06-21-2018, 03:50 AM
Damn. As the duo burst out of the facility, Demetri could still feel the pain from the blast earlier.
“Iris, I believe we should go ahead and integrate fully, with stealth no longer an option we may fight resistance.”
“Already on it.”
Within a few moments, the lightweight armor that composed Iris became sturdier, Demetri feeling more protected and sensing the hum of energy he was now provided. Though his chest still ached, his mind felt a bit more at ease knowing that the next hit he took would not be as damaging. On the other hand, he could feel the difference in his speed as he rushed away from the now pillaged facility.
“Any ideas on a way out, Iris?”
“Well, supposedly some Prime built an inefficiently long staircase going down, and some of the mages were trying to keep it intact. By now there should be law enforcement protecting its perimeter.”
“Then allow us to take the stairs then.”
Demetri set off in a burst of speed, stealthing before heading through the streets, a few wandering patrols on the lookout. Many seemed to be holding scanners of some sort.
“Hey, we got activity over here!”
Some began to head in Demetri’s direction, but the thief still pushed forward, not even looking back.
“Damn, it’s gone, branch out he’s nearby.”
It had been a while since Demetri had been on the run, Nippur was the closest to the experience. It sent chills down his spine and forced a smile across his face.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Creator, in spite of our lack of luck.”
“Challenges like this are what make me who I am, Iris.”
“Oh, and what might that be.”
“A master of the thieving arts.”
Another burst of speed sent the thief through another trio of patrols.
“Moving south, he’s probably heading for the stairs. Prepare the barricades.”
So be it. Let them try to stop him. Even with their magic and numbers, the thief would find his way out. He would be the sand between their fingers, slipping through the cracks as they attempted to force him into their prison of time. What had the thief to lose now? His life? No. The Smiling One would bring him back once more, he was sure of it. After all, was this not entertaining to him in the least? Demetri would strive to be different. To focus on taking these lands not by force, but by shadow and guile. He had no need to be the ruler of anything, simply the beneficiary of it. As many of the guards and mages began to close in, his heart raced, his breath quickened. Until all at once, he came upon the wall of defense.
“We know you’re there, no point in staying invisible. Our wards show us where you hide.”
Demetri stopped and stood straight, noticing all eyes on him even while not visible. The shroud soon dissipated, leaving him facing what seemed like half the guards in the city, taking up the breadth of the road.
“Ah, so it seems I have been surrounded.” The cunning thief spoke as more guards came up from behind him. The black cybernetic armor glowed with red and reflected the sunlight as the thief took a step forwards.
“Not another step! You are wanted for trespassing, grand theft, and a series of the first-degree murder-” One of the many guards came forward with a scroll, unraveling it and attempting to give the speech Demetri had heard over a hundred times before.
The thief quickly interrupted, holding up a finger and waggling it at the accuser. “Ah, one moment, please. I had nothing to do with the mishap that happened to doom those poor researchers. I simply was trying to-”
“Enough foul deviant!” The man stomped the ground and screeched, holding the scroll to the side. “ You are to hear your charges without interruption, we have witnesses and evidence of your infiltration and horrific plot!”
“Evidence you say, why, what a strange thing to point out. After all, it is difficult to find such a thing where it does not exist.” Demetri teased, trying to aggravate the scroll holder. A low whisper caused a small charge of energy within him.
“Let’s see how that holds up in court once you return what you’ve stolen and spent your eternal prime days in a cell.”
“Now now, we can’t have that, what a way to treat a new guest.”
“Pleasantries are nullified when you assault our citizens. “
“Such a shame, and here I was trying to come quietly.” Demetri rested his elbow in his hand as he spread his fingers in a mocking fashion.
“Ready your arms!” Came the call from within the wall of flesh and steel. All sights were on the stationary rogue.
Pulses charged.
“Fire.” In a split moment, Demetri had disappeared, seeming to teleport to the base of the defensive line, just below two guardsmen. His arms pressed against their chest as the boom of energy blasted them into the air, above the rest.
“Focus your beams on him! Do not use area of effect! Avoid collateral damage! “
Demetri shot out a chain as the commands thundered in the backline, a few mages already taking their shots. The first few managed to miss, but one managed to catch his side as the end of his chain latched onto one of the flying guards. Demetri grunted as he pulled the chain, using the momentum he had created to pull himself into the air. Blasts of magic, arrows, and even a sword managed to follow suit, attempting to collide with him. Fire roasted at his leg, ice hit his arm, and an arrow attempted to embed itself into his neck.
The thief and his target quickly passed each other, the transaction of momentum complete, but all was not finished. Another chain shot out to the second of the two, enacting the next phase of the maneuver. With a quick pull, Demetri closed the gap between them and grabbed the shield of the guard and faced it outwards as he hugged him tightly.
“Don’t get too comfortable now. I don’t tend to do this very often unless it’s with a woman.”
“Hold fire! We have a hostage!”
A few of the restless made their last shots, a few arrows smacking harmlessly into the shield that protected the flying trio.
“Good thinking, Creator!”
“We still have to outrun them, Iris”
The whole of the defenders watched with anticipation as they soon came down. At the last moment, Demetri sent the guard into the crowd as he summoned his cybernetic shield. He slid a short distance on the ground, sending sparks while the shield scraped along the cobblestone. Soon after, the shield caught and sent the duo somersaulting through the air, the soles of Demetri’s feet barely found the ground as he immediately broke into a run.
Within moments the rest of them were on his heels. Many were already catching up, with a few shots being fired from the mages. A wall was summoned in front of him, and with quick thinking, he shot a chain and pulled, his feet leaving the ground once again and leading him over the new barrier. Another arrow hit the side of his leg, wedging itself between his armor.
“Iris, we need a bit more speed to escape.”
“Increasing your energy levels, inputting omnilium for a temporary boost, full synergy initiated.”
With each step, Demetri felt faster, more focused. In short time he widened the gap, before hearing a shout from behind.
“We have no choice! Destroy the staircase before he reaches it!”
“Iris, I believe we should go ahead and integrate fully, with stealth no longer an option we may fight resistance.”
“Already on it.”
Within a few moments, the lightweight armor that composed Iris became sturdier, Demetri feeling more protected and sensing the hum of energy he was now provided. Though his chest still ached, his mind felt a bit more at ease knowing that the next hit he took would not be as damaging. On the other hand, he could feel the difference in his speed as he rushed away from the now pillaged facility.
“Any ideas on a way out, Iris?”
“Well, supposedly some Prime built an inefficiently long staircase going down, and some of the mages were trying to keep it intact. By now there should be law enforcement protecting its perimeter.”
“Then allow us to take the stairs then.”
Demetri set off in a burst of speed, stealthing before heading through the streets, a few wandering patrols on the lookout. Many seemed to be holding scanners of some sort.
“Hey, we got activity over here!”
Some began to head in Demetri’s direction, but the thief still pushed forward, not even looking back.
“Damn, it’s gone, branch out he’s nearby.”
It had been a while since Demetri had been on the run, Nippur was the closest to the experience. It sent chills down his spine and forced a smile across his face.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Creator, in spite of our lack of luck.”
“Challenges like this are what make me who I am, Iris.”
“Oh, and what might that be.”
“A master of the thieving arts.”
Another burst of speed sent the thief through another trio of patrols.
“Moving south, he’s probably heading for the stairs. Prepare the barricades.”
So be it. Let them try to stop him. Even with their magic and numbers, the thief would find his way out. He would be the sand between their fingers, slipping through the cracks as they attempted to force him into their prison of time. What had the thief to lose now? His life? No. The Smiling One would bring him back once more, he was sure of it. After all, was this not entertaining to him in the least? Demetri would strive to be different. To focus on taking these lands not by force, but by shadow and guile. He had no need to be the ruler of anything, simply the beneficiary of it. As many of the guards and mages began to close in, his heart raced, his breath quickened. Until all at once, he came upon the wall of defense.
“We know you’re there, no point in staying invisible. Our wards show us where you hide.”
