The kicked out leg was something she should've expected - but she's too close to correct herself. Her front limbs get tangled, and she's sent tumbling into the gravel riverbank. The jagged substrate is not exactly something fun to faceplant into. She'll have to mind the small cuts it opened up.

It takes a moment of breathing before she can turn and look at her opponent - thankfully her magic had done its goal and also staggered him. They were both reeling, but that gave her a moment to plan her next move.

And all this gravel and sand gave Tourmaline an idea.

She'd pull herself upright, and throw her magic into the bank, willing it to fling up into the air towards Onyx.

ROUND 2/?

90%

ATTEMPT: launching sand + gravel at Onyx
DEFENSE: not really
INJURIES: surface cuts and bruises

note: partial cast, only using it to throw substrate, not forming glass

@V-Onyx-Three

He had just regained his footing when Tourmaline proceeded to launch a mixture of sand and gravel at him. In that split second, the first thought in his mind was impressive, creative usage of environment and the next thought was that sand was really annoying because it somehow manage to get everywhere. In this case, propelled by magic. It was like a scattershot, hitting him along the left side, most of it lodging itself in his fur and a few bits getting past that to cut at his skin. It hurt, but not by much. "Good." A compliment.

V-Onyx-Three made the decision to pull on his own magic. He had, after all, been making an attempt at learning it. This was his chance to try it out. Staying in place to regain his footing, he attempted to focus his energy towards his gemstone. Very intangible, but the thought of it tended to work.

Round: 2/?
Attempt: Do something
Defense: Thick fur, spikes
Injuries: Cut skin

(Note: was informed that the spell was used as propulsion not directly as description implies)

@Tourmaline

Her ears flick as she watches her earthen assault land, followed by that short approval. A grin would spread on Tourmaline's face, as she stood back up.

For a moment she watches, waiting for her opponent's next move. But he seems to be... waiting? Preparing himself? Waiting for her move? She's not sure, but she knows she has to keep up the pressure. Remain in control of the fight. She can't control him with brute force, so she needs to stay ahead. Gotta keep up the pace.

She levels herself, before charging, focusing her magic into her paws again. Jumping, she'd launch herself towards Onyx, reaching out to grab on. But the hot embers she wished for never come.

ROUND 3/?

90%

ATTEMPT: lunge at + burn Onyx
DEFENSE: not really
INJURIES: surface cuts and bruises

@V-Onyx-Three

He didn't feel... anything. Well, nothing that could be felt amidst the adrenaline of a spar even though he had the feeling that his spell cast had worked? V-Onyx-Three stood there not doing much trying to figure this out (magic certainly was a strange thing) when Tourmaline came at him again. He felt almost bad after tripping her up earlier considering the massive size difference between the two. Even though she her fighting style seemed to revolve around a combination of magic and close combat, he didn't really want to hurt her. In any real situation he would try to go for seriously debilitating blows but this was not such a scenario. He was not so bent on trying to brute force a win that he would try such a thing in a spar.

Perhaps this would be a good time to practice his magic. Except for him he had never used it much before in the first place... so would it be called 'derusting' for him or was there another term for that? If Tourmaline continued on her current trajectory, she would probably be able to grab onto one of his legs. The impact force was enough to cause him to jolt backwards but not really fall over considering the weight difference.

Unless Tourmaline chose to cancel his magic cast, spores would appear and drift towards her to latch onto her skin. There would be much less than the average but a still noticeable amount.

Round: 3/?
Attempt: Spores on Tourmaline
Defense: Thick fur, spikes
Injuries: Cut skin

@Tourmaline

Her pounce doesn't do more than stagger him, and she has to twist to land herself on her paws. She has stop for a moment to stay steady - but that's more than enough time for Onyx's retaliation. At first, she hardly notices the thin fog of spores, but when they cling and start to drain, Tourmaline knows something's happened.

I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. I have to end it quickly. She was already starting to feel the exhaustion before whatever spell Onyx cast drained her further.

So after backpedaling away, Tourmaline falls back on what is tried and true - making the ground tremble under her paws.

ROUND 4/?

