Cross Effects > Areas
The Heavenly Ruins
YOLF:
Orcus
Early Morning
The man who had said it was long dead, and Orcus's life here was proof of it. But that made it no less true. Hubris was the greatest chain that tripped those destined to tragedy down the rotten, filthy hills of hell. But those who allowed it to control them were no less than cowards, willingly looping the chain 'round their necks. Was it better to know what invited the fall, and to guide your path away from it like a sheep that scorned the sheppard; or to live and fail greatly, and perhaps rise from the mounds of trash and sin one day and break the chain upon the flensed, scorching knee of reprisal?
It was pointless to offer words in response, because this fight would decide the answer. Aruna did not know it, but she could offer him no greater gift.
The instant the tip of his weapon found empty space, Orcus twisted the haft in his hands and swung in a vicious crescent. The reflexive retaliation filled the space around him with killing will, and anyone who wasn't quick enough, regardless of their intent to make distance or the utter disappearance of their presence, would have tasted the black edge. "And we were having such nice talk," he said. The savage grin that stretched on his cheeks couldn't be helped. "I'll do you one better."
The demon's eclectic magic was everywhere, but not sound, sight nor scent announced it. And yet Orcus heard the voice clearly, and its echo bounced for a sliver of a second off the faded pillars that circled the arena, before disappearing into the deeper shadows between each pair in the misty shades that preceded the twilight that would soon arrive from over the horizon. Like a shark only needed a drop of blood in the ocean, Orcus, swifter and more certain than a bat, only needed that slip.
His wings cut the air with a whistle, carrying him after the hidden Aruna.
yinsukin:
Aruna
"I see where the bravado came from, such a fine warrior," she said, her voice coming from just behind him. Her dainty famine arm had shifted into a sharp claw radiating with the power of light. If Aruna's voice didn't tip him off to her presence, the bright light would. The light was so encompassing that it evaporated the concealing properties of the coat, without negating the spell altogether. As she thought, none could hide within the light. The claw threatened to dig into his back and blast it with holy power.
In reality, Aruna only needed to get distance from the first strike. The second she cleared the first attack, she transformed into a rock, landing on the ground. With his attention to the sky, the demon shot up completely silently, activating her arm just as she stepped within his range. That wasn't all. A portal opened on the woman's face and chains flew to grab hold of Orcus's body. Because of the distance, the blast would hit first, then the chains afterwards.
YOLF:
Orcus
It was more than warning enough. His wings screeching, Orcus twisted mid-air to face her, bringing up his weapon in a graceful ascent. The haft crossed the length of his torso and struck Aruna's wrist, pushing it away. As the chains materialized, the decimating light blasted past his shoulder, and Orcus discarded his two-handed grip to intercept the biting links - with a snap, all of them were wrapped around his forearm and caught in a gluttonous grip.
It happened in an instant, like two thunderclaps, and his retaliation followed like a flood. Cackling, he inverted the direction of the halberd and swung the blade under the chains, towards the demon's belly.
Bravado was for fools, and while fools could be mighty, Orcus had no need to be one to make Aruna realize that her carelessness might cost her the contents of her guts.
yinsukin:
Aruna
The chains began drawing from Orcus's magical power reserves, feeding off of his magic. Aruna's mouth curled into a smile as she felt the intensly powerful magic flow into her body. "Oh..."
This maneuver was far better on fighters who were already grounded, less time to react. In the past few battles, the power of the light was enough to grant her a chance at victory. However this time, it exposed her intent too much. If she had simply used her arm as a blade, that would have been the deciding blow.
The halberd slammed into what should have felt like cold hard metal. Spikes had emerged from her belly, ripping apart the thin cloth that hid her already mostly exposed skin. The follow through from the swing sent her flying back into the ground. The light faded and darkness covered her body, causing her body flung like a comet to disappear into nothingness. There wasn't even a crash that accompanied her fall.
More chains emerged from the portal, attempting to grab hold of his other arm. Meanwhile, even more chains emerged from the ground, threatening to grab his legs as well.
YOLF:
Orcus
Umbral and luminous currents swirled from Orcus through the chains, and his lips twitched at the enfeebling sting. The joy he found in the resistance put up to his deadly swing did not falter even when the spikes shattered at the apex of the halberd's arc and Aruna vanished into traceless darkness again.
The primal effortlessly circled the portal and severed the chains with a flashing hew. When the next set flung itself from the ground, he shot away and spun around each of them. They reached for his legs like hooks, and he danced with them like they were the furthest thing from a burden. If they were leading him somewhere, he allowed them. He zoomed through the air in a clear route, without gaining distance from the earth.
"So annoying, these darlings," he cooed. "We could go for a while, but I wish for expediency. Show me the power that could rip me to shreds, Aruna."
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