02-21-2018, 05:55 PM
Meanwhile, it seemed as though the other Primes had lost track of Tearen again. This suited the Shadow just fine as he cruised on the eddies of heated air rising from the battlefield. Granted, finding the strength to get to this safe distance from Crocodile's oppressive abilities had taken a lot out of the elder Prime, even on the lightweight wings of his avian body. Though he could have easily slipped away from the melee at this point, he owed it to Strazio to continue this impromptu demonstration. To be frank, however, Tearen was disappointed in the Rage Mage. King Gilgamesh and the newcomer could be forgiven for letting Tearen out of their sight. Rockwell should have known better. After taking stock of his reserved stamina, the eldritch human decided that yes, he still had some lessons to teach. The crow let out a dull, rasping cry and Strazio's head snapped up to spot its source.
"Dammit Tearen! Get down h-" Strazio said before the sun behind the crow extinguished itself. The sky went awash with putrid green stars, each a swollen eye gazing down at the harried combatants. The ground beneath them exploded into a sea of writhing, spitting vipers, and a fountain of chewing arthropods spilled from every wound. Strazio could feel the familiar tickle in the back of his mind. He knew what was happening.
"It's not real. It's not real..." the furious fighter intoned, watching as a bloody centipede wormed its way out of his palm. Crocodile, being familiar with illusions, was likewise trying to convince himself that the ensuing terror was just a vision. However, when the smell of burning flesh filled his nose and the agony of fire told the mobster that his legs were burning, it was difficult to focus on much else. Poor Gilgamesh was lost. His gleaming, golden trappings had been reduced to moldering sack-cloth. Amidst the vehement attempts to retain their composure, the trio of brawlers became aware of a presence between the three of them. Tearen rose as a haunting black mist from the ground. Acidic green eyes glanced around in challenge as the fringes of his humble shawl snapped and whipped like a squid's arms. Hooks, scythes and fiery fists were leveled at the Shadow, but as in all other things, the elder Prime was prepared.
The newly anointed night flashed as incarnadine light briefly illuminated the carved, disintegrating sandstone plaza. Apep would have been proud. Each bloom of fire signaled another blow from the frenzied, terrified Primes as they fruitlessly bashed their weapons against Tearen's telekinetic defenses. It wasn't until Gilgamesh drove Reaper down into the ex-enigma's shoulder that the King was able to regain any semblance of self control. Alas, the satisfaction of breaching the Shadow's stalwart defenses did not last.
The moment that the blade of the regal scythe bit into Tearen's surprisingly dense flesh, a hail of gleaming light beams rained down on the assembled combatants. Strazio felt a half-nauseating sense of pride mixed with anger; only his teacher would have the audacity to use himself as a diversion whilst simultaneously summoning his weaponized prisms into existence. Gilgmesh saw past the shock and awe tactics; his divine sight revealed that the Shadow had invested more resources than he had intended in the ploy. Crocodile's nefarious heat had turned Tearen's already strenuous gambit into a desperate struggle. Even as the Shadow summoned the halberd Enigma back to his hands, everyone could see the eldritch human panting.
"You! Rabid cur! Strike this magi down while he is winded!" Gilgamesh snapped, trying to simultaneously cope with firing enchanted weaponry at the attacking Aspects. A beam of glittering power struck him in the gut, silencing him. Pride and anger aside, Strazio did not need to be asked twice. With a feral growl, the Rage Mage pounced on Tearen, who had been occupied exchanging fearsome blows with the towering pirate mobster. He didn't care that he was getting blasted by lasers. He didn't care that he was giving Crocodile some breathing room. All Strazio cared about was smashing his bloodied fists into the Shadow's face over and over.
This went on for some time, and at some point even the berserker realized that it was longer than might be expected.
"He's letting you rough 'im up, ya damn ape!" Crocodile shouted, doing his best to keep his sand-infused body free from laser burns. It had occurred to the gangster that this 'Tearen' schmuck had been using Crocodile's own Secco to his advantage. While the other two Primes were busy defending themselves against these damn flying ornaments, Tearen was able to take some time to regain his energy, despite the assault. Strazio paused to look down at his teacher's face, only to meet white eyes and psychic agony.