70%

ATTEMPT: knock down Onyx
DEFENSE: backing away
INJURIES: surface cuts and bruises, wither fungus

@V-Onyx-Three

At least she didn't try to hold on- then things would've gotten tricky. The ground began to shake once more. V-Onyx-Three fell onto all fours. It was disorienting, the earth not quite solid beneath his paws. But luckily that was a major drawback only when it was necessary to close the gap. With magic? That wasn't a problem. He still couldn't see very direct effects of his two prior spell casts which made him question whether or not it was effective at all. Sure, there had been spores, but were they really effective? At least, it wasn't like fire magic where it was immediately noticeable.

And he felt it work. An energy surging through him that was strangely familiar in a way this time. It wasn't immediately visible, but he directed it towards Tourmaline. Should this work, she would feel a crushing sensation around her. V-Onyx-Three did not focus too much on this as he tried to maintain his balance as the ground continued to shake. He couldn't be caught off guard for her next attack after all.

Round: 4/?
Attempt: Put pressure on Tourmaline
Defense: Thick fur, spikes
Injuries: Cut skin

@Tourmaline

She watches Onyx stumble, just as she hoped. Tourmaline's grin, however, dissolves as the world presses in around her, shadowy wisps of wind slamming her into the floor. She struggles to process what's happening, and her vision swims, voices she'd never heard jeering at her.

Even as the pressing weight fades, allowing her to stagger back to standing, Tourmaline is still left dumbfounded. Just what was that!? Even if Onyx called himself a physical fighter, their magic was nothing to scoff at, either.

Even as she struggles to catch her breath - it felt like she couldn't breathe under that - she knows she can't linger. She'd focus on the riverbank again, launching it into the air in another onslaught. She'd be a bit more careful of avoid Onyx's face this time - not that the weaker cast goes that far.

ROUND 5/5

50%

ATTEMPT: more gravel and sand yeetage
DEFENSE: distance
INJURIES: injured underside and very sore, cuts + bruises, wither fungus

Tourmaline has taken a point of corruption from exposure to a corrupted element spell.

@V-Onyx-Three

Unlike his previous usage of magic, this time, there was an almost immediate effect. But as Tourmaline's grin was wiped off her face, V-Onyx-Three's expression was one of shared surprise. What was that!? Wait- no- he knew he had seen it before. It was familiar, a spell of chaos that some of his forgemates also knew how to wield. It was strange though, that he had done such a thing without knowing chaos magic. At least, not really. In his past memory he recalled a similar event having occurred before. But why was it that his spells were actually working?? Was it pure luck or had he discovered another talent he hadn't known he possessed before? This 'derusting' thing may actually be real.

To him it wasn't so bad. Chaos was something to be embraced. That didn't change the fact that it had looked like it had a more than frightening effect on Tourmaline which had not been intended at all. Had it hurt her? Ditching the idea of continuing a spar behind, he tried his best to avoid the riverbank being thrown at him once again.

He successfully ducked to the side, and tried to get closer to Tourmaline in the process. "I wish to stop the spar. I am sorry. I did not mean to hurt." Or at least, hurt to such an extent. A little bruising and cuts here and there was inevitable in such spars. "... Does it hurt?"

Round: 5/5
Attempt: Dodge sand and gravel
Defense: Thick fur, spikes
Injuries: Cut skin

@Tourmaline

Character: Tourmaline Age: +25 (38th Cycle) Magic Level: +3 (Master) ROUND 1 Attempt: +13 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +18 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +2 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +17 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +9 Penalties: - Total: 87

Character: V-Onyx-Three Age: +25 (25th Cycle) Magic Level: +3 (Champion) ROUND 1 Attempt: +11 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +18 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +8 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +15 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +10 Penalties: - Total: 90

WINNER: V-Onyx-Three

Onyx leaps aside from her blast, and she braces herself, in case he presses the advantage. But he doesn't. Relief floods her face and her body as Onyx calls it off. "No, that's fine, I think I'm done," she'd pant, rolling onto her side.

She'd take a moment, regaining her breath, taking inventory of herself. Nothing broken, but everything hurts like hell. "Yeah... I... it's fine."

...That's debatable.

"That magic, it's. Strong. For a physical fighter, you good at both." As much as she's reeling, she's also impressed. "Maybe we'll have to do another rematch - but later. Laater..."

Taking another dip in the river sounds really good right now.

@V-Onyx-Three