Too Close To The Sun

Making his way to the exam site now. The first person Blake is met with is a boisterous red haired man like a living flame on his head. Bouncing around a small roaring fireball in his palms.

Evidently trying to manage his boredom, when Blake starts to approach the man that's when the fireball disappears. The man turned around, now meeting Blake square in the eyes his red hot eyes staring deep into the abyss of green in Blakes irises trying to size up the boy..

"Finally I thought I would be here all day!" The man chuckles, satisfied with finally getting some action. The man's attention is grabbed again looking at Blake even closer now. Using his power he looks within the boy standing before him now.

"Now you're an interesting one, the name is Pyre. I'm intrigued to see the intensity of your inner flame!" He says with an interested smirk, eyeing curiously at the energy circulating throughout Blake.

"It's already so bright which makes me wonder just what you went through considering that prosthetic." Pyre says, eyeing up the missing flesh on Blake with a bubbling pity. 

"Don't hold back during this exam kid. I'll be judging you on everything. Don't let a flesh wound like that hold you back" Pyre roars out before giving a pat on Blake's shoulder. An excited smile forms on Pyre, the prospect of this match becoming more and more intriguing.

As the two get ready Pyre leads them to one of the adjacent rooms in the exam site clearly indicative of having separate rooms for this. Entering Blakes eyes are met with a large pristine rectangular space. Its transparent barriers with a bubble-like film covering all sides of the designated area acting as glass. Following Pyre within the space now they get their position ready.

"The environmental setting for this space has already been decided, kid." Pyre says, trying to keep Blake as informed as possible for this exam.

"Wait, what do you mean environmental settings? I thought we were just sparing in this space" Blakes questions his confusion clearly surfacing in his expression.

"Not quite kid, we need to test you on everything from how you battle to how you deal with the environment and random occurrences of battle." Pyre chimes in again making sure Blake is up to speed.

"The main goal of this exam is to see how well you adapt." Pyre says, keeping his pace.

"The Frozen tundra has been selected for your exam. The simulation room will now be locked for the duration of the exam. You have 2 hours to decide the victor." The room chimes out in a robotic monotone voice. 

When the robotic voice comes to a close. The normal pristine facility before them changes entirely in a sudden warpage like a drop of water hitting the surface. A frozen tundra takes it in all its aspects as it is experienced by Blake. The howling gale of wind and the sheer amount of ice everywhere send a deep shiver down his vertebrae. An unsteadiness forms with Blake. 

"I can do this, I can do this. I won't hold anything back, nothing will stop me from reaching that goal". Blakes mind roars out in a violent torrent of desire towards his goal. With a deep exhale he buries his fingernail into the palm of his hand, bringing him back to the situation at hand not the bubbling worry.

"Remember kid, depending on the grade you achieve you could very well pass this, just as easily as you can fail. There is an opportunity for a retake but its going to be much more of a struggle then this test. Just do your best and try to overcome this obstacle before you." Pyre laughs loudly before pointing his thumb at his face.

The subzero tundra fills both of their eyes as the battle starts to unfold between the two. Pyres' observant fire red eyes get a good glance at the materials used for Blakes prosthetic a little bit awe struck by the arm seeing the scrapyard look.

"Your smart kid, being able to make something like that in 3 hours. However the military doesn't give any of their rare materials. Just the common stuff. Steel especially isnt your friend in this environment. Tip for the future, cold and certain metals don't mix well with flesh." Pyre calmly explains making sure his participant is well informed and on a level playing field of knowledge.

A deep boiling desire to change explodes out of the depths of his gut like butterflies pouring out of his throat the anticipation and desire to claim victory dominate his normal logic. Taking out another cigarette he flicks his lighter in a flash cupping the glowing ember in his hand from the harsh frozen winds. Exhaling with a resolved expression, all of his oncoming worry escaping with the smoke from his lips. 

"Pain will not stop me here." Blake says solemnly not looking to cower or back down, only face forward. The fierce determination makes itself known in his green eyes.

"That flame of yours is getting agitated. This fight is going to be interesting." Pyre comments getting more and more revved up for the battle. Intrigue and curiosity dominates Pyres' mind seeing the roar of Blakes inner flame.

''I'm not going to have much time, his advice was not wrong about the cold. So I'm going to have to go all out from the beginning. I can't hold anything back for this one otherwise the cold will get to me first." His thoughts pound throughout his head seeing the cards he's been dealt for the exam.

Blake starts to shiver a little, looking over at Pyre to see if he's in a similar state. Only to be baffled to see that he doesn't look cold at all. In fact his breath is full of steam.

"By that envious expression you're probably wondering how the cold doesn't affect me. My power is at work." He says with a sense of cockiness spreading like a flame.

"It allows me to speed up particles at a rapid rate, generating only heat or flames if I desire. That's how I'm able to stay warm and do stuff like this. Pyre flicks a fireball out into the air to demonstrate.