"Dammit Tearen! Get down h-" Strazio said before the sun behind the crow extinguished itself. The sky went awash with putrid green stars, each a swollen eye gazing down at the harried combatants. The ground beneath them exploded into a sea of writhing, spitting vipers, and a fountain of chewing arthropods spilled from every wound. Strazio could feel the familiar tickle in the back of his mind. He knew what was happening.
"It's not real. It's not real..." the furious fighter intoned, watching as a bloody centipede wormed its way out of his palm. Crocodile, being familiar with illusions, was likewise trying to convince himself that the ensuing terror was just a vision. However, when the smell of burning flesh filled his nose and the agony of fire told the mobster that his legs were burning, it was difficult to focus on much else. Poor Gilgamesh was lost. His gleaming, golden trappings had been reduced to moldering sack-cloth. Amidst the vehement attempts to retain their composure, the trio of brawlers became aware of a presence between the three of them. Tearen rose as a haunting black mist from the ground. Acidic green eyes glanced around in challenge as the fringes of his humble shawl snapped and whipped like a squid's arms. Hooks, scythes and fiery fists were leveled at the Shadow, but as in all other things, the elder Prime was prepared.
The newly anointed night flashed as incarnadine light briefly illuminated the carved, disintegrating sandstone plaza. Apep would have been proud. Each bloom of fire signaled another blow from the frenzied, terrified Primes as they fruitlessly bashed their weapons against Tearen's telekinetic defenses. It wasn't until Gilgamesh drove Reaper down into the ex-enigma's shoulder that the King was able to regain any semblance of self control. Alas, the satisfaction of breaching the Shadow's stalwart defenses did not last.
The moment that the blade of the regal scythe bit into Tearen's surprisingly dense flesh, a hail of gleaming light beams rained down on the assembled combatants. Strazio felt a half-nauseating sense of pride mixed with anger; only his teacher would have the audacity to use himself as a diversion whilst simultaneously summoning his weaponized prisms into existence. Gilgmesh saw past the shock and awe tactics; his divine sight revealed that the Shadow had invested more resources than he had intended in the ploy. Crocodile's nefarious heat had turned Tearen's already strenuous gambit into a desperate struggle. Even as the Shadow summoned the halberd Enigma back to his hands, everyone could see the eldritch human panting.
"You! Rabid cur! Strike this magi down while he is winded!" Gilgamesh snapped, trying to simultaneously cope with firing enchanted weaponry at the attacking Aspects. A beam of glittering power struck him in the gut, silencing him. Pride and anger aside, Strazio did not need to be asked twice. With a feral growl, the Rage Mage pounced on Tearen, who had been occupied exchanging fearsome blows with the towering pirate mobster. He didn't care that he was getting blasted by lasers. He didn't care that he was giving Crocodile some breathing room. All Strazio cared about was smashing his bloodied fists into the Shadow's face over and over.
This went on for some time, and at some point even the berserker realized that it was longer than might be expected.
"He's letting you rough 'im up, ya damn ape!" Crocodile shouted, doing his best to keep his sand-infused body free from laser burns. It had occurred to the gangster that this 'Tearen' schmuck had been using Crocodile's own Secco to his advantage. While the other two Primes were busy defending themselves against these damn flying ornaments, Tearen was able to take some time to regain his energy, despite the assault. Strazio paused to look down at his teacher's face, only to meet white eyes and psychic agony.
Quote:800 Words Exactly, Wordcounter.net
4 SP Used
Aspects of Divinity -2
Panic Outbreak - 2
3/9 SP Remaining
And, we dream of home I dream of life out of here Their dreams are small My dreams don't know fear I got my heart full of hope I will change everything No matter what I'm told How impossible it seems We did it before And we'll do it again We're indestructible Even when we're tired And we've been here before Just you and I
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued