Galerius stood opposite the undead horsemen, his arms crossed. His eyes scanned around, his gale mana enveloping them, as he searched for the necromancer.
Where is he? Is this some type of spell? He shouldn't be able to conceal his aura from me unless it's equal to the pure mana of a fay, Galerius thought, focusing completely on trying to find the necromancer.
The undead horseman lunged at Galerius, but Galerius, unbothered, his arms still crossed, simply jumped out of the way, now moving his head around, looking for the necromancer.
Why can't I seem to find him?
The undead horseman immediately after swiping the air charged in again, roaring, "Argggh!"
Mmm… maybe if I get a wider view, Galerius just took a couple of steps back and propelled himself high into the air. The undead horsemen unable to stop his momentum crashed into a pile of rubble.
Galerius Hovered briefly, now able to see the whole city, he scanned the area again.
I still can't find him. Even at this height…
The undead horseman leaped into the sky behind Galerius going for a stealthy blow, but as the attack was about to connect, a layer of gale wrapped around Galerius causing the attack to be diverted to the side rather than at Galerius.
Galerius continued looking around, back turned,
my gale armour's repel mode should hold him for a bit. He thought, back still turned.
The undead horseman continued relentlessly trying to hit him, but each time the attack got diverted.
Where could he possibly have gone…
The undead horsemen, forgetting it was mid-air, began to fall back down. It managed to line up one last thrust, before it fell out of range, as the attack came for Galerius he yelled in irritation "DAMMIT, THIS IS USELESS!" his hand then swung round violently smacking the undead horseman to the side. It flew down through the air across the city, hitting the ground, chaining a large explosion of dust and debris.
Galerius descended to the ground.
"First, let me deal with this undead champion. Then I will look properly."
A green orb swooped in beside him.
A voice reverberated in his head. Galerius… I found no living soul. All have perished.
Galerius's gale mana flared up instantly.
"Why did I allow this to happen? Why? Why… WHY—THIS IS ALL MY FAULT, DAMMIT!"
Galerius grinded his teeth, as his gale mana surged around him furiously.
Galela's soothing voice reverberated through tension in his mind.
Calm down, Galerius. Rash emotion will be your downfall in this battle, so please focus so you can win this. You can cry about it later. Her voice is regal and calm in his mind.
In that moment Galerius breathed in and out, regaining his composure.
His face became stoic, the raging gale torrents which flowed off his body soothed. As Galerius is about to propel himself forward, Galela speaks again—He's coming…
The undead horseman came in charging, dust kicking up behind it, wildly galloping as both it and its war horse screeched at the top of their voices while surging with immense crimson mana.
Galerius's spread his feet apart lifting his arms up to his face,
Taking up a full stance.
"It's time to take this a little more seriously."
Would you like me to look for the necromancer?
No need. Just watch my back in case he tries anything… This will be a good moment to conserve mana too.
Galela fluttered closer to him.
Galerius's wind armour dispersed, as the undead got to him, it thursted its lance.
It's been awhile since I fought an undead champion. Let's see if I still got it! Galerius said as he weaved to the side and went for a gale-infused punch, but the horseman's horse reared up and took the blow instead.
Some pieces of its skull broke off on impact, Mm? This horse is quite tough. That should have sent him flying.
Galerius' punch stopped the horse from rearing up fully so with both locked in position, the undead horsemen on top of the horse took the chance and thrusted toward, Galerius who to avoid this, infused himself with gale and instantly repositioned by swearing to side of the both undeads. Finally holding his hand out at their side, as the horse began rearing up,
Doesn't matter how tough they were, this burst should take them out. He thought, confidently.
The undead horseman saw this and jumped off the horse into the air. As soon as Galerius sent a point blank gale burst to the horse, sending it flying back into his own tower and making the whole thing crumble.
Galerius doesn't realize that the undead horseman had jumped up into the air, effectively dodging the burst.
"Huh?" he looked up surprised
The undead horseman, with both hands, thrusted its long lance at him, but Galerius weaved to the side again effortlessly. It hit the ground with so much force it cracked the ground on impact.
"Clumsy attacks like that won't do you any favors… now you're wide open!"
He took this chance to send a gale-infused punch straight toward the undead's face.
Its skull cracked in many places. The force from the blow alone caused waves in the air, pushing dust and small rocks away.
Its red eyes fade out for only a second until both its hands clasped on Galerius wrist.
Skeletal sockets now reignite, blazing red straight at the Galerius
"What the heck!" Galerius said, trying to shake it off but each sway would not shake the undead off. It's not letting go! Why is its grip so darn tight?
Galerius stopped swaying his hand, as something dawned on him, opening his palm.
"This is perfect, actually…" he said smugly as Gale coalesced in his palm, the undead didn't move, just kept holding on tightly.
The ground ruptured underneath. Galerius didn't notice as something began protruding from right under him.
Galela urgently alerted him. Galerius, watch out under you! Her voice rang in his mind.
Galerius instinctively dashed forward, then mid-dash he turned to face a large bone-infused pillar.
"What the—"
But only a glimpse, as just behind him is the undead war horse surging with crimson mana, as it bursted forward with explosive speed in a necrotic charge, about to ram through him…
Dammit, it will take too long for my gale armour to cover me in time.
"GALELA, GIVE ME A BOOST!"
Gale mana surged around him, infusing his body instantly.
"Now you're dead!" he said while gritting his teeth.
He repositioned, twisted as if he's skating through the air, swerving right behind the undead warhorse. When he got behind it, he lifted his arm with the undead horsemen still attached and charged a gale burst.
As it charged, it generated streaks of pure gale mana which tore up the ground as they went by. "THIS WILL SEND YOU ALL BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM, YOU DAMNED CHAOS FIENDS!"
The horse rammed into the bone-infused rock pillar, breaking it, and the undead let go of Galerius just before Galerius released a powerfully wide gale burst, blasting the undead horsemen into its horse and sending them both far into the city, crashing through multiple structures.
In the aftermath, lines were etched into stone and earth, and a long, narrow crater—scarred by the force of the blast, had cut through the ground.
Galerius stood there panting briefly before fully catching his breath.
"Galela, why did you warn me of that? I told you to keep watch for the necromancer's strikes—and besides, I could have handled it!"
"That's the thing. It was the necromancer's attack."
"What?"
"That skeletal mage doesn't seem to be able to cast spells, at the moment restricting it to physical power instead. So it has to be Necromancer, but—"
"You're saying he could be casting spells from a good vantage point"
"Exactly, Galerius, the question is from where."
"Mmm, could be my…"
He looked far behind him, seeing his tower destroyed.
A vein popped. Everything is falling apart. Damn this chaos!
Galerius, hold your peace we have spoken enough of this city, you must focus on what's at hand, I am going to recover now. That power I handed you took a lot out of me.
How long do you think you need?
Ten minutes. Don't do anything rash till then.
Galela zipped into his chest.
Galerius looked at his wrist. It now has the mark of skeletal fingers on it. Damn, that grip was so strong, It left a mark on me. If I had my gale armour, it wouldn't have even been able to touch me.
"I need to be more careful from now on."
Galerius propelled himself toward where he sent both undead.
He soared through the air as he got to the crash site, he broke his momentum and dropped the ground. Landing nicely, he began looking around. Not seeing them, gale mana flared at his eyes, which he in that moment stumbled upon two necrotic auras—the undead horseman and his undead warhorse high in the air above him, descending toward him. As they plummeted, he saw another aura sitting calmly behind the undead horseman. "Is that?"
Galerius backed out of the way as they crashed down in front of him.
The undead horseman and his undead warhorse stand strong and fully restored, as if they both never took any damage.
In Galerius's head, it doesn't matter because of the "Necromancer!" His rage started to bubble up but Galela's voice echoed through his head. Keep calm, Galerius. He took breath claiming himself.
.
The undead horseman readied its stance, Galerius spoke now calmed. "Come forth, Necromancer! I've no patience left for your petty tricks."
The figure heard this, though it merely sat facing the opposite direction, behind the undead horsemen, kicking his feet.
Even though I can't see his face, I almost feel that evil grin of his! Galerius thought, furiously , but yet he kept his cool, announcing again, his tone calm. "I know you hear me. Face me, necromancer."
Though there was no reply. Silence filled the atmosphere, the crumbling of stone around them echoing their standoff.
The undead warhorse abruptly grunted, spectral steam leaving its nostrils, and the undead horseman gripped his lance tighter. Both their eyes burn reddish in anticipation.
Hasteful footsteps are heard echoing behind Galerius.
It's something rushing toward him, but he doesn't flinch or turn around. It tried to lunge and attack him, but as soon as its attack reached the vicinity of his gale armour—
Got you, Galerius thought, as still facing forward, his eyes trained on the three in front of him, he grabbed its arm and, with barely any movement, flipped it over and slammed it in front of him. Seeing that it's the necromancer, made his face tense but he wasn't fooled. Just a clone. Another of his petty tricks!
Then he stepped forward and, with an open palm directed at it, just before he could send a gale burst at it—
The necromancer's clone opened its mouth and emitted an eerie wail that startled Galerius.