"Don't worry though I won't be using any of my fire on you, I just don't want to be cold". Pyre says rubbing the back of his head a little awkwardly. Blakes fragile ego is hit like a knife, the examiner is even pitying him, not wanting to use his power.

"Enough explanation though let's see what you got kid!" A flame flickers in Pyres' eyes as he says this, getting into his battle stance now.

Attaching his keepups now Blake sets them to max, not wanting to regret anything from this fight. A vicious humm is emitted from the keepups now.

"This exam will require your everything, try to last as long as you can or try and knock me out." Pyres' skin begins to glow reflexively to his battle stance.

"I never wanted the easy road I needed to go forward, but I respect you as one of the few I can bear to look at". Blake says, dragging at his cigarette appreciating the first bit of honesty and integrity hes been given in a long while.

At once he begins skating forward as fast as possible now, he tries desperately to build his momentum as he prepares for a strike on Pyre. Forcing all of his energy and attention into his legs.

Generating as much speed as he can Blake forces his muscles to coil bending his knees in the process he slingshots himself through the air. The momentum behind him sends him soaring at Pyre.

Trying to keep his form stable in the air, Blake positions himself for a headbutt, giving this spar everything he has. Taking an immense gamble he lunges himself head first to try and land as much damage as possible.

However, as he's about to make contact with Pyre. An image of despair floods into his mind seeing Pyre sidestep his strike with minimal effort.

Reaching out to the exposed Blake, Pyre tries to grip Blakes face however is only met with the bulky forearm of his prosthetic as Blake desperately tries to protect himself. If Pyre had been using his power for this match it wouldn't even be an exam.

"You have to be prepared for everything kid, the battle is always changing, a sure fire attack can always fail." Pyre says as he grabs Blakes prosthetic with an unyielding grip.

Shifting his weight onto his other foot. Pyre brings Blake down hard into the ice. Unforgiving as he always is when trying to teach. Blakes body crashes into the rough ice tearing and shredding his skin up as he makes contact. His brain goes spinning in his skull trying to keep his focus strong, Blake takes the brief opportunity to strike despite the immense disorientation.

''I HAVE TO GIVE THIS EVERYTHING I GOT!'' Blakes inner philosophy dominates his mind making it harder to think straight only wanting to clear the goal in front of him.

Blakes foot skates quickly across the ground carrying forward as much momentum as he can build up before spinning on a dime. Blake manages to strike his heel right into Pyres chin with all of his built up rotational energy. before backing off trying to create some breathing room between them. Recovering from the strike, Pyre is rubbing his chin before he sends Blake a remark. 

"You've got to be careful kid, you don't have much time left. Just look at the flesh near your prosthetic". Pyre comments apathetically saddened by his shortened battle. The flesh now tearing and ripping from the cold on Blakes stump, blood trickling down the prosthetic now.

''I can't let this opportunity slip away, I can't be powerless again, I refuse to let something like that happen ever again."A deep burning glow of determination is seen in Blakes green eyes as these thoughts flood by.

"That inner flame of yours is starting to rage. Don't hold back now kid". Pyre remarks as a smirk forms his excitement getting the better of him.

Before he can clean the smirk off his expression, a loud piercing screech is heard. Followed by the heavy emission of steam.

"I have to go forward no matter the cost!" Blake roars out revealing his last desperate ace in the hole. Pressing a button on the makeshift prosthetic, it explodes with force off of Blakes stump careening through the air at Pyre without any mercy.

The momentum of the steam sends the prosthetic ripping through the air kicking up all the nearby frost and melting it. Before Pyre can recover from the shock of the turn of events the fist of the prosthetic cleanly connects with his jaw making him spit out blood stunned.

A cold expression is seen from Blake as he skates forward as best as he can now. Using what's left of the energy in the keepups he picks up all the momentum he can, closing the distance as fast as possible between them.

Blake chases right after the arms path forcing his muscles to coil again using all the momentum built up in his body. Just as he arrives in front of Pyre he directs all of his force into his leg bringing it down like a guillotine on the disorientated Pyre.

However to the horror of Blake the strike doesn't land where he needs it to. It is blocked by Pyres' thick burly arms despite the heavy disorientation and blood mixing with his saliva. 

"I warned you already kid, you have to be prepared for the changes of battle. Anything can happen at any moment. Such as your opponent blocking your ace."Pyre says bitterly as a sad expression forms on his face delivering this advice. A tight grip is felt, Pyres thick fingers wrapping tightly around Blakes ankle now.

"I'm not trying to be cruel but i have to teach you this lesson so brace for a little bit of pain kid". Pyre says solemnly. Before Blake can ask what he means by this, his body is sent into the hard course ice tearing into him like a grater once again as his consciousness slips away from the earthquake in his skull.