[Auto-Exam] Maze of Madness (Gabriel)

[Nio Love]

There was nothing ruder than waking up to find yourself - not in your own bed - but standing in front of a maze, with a teacher staring at you, informing you that this was your turn for examination.

No, no it wasn't. It was Gabby's turn for sleeping. That was why he had been in bed. Sleeping.

Sure enough, he carried nothing but his grumpy attitude into the maze with him. Several mumbled words under his breath did not seem appropriate for teachers to hear - which was fortunate, since the professor had already left.

Otherwise, his examination would have likely continued in detention.  

[Nio Love]

A maze was not entirely unwanted as an examination, but Gabby would have still preferred to come on his own time, and not in the middle of sleeping.

He barely registered that the world turned upside down. He was too busy grumping about how rude all of this was. And now his hair was getting mussed. Really now.  

[Nio Love]

He quickened his step in the hopes he would get through the maze faster. When the world turned right side up again, he found the opposite would happen. His slow steps were sluggish and tiring; and when they finally went away, the circular walking had begun to dizzy him.

What did this examination prove? That he had a strong stomach?  

[Nio Love]

Thankfully, he did have a strong stomach, and managed to straighten up without getting sick. As he continued to walk, the maze began to grow in size, leaving him feeling very small.

He did not like that feeling.  

[Nio Love]

He did not like that feeling at all.  

[Nio Love]

The maze returned to it's normal size - or had it been him that was changing? Whatever the case had been, things were starting to look normal again. A cold wind blew against his skin and through his clothes, and it was welcomed. He loved the cold, and the bitter feel of it's bite against his even-colder skin. Still, the wind was starting to make it difficult to walk, and that meant this was part of the examination.

He put his hands in front of him to try and block out some of the wind and form a streamline. Then he simply pushed through with all of his might.  

[Nio Love]

Brute strength won through in the end, and he managed to reach the door to the end of the maze. It was quick and painless, he reminded himself, as if to try and console his wounded ego from the fact that he hadn't had to fight a single thing - and they'd woken him up for this.

How absurd.  

[Nio Love]

Quote:

As you near the end of the maze, something huge blocks your way - a dark shadow that has been lurking ever since you started walking. It looms in front of you and seems to want to deny you passageway - but you've already come this far, you're not going to let a little shadow get in your way!

Except as the shadow moves closer, it shifts form - and suddenly you're facing not a shadow, but yourself; except wispy tendrils of black are seen emanating from the fingers and toes, even the eyes upon occassion.

How...weird.

Shadow Self: 50HP
Auto-Attack on successful hit: 2 damage

It was as if the test itself had read his mind. There it was, just in front of him. A fight, a real test of strength. This was what he'd been waiting for.

As he neared it, and it began to form into a shadowy image of himself, he grinned. Not only would he get to fight a real battle for his examination, but it would be presented in the most formidable, and attractive opponent.

Himself.

Quote:

Gabby HP: 40
Damage:

 

[Nio Love]

Gabby slashed violently at the shadow, grinning when it echoed his movements and attempted to slash back. He wondered if would mimic everything he did, and then he wondered if he would be allowed to take it home instead of kill it.

No, probably not.

Quote:

Gabby HP: 38
Damage: 5
Boss HP: 45

 

[Nio Love]

His jaws snapped into the shadow's arm, and he felt the weaker version of that same bite on his own arm. He shoved the shadow away, and let out a soft chuckle.

"Can you speak?" He asked the shadow, but he received no response.

"Pity." He murmured. "We have such a lovely voice."

Quote:

Gabby HP: 36
Damage: 6
Boss HP: 39

 

[Nio Love]

The flush of a good fight had begun to flutter Gabby's cold, frozen heart. He crouched, growling as he prepared a Fear attack. His body hummed with response as his skin crusted over with ice, freezing until he was solid and hard. His head dipped down, as did the shadow's - and yet, when Gabby used his Fear to charge his attack and bash his head against the shadow's, he could tell that there was no strength behind the imposter's returning bash. He'd knocked it clear away from him, with little to no pain to himself.

His skin melted back down to normal, and Gabby rubbed his forehead proudly.

Quote:

Gabby HP: 34
Damage: 13
Boss HP: 26

 

[Nio Love]

Fresh off the flush of his attack, Gabby took it easy for a few swipes, just grazing the dark version of himself with his claws.

And, perhaps, checking his hair for flyaways.

Quote:

Gabby HP: 32
Damage: 3
Boss HP: 23

 

[Nio Love]

"Your hair is looking rather dull." He teased, receiving nothing but a swipe of claws in return. It was rather lackluster, as he would have raged at someone for saying such blasphemy.

Ha. He laughed at his own joke. Lackluster.

Quote:

Gabby HP: 30
Damage: 2
Boss HP: 21

 

[Nio Love]

"May I suggest Mane and Tail?" He murmured as they traded blows. "It works wonders for horses."

Quote:

Gabby HP: 28
Damage: 4
Boss HP: 17

 

[Nio Love]

"Not to say that either of us are a horse, of course." He chuckled again. He was so witty today. "But you can see that it's been rather helpful with my already perfect hair, too."

Quote:

Gabby HP: 26
Damage: 7
Boss HP: 10