Before he knew it, the undead horseman had charged and was right in front of him, about to strike his head.
"Nice try." Galerius said, face is determined.
But in this gale armour mode, I can see all pressure points in the air within the range of my gale armour, giving me near-precognitive vision.
So despite it being near his head, Galerius sees every point of it coming.
Galerius simply moved his head to the side while grabbing the middle of the lance with one hand and, with his other, getting ready for a gale-infused punch. The undead horse tried to rear up again to take the blow.
I think I didn't know you would do that! Galerius instantly sent an explosive gale-infused jab to the undead horseman's face, knocking him off his undead warhorse; Galerius eyes focussed as the undead horseman was knocked out his place. He saw no necromancer, his eyes widened, He's gone?! As the horseman flew out of view and into a building.
The warhorse had completely reared up, as it came down Galerius backed out of the attack effortlessly but still bewildered on the necromancer whereabouts
"Had I been fooled?
— Then a voice hissed from the other side of him.
"Over here, warden!"
Suddenly Galerius' eyes shifted over to his side, seeing the necromancer sliding in from the side, his book floating open beside him, a big evil grin forming on his face, fist cocked back as a large skeletal fist protruded out of the ground beside him.
"How—!" The necromancer threw his own fist forward, causing the skeletal fist to do the same. It soared toward him. I can't counter that. It's too big, Galerius panicked as he raised his arms to block, but the punch itself was so strong that it sent Galerius flying away for the first time. He crashed through the city with a cloud trail of dust and debris, following him.
Galerius lay on his back. "That hit hard. Luckily I had my armour to protect me. Where did he get that spell from? He didn't pull that one out earlier." He held his head and got up slowly. "Alright—I can still handle this."
—"WARDEN!" Something from above shouted
Galerius got out of the way and a warhorse crashed down. Where he was standing. The undead warhorse stood imposing and strong while the necromancer stood on top of it, a wide smile on his face, just waving at Galerius, his book wide-open floating beside him.
"Hey, warden!"
Galerius' face tightened in frustration, the thought flashing in mind—Is he mocking me?
No… no… Must stay calm. I must stay calm...
The Necromancer noticed this.
"What are you thinking about, warden? Scared, maybe?!" he said, sarcasm in his tone.
A large lance soared down from the sky, but Galerius jumped back, dodging it.
"Come on, wind warden Galerius, are you getting tired already?" the necromancer teased yet again.
"Damn you…" he muttered.
The necromancer bent a bit and put his hand to his ear, trying to hear.
"Huh? What was that? I can't hear you from all the way over here!"
Galerius's anger raised. "Silence…" he muttered a little louder.
"What?! Still can't—"
"I SAID SILENCE, YOU WRETCHED FIEND!" Galerius erupted,
"Well, whatever you said…" The necromancer spun around on the horse, shouting, " WAKE UP ALREADY! AND LOOK AROUND YOU! AHAHAHAHAHA!" He cackled loudly
That's it. Galerius directed his fingers toward them and fired off a big bullet of gale. The necromancer fired off a ray of darkness.
The ray clashed for a brief second with the gale bullet before consuming it and becoming thicker, more powerful.
Galerius looked shocked but managed to dash to the side in time before it could hit him. Instead, it erased a small part of his gale armour.
Did it just eat right through my armour?
Then three long, jagged bone spikes protruded from the ground, but Galerius managed to maneuver through them, backing away out of danger. But at the same time, the lance sped back at Galerius, and so did the necromancer, now sitting down, riding toward him in a necrotic charge. Warhorse rammed through all the spikes but as they reached, Galerius' every attack at him got diverted away: the horse's ram gets diverted to the side, and the lance to another side though as Galerius tried to get out the lance managed to actually damage his armour slightly, Galerius saw this and blasted gale into it sending the lance away.
That was close, but there's no way he found a way around my repel mode. Right?
But the necromancer blasted another abyssal ray at Galerius who kept backing away. I'll let it hit my gale armour to see if it's different. But it repels the attack to the side as it hits the ground instead.
Perfect, it works now. It just means that—
The warhorse then flipped its head and charged in for another ram, its head down, surging with power, but this time went for the open part of Galerius gale armour.
Arcaeus was extremely fast as it charged before Galerius could do thing,
Purple Mana enveloped him, delaying his movement for a moment allowing Arcaeus to ram right into Galerius open spot,
"No!" Galerius said as he was sent tumbling into the sky by Arcaeus' attack.
Galerius quickly recovered. At this moment the lance came speeding back again.
Perfect. Galerius used gale to guide and redirect it down toward the duo below.
They dodge, as the lance gets stuck into the ground,
Galerius made sure to land further away from them.
That lance is starting to annoy me!
Gale swirled around Galerius's arm — haven't used this technique in years. Galerius thought back.
The gale gathered, forming a tight vortex that yanked the lance toward him in an instant.
The necromancer tried to pull it back with his mana, but it was useless. Galerius intensified the vortex, and the weapon flew into his hand. Dispelling the gale, he gripped the lance with his bare hand, it cracked under his grip until it crumbled in his fist.
The necromancer and his warhorse charged.
Galerius wrapped longer gale vortexes around his arms and swept them across the ground. The strikes gouged deep scars into the earth, but the warhorse deftly evaded — leaping over one, sidestepping another, and then soaring high toward him. All while resisting the vortex's pull.
Never have I seen such a peerless steed, not to mention it's made of bone. Galerius commended in his mind as he raised both hands and merged the twin vortexes into one, the gale roaring around his arms.
The necromancer sensed the danger and leapt clear off the horse.
Galerius pulled the undead warhorse in toward his hands. As soon as he gripped its neck, he slammed it into the ground and began charging a gale burst.
Too bad you belong to those cowards of masters that sacrifice you to save themselves. If you were made of flesh, I would treat you better. You Valiant thing. Galerius thought internally, while his exterior was full of unyielding determination to destroy the warhorse.
It screeched and squirmed.
Two massive skeletal fists erupt from the ground on either side of him. Galerius let go of the horse and thrusted both arms outward, catching each giant hand mid-swing.
A third skeletal palm came forth, snatching the warhorse and hurling it back toward the Necromancer.
Damn it, they're getting away.
Even with my gale armor, I can't hold this much pressure. I didn't want to wreck the city any further… but I've got no choice.
The warhorse regained its footing, and the necromancer mounted. They turned and fled.
Gale mana swirled violently around Galerius. He released it all at once — a shockwave that obliterated the skeletal fists. But before the gales can be dispersed, they surged back toward him, spiralling tighter, denser, more devastating.
"THIS IS MY DEVASTATOR VORTEX!"
The vortex expanded, devouring everything within its reach. Rubble, debris, even distant fragments of the city are drawn in and shredded.
Galloping.
I can't see through the storm. I hope this works, he thought. The distant sounds grew louder — hooves pounding, wind shrieking — and then a piercing screech.
Through the maelstrom, the necromancer appeared, surrounded by a thick purple barrier, charging straight toward him atop the warhorse.
No… how?!
They crash into him. Galerius tried to block, but the warhorse's head was driven into the gap made in his armour, flinging Galerius from the centre of the vortex, flying through the air until he collided with the city wall. Then the vortex collapsed, imploding with a thunderous roar.
Dust settled.
The necromancer advanced slowly.
Galerius lay on the ground, struggling to rise, a line of debris leading to him.
Galerius realized: The speed and momentum they had in that one charge with the warhorse allowed them to burst through the vortex and ultimately go against the current of the vortex, and the necromancer had a barrier to protect himself from the current and speed affecting him.
He sighed, standing up, grunting in pain, "Gale armour adds a layer of protection to me while giving me better movement and precision and overall body enhancement, but even with that, the hits do rack up a bit, especially with all this mana I am using." he said, now somewhat ruffed up,
Galerius held a large bruise which Arcaeus had rammed twice at his side. "That horse is truly something else. Dare I say more impressive than that twisted fiend."
The necromancer and warhorse quickened in their pace toward Galerius.
"I'm so fed up with all this." He said, his face stoic.
Gale surged around him.
"I want to end it permanently."
Is that so? A voice reverberated in his mind.
"Galela, you're back." He smiled.
Gale calmly surged around him.
"Yes. Time for a boost—to end it!" she said confidently, her voice still soft.
Galerius's body vibrated with gale mana, coating it entirely his green eyes gleamed, as power rushed from his body, pushing clearing the area.
"To end it!" he said in reply, standing ready… Galela wings sprouted from Galerius' back.
He didn't rush yet, he just looked ahead toward the rushing death duo with resolved smirk.
The necromancer's eyes squinted then he opened his mouth and said something causing the Warhorse to turn around and run away.
"Resorting to running again, eh?"
Galerius bursted forward at blinding speed, reaching both in a split second, he now flew through air beside them calmly flying right beside the two, but the warhorse began galloping harder, creating space between them.
That horse has incredible speed. It's still able to run from me in this form…
The necromancer turned himself around, holding his hand out to target Galerius. A bone spike came up from the ground. Galerius bursted through the air, the necromancer tracked Galerius free movements through the air. Galerius dodged every spike that tried to impale him.
Galerius, was in his element and perfectly clear minded.
The necromancer kept following, sweat beading down his forehead.
"Can't touch me, necromancer!" Galerius taunted
Galerius, don't get so arrogant. End this already! You must end it!
Galerius furrowed his brows. You're right. Time to finish this! he thought resolutely.
The necromancer noticed this change in Galerius' attitude and immediately got up off the horse and phantom dashed far ahead of it.
He's vulnerable… Galerius! Galela's voice echoed urgency in her tone.
The necromancer, now upside down in the air, pointed his finger and fired numerous abyssal rays. But Galerius moved past them weaving in and out of them, some deflecting away as he appeared in front of Zero—about to deliver a lethal blow with his fist.
"TO END IT!" he shouted
One skeletal hand popped out in between both the necromancer and Galerius, and another from behind Galerius.
Galerius simply kept going with fist smashing the skeletal hand in front of him "Same trick necromancer!" Galerius said optimistically, as he was about to burst forward, "Look around you numbskull!" Galerius hesitated—right then, dozens of large skeletal hands broke out of the ground underneath and everywhere around him.
Galerius looked around frantically for route out.
"What? Every route's cut off!"
Not being able to escape, ALL the hands trapped him, slamming him down on the ground. Each one helping to pin Galerius down but also damaging each other as they slammed on top.
Dammit, I can't get loose.
They had him pinned. More kept piling on, it pushed him deeper into the ground. For the briefest moment, he caught a glimpse of the necromancer tumbling across the earth — yet somehow, he managed to grab hold of the galloping warhorse's tail, sticking his tongue out at Galerius then climbing onto the warhorse and riding away.
It dark as hands pile on even more, Galerius retreats to his thoughts, Why does it always feel like he's four steps ahead?
Galela's voice rang in his head.
Galerius, forget this. You need to end this now. I can't keep this up for long.
"Alright!"
Gale began to swoosh around the area in which he was pinned, and it also seeped through the cracks in the skeletal hands.
All I have to do is increase the pressure.
Galerius bursted out immediately, a massive powerful shockwave left in his wake.
Both fists out in front of him. Soaring with incredible speed ahead, toward the far-away necromancer.
The necromancer drifted to the side with the warhorse, then he jumped off.
"YOU WANT TO COME AT ME? COME AT ME THEN, WARDEN!" the necromancer roared enthusiastically. He then drove his arms to the ground, and brought them up, summoning an insanely enormous bone-infused earthen wall that is proportionally wide, then casted a purple barrier over it.
"THAT WON'T STOP ME! THIS IS TO END IT, NECROMANCER!"
He crashed through the barrier without struggle—then crashed into the wall, the impact causing the whole city to shake.
As Galerius continued to press in, a wave of gale went all over it, breaking it and making it crumble almost gradually..
On the necromancer side he stood now by himself, as the wall began to cave in—then Galerius flew through it, hitting the necromancer and taking him straight through the city toward the other side, hitting the city wall. Once they hit, a shockwave exploded out and obliterated a large section of that part of the city and wall which was completely eviscerated by the concussive force, leaving the area a shallow crater—almost at surface level—with sharply sloping sides. The crater itself sprawled widely, consuming the entire space, a grim testament to the sheer power of the impact caused by Galerius
Galerius just panted heavily.. Galela, I think I got them, but there was no response. "Dammit, she must be asleep. That push probably took a lot out of her."
"That shou—"
Galerius saw a speck of purple ooze on the ground.
And immediately remembered. "NO!"
Then a voice came in from above him. "YES!"
He backed away, still trying to catch his breath.
As the necromancer and the warhorse land, they without intro began to relentlessly attack Galerius. The necromancer non-stop laughter as the warhorse reared up to stomp on Galerius.
Galerius dodged, thinking, I'm almost completely depleted of my mana. I need to use it wisely.
He keeps dodging, but barely, as he stumbled with each stomp from the warhorse, the necromancer cackling behind each strike.
But even though I may be tired, injured, he has to be in the same situation as well!! This motivated Galerius.
Galerius back-dashed while raising his palm up for a gale burst, but the necromancer puts a barrier up that, which the gale burst managed to break.
The necromancer and Galerius continued to attack each other. Equally.
I wouldn't be called the strongest in Trishtan if I wasn't a skilled fighter too, Galerius thought confidently.
Galerius crossed his arms at perfect timing, blocking an attack from the warhorse. The pain quickly jolts in, but he gritted through it and manages to push them back.
