It was physically built for the chase, not for direct combat. That said, the sharp kick was enough to bruise it heavily, though the restrained claws prevented any external bleeding. A bit unfortunate that, for blood have have revealed the property of burning it did not know of.

Even as the magic sharply went away, its body was noticeably heated far beyond the normal standards. It considered the Overseer for a second as it recovered enough to get to its paws. It needed some distance, if it wanted to properly fight, it realized. Overseer Tectus had the build of a close combat being, what with the solid build, but itself was a chasing valkhound, built to wear down its foes.

So it turned and swatted its tail at the face of Tectus, trying to leap away. It would return, it would not abandon its assignment, but it was trying to be strategic about this.

ROUND 2/?

81%

ATTEMPT: Tail Swat
DEFENSE: Many Spikes, Burn-Causing Blood, Distance (Hopefully)
INJURIES: badly bruised, somewhat winded

@Tectus

She was going easy on it, both because she knew that if she were at her full might and her full effort, the Oilstone wouldn't stand a chance. All she had to do was knock it to the ground and wait for it to give up. If she was trying to kill, that would be even easier. Its head could fit pretty easily into her massive jaws.

But that was not the point of this - she was here to test and observe. So she allowed it a moment to get to its feet and when it turned to leap away, its tail came swatting at her and she met it in the middle. A heavy jerk of her head towards the spiked tail and she felt the sharp edges digging into the scales of her cheek, but little blood welled up - it would take more then that to get through the natural armor she wore. Still, her grin cracked open at the sting. A good defense against less heavily-armored brutes like her.

She probably could have minimized how deep the spikes penetrated her hide, but the resounding hit would jerk the tail, probably. The muscles would probably hurt from the hit and it wouldn't be pleasant, trying that attack again.

Now it had some distance from her. Her head lowered and she began to lumber forward after it giving the chase it wanted. She knew she would not be able to catch it, but she was a creature of persistence and endurance, while it specialized in speedy ambush. Lets see which one would win out.

ROUND 2/?

76%

ATTEMPT: smash the tail a bit
DEFENSE: fucking UNIT, natural defenses
INJURIES: minor burn, scratches

@Oilstone T-One

The Overseer had hurt is tail, but it had indeed gotten the distance it required. In its own study of Overseer Tectus, the most weakness it saw in her was her eyes. Eyes could be a vulnerable spot for any being, it realized. But it did not wish to actually harm its Overseer, even if it doubted the hit would land on her.

Now that the windedness had worn off, it suddenly turned its run into a full blown sprint, and this valkhound manage to create a distance that could only be easily crossed in such a quick moment as a battle by itself, gaining on speed that only a cheetah could exceed. It tried further to prepare, to focus magic once more to its paws.

The magic caught, thankfully. Stronger than before, but still weaker than it could be in the future. Still, if the valkhound could manage to get in an attack in with it next round, it would be worth it, the combination of this fire and a following attack.

ROUND 3/?

68%

ATTEMPT: N/A because Preparing Smolder Step
DEFENSE: Many Spikes, Burn-Causing Blood, Distance
INJURIES: Badly Bruised, Hurt Tail

@Tectus

She watched it run and a part of her wanted to be disappointed that it was fleeing, but she knew better. It was not retreating - not during a spar. She had not detected any mote of cowardice from it, only a thoughtful, open mind.

Eventually stopped giving chase, knowing there would be no way to outrun it. Instead, she raise a claw to slam her foot on the ground, breaking any nearby stones and rubble, breaking them into little, sharp pieces, scattered around her immediate vicinity. The grinding sound of shattering stone filled the air as shards of rock clattered to the ground. It would have to be careful when it approached her again, lest it impale its foot on one of them.

ROUND 3/?

76%

ATTEMPT: break some stones around her
DEFENSE: fucking UNIT, natural defenses, surrounded by sharp stones
INJURIES: minor burn, scratches

@Oilstone T-One

It seemed gaining distance had given the Overseer time to prepare. Her own magic was related to rocks, or rather perhaps earth, it noted. A strong, solid element. It suited her.

Already, it was racing back towards her, paws flaring with heat. Its tough skin, though resistant to a degree, was still vulnerable enough that the rocks caused its paws to bleed, blood that would burn all that lacked its heat resistance, though it ran through the pain and charged with a fierce leap.

But it missed its charged leap, not fully used to its own momentum as it was. Its tail thrashed with annoyance, which only served to cause further pain. Still, it prepared to continue this assignment. There was still more it could do. It would not disappoint Overseer Tectus.

ROUND 4/?

58%

ATTEMPT: Bounding Pounce (+Prepared Smoulder Step)
DEFENSE: Many Spikes, Burn-Causing Blood, Distance
INJURIES: Badly Bruised, Hurt Tail, Bleeding Feet

@Tectus

She waited, patient, prowling around her little trap for a moment until the Oilstone was darting back to her, quick as lightning. She took a brief second to admire its pure speed before the leap came and she flew into action.

As its leap went askew, she took the opportunity while it was still airborne to throw herself forward. Both valkhounds were large, massive creatures, but in pure size and bulk, Tectus easily came out on top. She used this to her advantage, throwing her body weight forward to slam the Oilstone to the ground and hold it there, pinned beneath her massive bulk.

"You are fast!" she hissed. "Lets see what you do when you cannot run!"

ROUND 4/?

76%

ATTEMPT: slam it to the ground
DEFENSE: fucking UNIT, natural defenses, surrounded by sharp stones
INJURIES: minor burn, scratches

@Oilstone T-One

Without its ability to run, it still was not helpless. It drew back a long front leg and tried to focus magic on the paw and kick with it to try an deter the Overseer from keeping it pinned. It was not meant for this sort of combat. That did not mean it would not adapt.

The heat was more powerful this time, it noted with pleasure. It would not do to underperform in this assignment. Maybe it could startle the Overseer to get off it, unlikely, but possible.

ROUND 5/?

46%

ATTEMPT: Smoulder Step Kick
DEFENSE: Many Spikes, Burn-Causing Blood
INJURIES: Pinned, Badly Bruised, Hurt Tail, Bleeding Feet

@Tectus

She figured it would panic and squirm, trying to buck her off or wriggle out - neither of those things would work, not under the hard scales and heavy mass of the Overseer. But instead, it kicked and the paw that connect was burning hot and the smell of charred scales wafted through the air. Through the thick armor of her scales, she felt the heat but it didn't penetrate deep enough to do lasting damage. Still, it was shock enough that she flinched.

Good instincts, she thought to herself. She decided she'd give it a chance there - she reared back, as if flinching away from the heat, giving the Oilstone a second to flee from underneath her bulk before she came crashing back down.

ROUND 5/?

62%

ATTEMPT: rear up and fall down
DEFENSE: fucking UNIT, natural defenses
INJURIES: minor burns, scratches

@Oilstone T-One

The Overseer reared back, and though it was surprised by that, it would not let this opportunity go to waste, it decided.

With great success, it rolled away and darted back, before circling at a distance from rock shards that lay on the battlefield. More distance than this would only give Overseer Tectus time to create more obstacles, but here, she had two options, at least so far as it could see.

Either come to it and leave the range of protection provided by the rock shards, or else wait for it to come charging back in. It wondered what path she would choose.

ROUND 6/?

46%

ATTEMPT: N/A, Avoid Pin
DEFENSE: Many Spikes, Burn-Causing Blood
INJURIES: Badly Bruised, Hurt Tail, Bleeding Feet

@Tectus

Her front paws landed heavily on the stones, empty of the fiery valkhound. It was a blur against the stones as it darted away and, this time, the Overseer gave chase, lumbering forward on heavy legs - slow, but it would take her a long time to tire.

She had given it a couple short tests at disadvantage - close range, pinned beneath, and it had freed itself successfully from her grasp. Now she wanted to see it at its best. Chasing, darting away, flying in to deliver swift gouts of flame and burns and darting out before the opponent can catch them.

Tectus was not built to chase. She was a tank, made to take hits without flinching and deal heavy, devastating blows. So her own sprint towards the Oilstone was fairly pathetic, but the ground shook with the force of her every step.

ROUND 6/?

62%

ATTEMPT: give chase
DEFENSE: fucking UNIT, natural defenses
INJURIES: minor burns, scratches

@Oilstone T-One