Demetri stopped and stood straight, noticing all eyes on him even while not visible. The shroud soon dissipated, leaving him facing what seemed like half the guards in the city, taking up the breadth of the road.
“Ah, so it seems I have been surrounded.” The cunning thief spoke as more guards came up from behind him. The black cybernetic armor glowed with red and reflected the sunlight as the thief took a step forwards.
“Not another step! You are wanted for trespassing, grand theft, and a series of the first-degree murder-” One of the many guards came forward with a scroll, unraveling it and attempting to give the speech Demetri had heard over a hundred times before.
The thief quickly interrupted, holding up a finger and waggling it at the accuser. “Ah, one moment, please. I had nothing to do with the mishap that happened to doom those poor researchers. I simply was trying to-”
“Enough foul deviant!” The man stomped the ground and screeched, holding the scroll to the side. “ You are to hear your charges without interruption, we have witnesses and evidence of your infiltration and horrific plot!”
“Evidence you say, why, what a strange thing to point out. After all, it is difficult to find such a thing where it does not exist.” Demetri teased, trying to aggravate the scroll holder. A low whisper caused a small charge of energy within him.
“Let’s see how that holds up in court once you return what you’ve stolen and spent your eternal prime days in a cell.”
“Now now, we can’t have that, what a way to treat a new guest.”
“Pleasantries are nullified when you assault our citizens. “
“Such a shame, and here I was trying to come quietly.” Demetri rested his elbow in his hand as he spread his fingers in a mocking fashion.
“Ready your arms!” Came the call from within the wall of flesh and steel. All sights were on the stationary rogue.
Pulses charged.
“Fire.” In a split moment, Demetri had disappeared, seeming to teleport to the base of the defensive line, just below two guardsmen. His arms pressed against their chest as the boom of energy blasted them into the air, above the rest.
“Focus your beams on him! Do not use area of effect! Avoid collateral damage! “
Demetri shot out a chain as the commands thundered in the backline, a few mages already taking their shots. The first few managed to miss, but one managed to catch his side as the end of his chain latched onto one of the flying guards. Demetri grunted as he pulled the chain, using the momentum he had created to pull himself into the air. Blasts of magic, arrows, and even a sword managed to follow suit, attempting to collide with him. Fire roasted at his leg, ice hit his arm, and an arrow attempted to embed itself into his neck.
The thief and his target quickly passed each other, the transaction of momentum complete, but all was not finished. Another chain shot out to the second of the two, enacting the next phase of the maneuver. With a quick pull, Demetri closed the gap between them and grabbed the shield of the guard and faced it outwards as he hugged him tightly.
“Don’t get too comfortable now. I don’t tend to do this very often unless it’s with a woman.”
“Hold fire! We have a hostage!”
A few of the restless made their last shots, a few arrows smacking harmlessly into the shield that protected the flying trio.
“Good thinking, Creator!”
“We still have to outrun them, Iris”
The whole of the defenders watched with anticipation as they soon came down. At the last moment, Demetri sent the guard into the crowd as he summoned his cybernetic shield. He slid a short distance on the ground, sending sparks while the shield scraped along the cobblestone. Soon after, the shield caught and sent the duo somersaulting through the air, the soles of Demetri’s feet barely found the ground as he immediately broke into a run.
Within moments the rest of them were on his heels. Many were already catching up, with a few shots being fired from the mages. A wall was summoned in front of him, and with quick thinking, he shot a chain and pulled, his feet leaving the ground once again and leading him over the new barrier. Another arrow hit the side of his leg, wedging itself between his armor.
“Iris, we need a bit more speed to escape.”
“Increasing your energy levels, inputting omnilium for a temporary boost, full synergy initiated.”
With each step, Demetri felt faster, more focused. In short time he widened the gap, before hearing a shout from behind.
“We have no choice! Destroy the staircase before he reaches it!”
Quote:1309 words according to docs, also recounted my words since I realized the site counter is bogus.
total is 13,609 according to google docs
All warfare is based on deception.
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