Forcing the warhorse's head back, but the necromancer simply reared the warhorse's head back, getting ready for a stomp. Galerius tried to gale burst them again at the warhorse's stomach, but the necromancer casted a barrier again, which breaks on impact from the gale burst.
"Dammit, when all else fails…"
Galerius muttered to himself.
The necromancer's face looked perplexed as if he knew Galerius was about to do something reckless.
" —RUSH IN!" He roared, lunging in while infusing himself and shoulder-barging the skeletal undead warhorse away, but held itself on only its hind legs, skidding back from the attack.
As Galerius rubbed his shoulder, still infused with wind, he heard galloping so he looked up but the necromancer had disappeared "Thier gone that fast? Where?… He instantly felt a pressure point behind him. "There!"
He repositioned himself with his gale, turning all the way around, already pointing his palm at the warhorse. The necromancer—where did he go?! He panicked in his mind, his shaky vision which was fixed on top of the horse, "Over here, warden!" Glaerius' eyes darted following the voice.
The necromancer was hanging off the side, holding one of the undead warshorse's ribcages, readying his own attack in the form of a large skeletal fist heading for Galerius again.
Galerius noticed something peculiar. It's like time slowed down as he saw it.
Mm? Where did his book go? The last time he did this, his book was hovering beside him…
No time to think. I have to act. I will take this chance to put out this undead warhorse for good!
He lets out a fully powered gale burst while holding up his other hand to block the incoming skeletal fist.
The blast sent the warhorse flying, its bones splintering and breaking apart as it slammed into the ground. It stirs a cloud of dust and debris in a thunderous explosion.
The burst also caught the necromancer's forearm, shattering it instantly, ripping the clothing from his arm as the gale tore through him, making the necromancer lose concentration on his spell.
The punch sends Galerius reeling back, some blood splattering out of his mouth as some of the shock goes toward his body. Galerius managed to land and keep on his feet.
Galerius took a few steps back. That fist would've probably taken me out if his forearm didn't get caught in the gale burst.
The necromancer stood up, holding his broken forearm. His eyes gaze intently at Galerius's blood on the ground.
As Galerius shook his arm awake, he noticed the necromancer's look as the blood started to form a long, sharp needle in the air and floated up beside the necromancer a devious grin, formed on his face, his eyes gleaming with evil intent.
How does he still find the energy to taunt me, So!
Galerius's gale armour started to cover him again.
The needle sped toward him.
Repelling off him easily.
That was fast. He said surprised. Instead of letting them hit the ground, he sends a burst of gale, incinerating the blood. "Won't let you try something like that again."
That was too meaningless. There must be a catch.
He raised his hand, and fired a gale burst that hit the necromancer and sent him flying into the same rubble as the warhorse.
Pages flicked
"Necromancer, what was the point in that! Huh?! You coward, come out and face me by yourself this time, so I can kill you with my fist!"
…clacking of rocks and stone…
Structures collapsing in the distance.
A cloud of dust still stirred.
Silence…
Maybe he might be dead. Let me check to make sure…
Galerius started walking to where he hit the necromancer, hopeful of his death.
Suddenly a loud yell came from inside.
Galerius's face gets even more serious. They're alive…
Two eyes shone from the smoke—one purple and one blue.
Two figures emerged, as the dust Seattled, they exited the cloud dust rushing off their tattered forms.
The necromancer, his face plain, his clothes tattered and ripped along with his body, his broken forearm and the many cuts and bruises that paint him.
The second is the skeletal undead horseman, his skull and body barely holding itself together, his bones cracked, with one of the sockets hollow as the other one shined softly blue.
The necromancer stood tall, placed one hand on his hip then looked down at the ground. Both the necromancer and the horsemen moved forward, and so did Galerius toward them.
One's barely able to move, and the other is in a similar state to me…
"Necr—" Galerius
"AHHHH, SHUT UP!" the necromancer interrupted.
Galerius looked confused.
"Mmmh?"
The necromancer lifted his head up in slight annoyance, and with his hand he gestured. "Necromancer this… Necromancer that… My name is Zero."
Zero smirked as he stopped walking forward
Galerius stopped his walk as well.
"Anyway, I'm getting pretty fed up with this fight. It's starting to piss me off, and I'm going to be honest with you—you probably already know, but I'm pretty low on mana too…"
He knows I am as well… Galerius face hardened at this revelation,
The necromancer continued.
"Well, 'restricted' is a better term. You see, I—"
Suddenly the horsemen shook violently and his whole body collapsed, into a pile of bones, parts breaking off.
The Necromancer looked to the side. "WHAT? C'MON, AUGUSTUS, DON'T BE LAME! GET UP!" But he didn't get up.
