath, before aiming straight at his own neck.
SHIKK!!!
Everyone went silent, including Adel, as they watch on Taro using his Claw to burn away his own brain stem, letting it scale across and wipe out the toxin within his mind. Screams of agony were heard at first, a searing migraine as the man tried to control himself, yet eventually, he was able to stand properly again. He figured the source of the venom was through his nerves upon contact with his skin, hence the green energy scavenging as much as possible. By burning those very nerves first, he would rid the root of the Toxin. By burning his brain stem, he allowed his entire nervous system to be fried alive, all to break out the 'loop' he's presented. As soon as he took his hand out, the Claw was no more, his fire quenched, yet the Dragon still standing strong. Blood leaked from his eyes and nose, yet he could care less. "Holy...." was all that Adel would be able to say, as he'd see such a madman achieve the impossible.
Just like himself.
"Surprised?" Taro would ask, as he'd exhale his fumes once more, clicking his teeth and recreating his Claw in one quick swipe, letting it pass over again to his arms. "The might and tenacity of a dragon would exceed whatever expectations the body has acquired. Even though our scales block all, our blood runs hot, and our lungs breathe as much air as needed from the beloved sky, we try to surpass it. I have already demonstrated this. It is now your turn to do the same." He'd get himself into a stance as he'd push himself back to the very ring of the Skull's shape. "Let us settle this, my friend. Let us prove once and for all..."
"That you are an Outsider no Longer."
Adel can't help but shed a tear as he'd recollect his memories. The times when he felt alone. The times where he had only his Serpent to his name. "I can't believe it... I really found my family..." A big smile was on his face as he cried in front of his opponent.
Taro merely chuckled silently as he'd stare at the Serpent directly. "Welcome home... Serpens."