Sprig
めんどくさい
The Demon
Dressed in his combat armour, Exar the Vampire King was a fearsome sight. He had his helmet tucked under one arm and the other resting on Sita’s shoulder. “Relax, I am forewarned. You have done your duty and told me of this threat. Now it’s time to do my duty and defeat it.” “But we don’t even know what the threat is” countered Sita. ”You could be walking into a trap.” Exar just smiled. “The enemy will come to me, in a place of my choosing, rather than catching me unaware in an unfavourable place. In the right place and right conditions, I am undefeatable.” And with that he put on his helmet and walked out into the cool night air.
The place of Exar’s choosing was an open field nestled in a cleft of the Sutlej valley. There was only one entrance and while it had no other exit, its elevation would allow him to see anyone approach. He didn’t even fear whole armies as long as he had time to assess his enemy. Though it was night, the moon shone brightly bathing the valley in a silky glow. He stood alone and quietly, both hands place upon the hilt of his great mithril sword. He was enjoying himself; the situation enhanced by the picturesque view gave a rather romantic feeling and the thought of dancing with his blade in hand exhilarated him.
In the far distance Exar’s keen vision could just make out a figure riding a dark palfrey. Exar was slightly disappointed; a solitary person had not been what he was expecting. Exar watched the rider move slowly towards him. He started tensing up, then relaxing his muscles; the extra blood flow would quicken his agility. With the bright moonlight and shiny armour there could be no doubt that the rider had noticed him and about a mile and a half off, the rider dismounted and continued on foot. About quarter mile off the figure stopped. Despite being now much closer Exar could not make out a face, the figure’s hood cast a deep shadow. He was still too far away to close the gap quickly and he could not be sure that magic would have any effect. He held his pose and waited for the figure to make his move.
Without warning the moonlight gave out, instinctively Exar dropped to one knee and raised his sword as a massive clawed fist came smashing down. The sword bit into the fist but did little to stop the momentum. The fist crashed into his shoulder and sent him sprawling along the ground. He rolled with it and sprung to his feet and did a double take as he saw his foe. It was a colossal Demon who towered over him, so large that he blocked out the moonlight. The second arm of the Demon lashed out, this time its claws pointed outwards like blades. Exar dodged to the side and swung away, the great sword clanged against the Demons arm. The Demons skin was like plated steel, even deflecting the sharp mithril sword. Exar leaped back out of range from those long claws, he stuck his sword into the ground and held both hands above the hilt. Fire leaped down the blade and Exar grasped it once more. The Demon jumped forward, arm outstretched once more. Exar twisted and spun sideways bring the sward up in a deadly arc towards the Demon’s chest. At the point of fullest extension, the sword pieced the Demon’s side. However, the Demons arm shot down and grasp both the sword and Exar’s arm holding it in place. Exar struggled as the Demon drew back a big breath and then unleashed a stream of black flame. Exar let go of the hilt and rolled back but he was too late, the black flame had engulfed his armour. The heat was unbearable as parts of his armour began to melt. The Demon lashed out once again and Exar struggled to evade it. It was clear to him this Demon was like nothing he had faced before. He thought about the hooded figure for a split second and tried to catch him out of the side of his eye. This slight hesitation was all the Demon needed, what would normally be the Demon's thumb pieced right through the Exar’s amour and into his chest. Exar coughed up blood as the rest of the claws wrapped around him. Writhing in pain, he brought up one of his arm up towards the Demon's face and bright light flashed out. The Demon roared as his eyes were temporally blinded, but he still held Exar firm. The Demon opened his mouth wide, rows of razor sharp teeth gleamed as Exar was drawn closer. The temporary distraction was all that Exar needed, as he was drawn closer, he formed a ball of bright yellow energy between his hands. The Demon recovered his sight just in time to fix his teeth around Exar and also see a bright, sun-like energy ball clasped in Exar's hands. The energy ball burst in a radiance of light as it connected with matter inside the deep pit that was the demons mouth. Light started pouring out the Demons body then it de-materialized in a wisp of black smoke. Exar’s body fell crumpled on the ground. He did not even notice that the hooded figure was gone.