The necromancer lifted his injured arm toward the horsemen, threads of purple mana came from his finger tips and injected his skull and several bones, causing the horsemen to reconstruct, to full functionality.
But the horseman's blue socket had left.
"Asleep already? Augustus, gosh where is your pride, pathetic. I of course need to do things myself."
The purple threads spread out to joints, one on his 2 legs, 2 arms spine and skull.
The necromancer dropped his injured arm to the side and moved his fingers only to control Augustus.
One of the horsemen's sockets lit with a purple flame marking necromancer's influence.
Galerius watched with his arms crossed.
"Well done galerius you have broken my toy."
Augustus' socket ignited blue again though his posture maintained hunched, its other socket which was purple was snuffed out. But the threads stayed, just became transparent.
The necromancer facepalmed with his good arm.
"Oh so now you want to wake up Augustus,"
"Right where was I before my toy broke," —the horsemen one socket blazed, brightly with determination.
"Hurry up necroman—" Galerius said.
"IT'S ZER—and you know what? Forget talking…"
They both crouch, their eyes gleamed—the necromancer with evil purple delight; the horseman, cold blue determination.
And they raise opposite hands—the necromancer's left and the horseman's right.
Here they come!
Galerius took a stance.
The necromancer smirked and said, "Let's get him!"
They both rush in.
Heh… no spells? Easy. Physical fighters have never been a problem for me.
Galerius turns off his wind armour. Perfect. I can finally just conserve my mana.
The horseman goes for Galerius's head using both hands to swipe from both sides, and the necromancer slid to the back of Galerius, once he was behind he tried to attack, palm open,
Both attacked Galerius with just their psalm about to hit him.
No this has to be a spell, they have why would mage try and palm strike a warrior entering close quarters, they should know it's futile by now especially with me. I will just have to make sure they don't touch me, Galerius deduced in his mind.
Galerius uppercuts the undead and simultaneously grabbed the necromancer's arm, swinging him in the air, flipping him to his front mid-air, and slamming him off the ground. As he bounced, he kicked the necromancer away.
As he tumbled on the ground, he caught himself and regained his footing, his injured arms fingers, already shifting the threads as he ran back in.
While the undead still recovered, Galerius turns around to face the Necromancer.
The necromancer's eyes gleamed with pure insanity as he swiped at Galerius, but he simply moved his head out of the way of each swipe. Galerius goes for a quick jab to the necromancer's face, which knocked him off balance, but he quickly regained it and goes in again. Galerius weaved a few more swipes again, then jabbed the necromancer again, but the necromancer pushed through it, this time going for Galerius's stomach.
Falling for the same trick, I see necromancer. Galerius remarked in his mind.
He grabbed the necromancer's wrist and his other wrist, yanked him close, and then brutally kneed him in the stomach, sending the necromancer to the ground.
The undead one of its sockets purple, this time swerved behind Galerius, but he saw this.
Copying your master, eh?
He swiftly kicked the undead's skull, then hooked his skull with his foot and reeled it in. Then, aside his foot with the undead now in front of him, he slammed his fist down, but the undead blocked it, its purple socket was overcome by a red colour. He pushed Galerius off him.
Its blue socket disappeared.
Galerius' ears caught something behind him, seeing the necromancer lunging for a strike. When did he start recovering so fast, just earlier he was dazed after one punch.
The undead goes for a lunge.
Galerius crouched down and swept his leg toward the necromancer's legs, but he jumped over it, smirking evilly.
"Nice try, warden!"
"Your arm is still extended out. Same trick you fall for…" Galerius said, as he grabbed his arm and flipped him into the undead.
When the necromancer crashed into the undead, it sent them both back a bit, crashing on the ground. They both got up immediately.
Both lunged in again.
"Heh." Galerius' face was filled with confidence. This approach will never do them any good.
Galerius ran in too. He tried to uppercut the necromancer, but he dodged out of the way. He dodged?
Then the necromancer tried to go for his stomach, but Galerius immediately caught his wrist, stopping the necromancer's hand from nigh of his stomach, then he swiped the necromancer's legs. The necromancer twitched his fingers, as he fell on his back
"Same trick you fall for—" he taunted the necromancer, not realizing a quick jab was coming for him.
He was about to use his hand to block it but hesitated and took it to the chest, getting pushed a distance away.
He crouched, clutching his chest. A broken rib is better than a broken arm.
He spat out some blood, getting to his feet.
The horseman's red socket was now purple but shifted to blue. The horsemen started to shake again.
Galerius, seeing this thought, I should be safe again!
The necromancer got up.
