[Nippur] One Hell of a Randsom Note

[Erik Vrell]

The sun beat down on mercilessly on Erik, but the psychic could only feel cold. The massive wound in his chest seemed to hurt more than being bound in Emperor Scorpion’s chains, his blood spilling freely on the sands. The pain wasn't the worst part, however, but the notion that the bandit lord had beaten him. 

“How did he slip through my guard.” Erik gasped silently, his mind starting to blur. Beneath the pain and the chill, rage bubbled up within the psychic. “No, I refuse.”

The psychic’s arm reached out, clawing at the sand to pull himself forward. He would take Skull-Face down, he couldn't allow himself to be dishonoured like this. Erik slid forward less than a foot, but it felt like he had pulled himself a mile. It was too hard, he couldn't do it. Not in this state. From the depths of his mind, dredged up by his stubborn anger, an idea formed. Erik wasn't sure if it would work in the Omniverse, but it was worth a shot. What did he have to lose?

“Uunn'gaelig, God of death, hear my prayer.” The psychic chanted, inching himself forward. “Blessed are the dead, but more so are those who cannot die. By Gal’skap, my Heavenly Father, I beg for you to place me among those holy few. Strike my name from the black pillar, and deliver me from mortality. Praised be the God of death!” As the last syllable left his lips, sickly green light enveloped Erik’s body, raising him to his feet. The priest landed with a gasp, all of his pain gone. Erik tested his limbs, flexing his muscles to make sure everything was functioning. Indeed, everything worked fine, even his gaping wound did nothing to slow him. On the contrary, Erik felt the best he had in years.

The psychic drew Mageslayer and approached the bandit lord. Skull-Face had been preoccupied with the woman Sand Hawk had freed while Erik resurrected himself. The psychic did a double take as he looked at the woman. He had expected her to be scantily clad, although he wasn't sure if that was done by the bandits or by her own volition. What he hadn't expected, however, was her bruise coloured skin, long tail and horns. 

“If I had realised that I was risking my life for a demon…” Erik muttered to himself as he rushed towards Skull-Face. The bandit was exerting himself to the fullest of his abilities just to avoid the storm demon’s flurry of blows, but couldn't help but notice Sand Hawk’s joyful, yet confused laughter. The bandit lord knocked the demon away for a moment, before turning to see what the reformed assassin was so pleased about. Skull-Face’s face turned an appropriate bone white when he saw the psychic moving towards him, the gaping hole in his chest still very much there. 

“What the fuck?” He cried as Mageslayer scythed towards him, barely blocking the blow in his surprise. “What the fuck?!” 

“I will not be put down by a lowly bandit such as yourself.” Erik said, a stab to Skull-Face’s stomach barely being turned aside. The priest nimbly hopped back and levelled a finger at the bandit lord as Ash moved back in. “In the name of the death God, feel yourself waste away.” 

Pale green light swept over the bandit as his toned muscles started to sag and atrophy, barely able to block Ash’s lightning fuelled advance.

“Come on, honey, tell me you have more stamina than that.” Ash teased as she dashed around Skull-Face, too fast for him to keep up with, let along weak enough defend against with his atrophied muscles. Despite his new survivability, Erik couldn't help but die a little inside at the demoness’ teasings.

“Is this really the time?” He though to himself as he slashed at the crippled bandit. It was like having a second Victor. A volley of daggers shot past Erik, staggering Skull-Face before Ash lunged for his weapon.

“Don't you just feel the electricity when I'm around?” Ash grinned as she charged the lightning in her body before unleashing it through the steel weapon, violently shocking the bandit. Skull-Face dropped weakly to his knees, coughing harshly. The smell of burned meat wafted off the man, not unexpected considering he had been electrocuted.

“Rise, and meet your death with honour.” Erik demanded, brandishing Mageslayer as if it were an executioner’s weapon. “Or stay down, and die like the coward you are.”