~~~
Dressed in his combat armour, Exar the Vampire King was a fearsome sight. He had his helmet tucked under one arm and the other resting on Sita’s shoulder. “Relax, I am forewarned. You have done your duty and told me of this threat. Now it’s time to do my duty and defeat it.” “But we don’t even know what the threat is” countered Sita. ”You could be walking into a trap.” Exar just smiled. “The enemy will come to me, in a place of my choosing, rather than catching me unaware in an unfavourable place. In the right place and right conditions, I am undefeatable.” And with that he put on his helmet and walked out into the cool night air.
The place of Exar’s choosing was an open field nestled in a cleft of the Sutlej valley. There was only one entrance and while it had no other exit, its elevation would allow him to see anyone approach. He didn’t even fear whole armies as long as he had time to assess his enemy. Though it was night, the moon shone brightly bathing the valley in a silky glow. He stood alone and quietly, both hands place upon the hilt of his great mithril sword. He was enjoying himself; the situation enhanced by the picturesque view gave a rather romantic feeling and the thought of dancing with his blade in hand exhilarated him.
In the far distance Exar’s keen vision could just make out a figure riding a dark palfrey. Exar was slightly disappointed; a solitary person had not been what he was expecting. Exar watched the rider move slowly towards him. He started tensing up, then relaxing his muscles; the extra blood flow would quicken his agility. With the bright moonlight and shiny armour there could be no doubt that the rider had noticed him and about a mile and a half off, the rider dismounted and continued on foot. About quarter mile off the figure stopped. Despite being now much closer Exar could not make out a face, the figure’s hood cast a deep shadow. He was still too far away to close the gap quickly and he could not be sure that magic would have any effect. He held his pose and waited for the figure to make his move.
Without warning the moonlight gave out, instinctively Exar dropped to one knee and raised his sword as a massive clawed fist came smashing down. The sword bit into the fist but did little to stop the momentum. The fist crashed into his shoulder and sent him sprawling along the ground. He rolled with it and sprung to his feet and did a double take as he saw his foe. It was a colossal Demon who towered over him, so large that he blocked out the moonlight. The second arm of the Demon lashed out, this time its claws pointed outwards like blades. Exar dodged to the side and swung away, the great sword clanged against the Demons arm. The Demons skin was like plated steel, even deflecting the sharp mithril sword. Exar leaped back out of range from those long claws, he stuck his sword into the ground and held both hands above the hilt. Fire leaped down the blade and Exar grasped it once more. The Demon jumped forward, arm outstretched once more. Exar twisted and spun sideways bring the sward up in a deadly arc towards the Demon’s chest. At the point of fullest extension, the sword pieced the Demon’s side. However, the Demons arm shot down and grasp both the sword and Exar’s arm holding it in place. Exar struggled as the Demon drew back a big breath and then unleashed a stream of black flame. Exar let go of the hilt and rolled back but he was too late, the black flame had engulfed his armour. The heat was unbearable as parts of his armour began to melt. The Demon lashed out once again and Exar struggled to evade it. It was clear to him this Demon was like nothing he had faced before. He thought about the hooded figure for a split second and tried to catch him out of the side of his eye. This slight hesitation was all the Demon needed, what would normally be the Demon's thumb pieced right through the Exar’s amour and into his chest. Exar coughed up blood as the rest of the claws wrapped around him. Writhing in pain, he brought up one of his arm up towards the Demon's face and bright light flashed out. The Demon roared as his eyes were temporally blinded, but he still held Exar firm. The Demon opened his mouth wide, rows of razor sharp teeth gleamed as Exar was drawn closer. The temporary distraction was all that Exar needed, as he was drawn closer, he formed a ball of bright yellow energy between his hands. The Demon recovered his sight just in time to fix his teeth around Exar and also see a bright, sun-like energy ball clasped in Exar's hands. The energy ball burst in a radiance of light as it connected with matter inside the deep pit that was the demons mouth. Light started pouring out the Demons body then it de-materialized in a wisp of black smoke. Exar’s body fell crumpled on the ground. He did not even notice that the hooded figure was gone.
~~~
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