They both lunged.
I will end this. Galerius thought as he stood his ground—ready to face them head on
They all fought in the middle of the ground.
Galerius lifted his leg up kicking the necromancer's chin, then brought it down, heel striking his head smashing it into the ground.
Then, as the undead horseman tried to swipe, Galerius grabbed his wrist and palm struck his face.
Galerius doesn't stop there. He pulled him back by the wrist and snapped off the undead's arm. Immediately after, he grabbed the other with the same hand and, with his other hand, chopped the elbow, snapping its skeletal arm in two, breaking it.
Keeping the stance as the undead fell, its body crumbling even more....
Its blue fire fizzled out. As Galerius was about to step on his head, he felt weakness in his ankle. He looked and saw his ankle decaying.
By the necromancer.
"YOU!" Galerius's eyes filled with anger.
He stepped on his arm, crushing it.
The necromancer screamed. "Argggh, that was my good one!"
The decay retracted from his ankle.
Galerius panted, then started pressing on it even more.
"Stop! Please stop! I'm begging!"
Galerius thought about everything that happened till now. Galerius's expression darkened at this, and his face is set in grim, unyielding seriousness.
He stepped on it even more, twisting his foot on it. The necromancer's bones creaked and ripped, and the more Galerius twisted on it, he kept screaming until a sickening pop filled the atmosphere. Galerius's face looked grim, completely serious.
The necromancer is speechless, beads of sweat all over his face as he gritting his teeth through the pain, his other arm fingers twitched at this time moving the threads—Then the horsemen comes behind him, both sockets burning with crimson purple with rage, for one last time as it bites down on his shoulder with all his force. Blood splattered everywhere as Galerius screamed but managed to grab the undead's head and fling it away.
He held his shoulder in pain. "That stung, damn it!"
Galerius looked up in shock
He got up again!
The necromancer just stands, his both broken arms hung low, looking straight at Galerius from a distance, purple bruises peeking through his torn clothes.
Galerius rushed in.
Trying to punch him, but he couldn't as the necromancer kept dodging.
Where did he learn how to dodge dammit!
A sick grin formed on the necromancer's face.
"You know, you're really sick in the head for doing that to me!"
"That's ironic coming from someone like you, necromancer."
"HAHAHA, FAIR!"
Galerius paused his swinging and instead, pretended to swing, which tricked the necromancer making him dodge, then Galerius laser focussed, lined up a straight punch knocking him back. Necromancer recovers quickly, and makes some space between them.
Shaking off the pain from the punch and spitting out purple blood, a sickening grin formed on his face.
As Galerius' eyes tracked the blood "it can't be."
"I win. I have you right where I want you!"
A large beam of purple thunder speedily consumed the necromancer's body, destroying him, his body turning into purple ooze before he was destroyed.
The thunder beam is about to hit Galerius's face, growing more and more hopeless as it gets to him.
"I fell for another one of traps. Is this it...?"
"No. I have you, don't worry, Galerius."
Galela comes in, boosting him.
The attack hits him. The thunderous purple beam flies all the way through the town and outside.
After the spell had finished, Galerius managed to survive, surging with power, his clothes incinerated waist up, despite his charred and bruised body, it revealed multiple old scars at his chest.
Lighting still sparked within the crater that the spell created. Galerius flew above it. Thinking toward Galela, you did me a wonderful favor...
Galerius' face tensed, he saw the necromancer standing there.
Just outside the destroyed wall, standing there, his book floating.
"Is that him?!"
The figure puts the book by his side and began running the other way.
"Has to be. Come here!"
Galerius disappeared and reappeared in front of him.
He grabbed the necromancer's head, slammed it deep into the ground, embedding it in there, and dragged his head through the ground, lifting it up as he went full speed.
"I AM GOING TO!"
Then, after dragging his head through the ground literally, he forced a gale burst on his head that created a large crater, revealing the necromancer's bloody head. He took a glance at his face for purple ooze but he saw crimson. Reassured he flung the necromancer now half-conscious body into the sky.
"TO END YOU!"
He charged up a full-power boosted gale burst, gale mana coalescing at both his hands as he puts both hands side by side, charging this up as the necromancer's mangled body falls in the air.
Streaks of rampant gale mana destroy the ground and turn it up.
As he fired a large gale burst toward the necromancer.
It came out as a wide beam of great concussive force, which hit the necromancer.
His body, covered in black smoke, fell to the ground quite a distance away.
Galerius walked up. With each stride, he feels weaker as his gale form weared off.
"Dammit, need to check. Surely he's dead now…"
He got to the smoking remains but kept his distance.
The rain began…