Zaedus rose a brow at the sudden wail. A growl of frustration soon followed.
"What more could possibly happen in one day?"
He asked aloud. He reflected back to when he first got here a few months ago, then to recent events transpiring. It seemed as though who ever had an out for him picked a wonderful time to do so as he was still somewhat off from his poisoning. Judging by the way these assassin's worked and commented on his use of blood magic, and what the poison that was used against him was made for, he wondered if the cult and these assassins were of the same fold.
"Just can't get a day's rest."
He said sarcastically as he bolted after Kiga in the direction of the scream. He was glad that Kiga had been there during the attempted assassination, had he not Zaedus probably would have not survived. He laughed in his head, Grayell always did have somewhat impeccable timing when it came to sending someone to do something...
As Kiga and Zaedus broke from the alley and in little to no time made their way into a larger street, they saw the two guardsmen and their captive. The leader was now on his knees and quite dead, due to the insidious looking spear that was thrust through his back and out his front, driven into the ground. The guards had their sword and shields at the ready, which didn't seem to deter their assailant from leaping between them and delivering a hefty kick to both their heads before landing and rolling away behind them.
A closer, larger warrior stood near the body and dragged the spear free with a sickening, sucking sound. He then tossed it to his rather nimble counterpart, before turning to face both Zaedus and Kiga.
"There we go. You were right, they were followed. Looks like we have more cleaning up to do."
The more spry of the two cackled as he twirled his spear by his side and then spun in place, bringing it to a halt across his shoulders. He spoke with a hiss on each s, quite different to his partner's more crude voice.
"Yess. I say, how about I take the little one? I hear he's very fast. The fastest, they say. I think they're wrong."
Those words weren't kind in any way, it seemed they were an insult aimed at provoking Kiga. The larger one guffawed and dragged twisted his hands into two very heavy looking gauntlets. He pulled his hands up in front of his head, framing his face.
"Alright. I guess I get to play with the puppy then."
Zaedus looked to Kiga, then back to the two new enemies that deemed it necessary to finish what the assassins started.
"Well....it seems we don't have much of a choice...Shall we take up their offer and dance?"
He asked, a smile on his face. He knew this could get bad, but you have to give yourself something to lighten the mood before a potentially bad fight. He was going to draw his blade but once he caught sight of the man placing the gauntlet's on his fists, he realized then that his sword would probably not be all that useful; being his soon to be assailant would bee to close at all times to use his blade effectively. He stood there, in an open stance waiting for the first blow to be delivered
Kiga nodded, but was not amused - or at least didn't look it. No, his expression was as cold as the rain that still drove upon the stones and he said nothing as he shifted to the side, pacing just inside the wall here. His spear wielding opponent followed him, the now pointing toward the ninja and the man holding it sneered.
"Make your move Kiga, I'm can't wait to ssee what you can do."
Kiga didn't respond. He slowed his sideways walk, his stance got lower until finally, he halted. Simply staring at the man, Kiga seemed entirely detached as he stepped backward and was swallowed by the shadows.
The big guy meanwhile stepped closer to Zaedus and held his right fist out. It wasn't an attack but was a brawler's gesture to touch gloves before throwing down. He was grinning too, waiting.
He eyed the big man, paying no attention to Kiga after he vanished. A scowl crept across his face...he hated being called that....thoughts went back to the past of him and his brother fighting all the time because his brother called him 'puppy'. Alas this was not his brother, and he knew not of his fighting style but a thug he was no less, and if he did not have the manners to address someone properly, then why should Zaedus?
"Sure thing.."
He said, but was not his intention. As soon as Zaedus approached the big man and went to tap his fist using his left hand he batted the man's fist inwardly, and with a side step to the right, launched his fist towards the man's face.
Kiga's opposition seemed upset at Kiga's refusal to engage him and shook his head, pointing at the spot where Kiga had stepped into the shadows. He made quite a show of laughing, his voice obnoxiously loud.
"You idiot! We can all still see you! You're not invisible!"
He was right, of course; and demonstrated as much by slamming forward with his spear and driving it directly into the shadow clone that Kiga had summoned and hidden behind. The clone dissipated, but Kiga's shrill cry stole the man's attention. His eyes lifted to see the Vanguard ninja flipping high and backward, electric shuriken whittling from both Kiga's hands and buzzing aloud toward him. He'd been tricked, but moved to defend against the oncoming attack.
Zaedus meanwhile had slammed his fist directly into the side of the large man's face. He was skilled with in unarmed combat and whilst the big guy had looked to cover up, Zaedus' attack shot in and landed with a loud, resounding 'crack'.
His opponent grunted, rolling his jaw. He didn't counter and didn't move, but looked down and to the corner of his eye as if he could see the swollen lump now forming.
"Ah, that's good. Wouldn't have been any fun if you didn't put up a fight, puppy."
The large man pulled his own arm back then, as though winding up for one hell of a punch from those terrible, spiked gloves he wore...
(This is where you get some free rp. You cannot beat him just yet, but let's see some old fashioned duking it out! Ding ding!)
He growled again at the 'puppy' remark, and sidestepped but did not quite match the speed of that blow, he felt the gauntlet graze the side of his face. He shook his head, although a grazing blow it hurt like all get out. He regained himself and launched in another strike, though not as strong as his first punch he had intended it to be that way. As he expected, to his relief, his left punch was pushed wide by the big man. As it was he used his right hand to grab the man;s own right hand and stepping with it he stopped and did a half turn, launching his elbow towards his face. To Zaedus' surprise his elbow was caught but heard a soft 'thunk' as the man hit himself in the face with his own gauntlet. Although not serious it was still enough to count in Zae's book. He felt his arm jerk back as he was spun to face the man, then the wind left his lungs as he got a fist to the chest. He stumbled back gaping for breath. His chest was hurting, although his armor soaked most of the spike he could not ignore the points of pain behind it. They were long enough to pierce even though his armor was not that thick.
Zaedus ducked low after another sweep bringing himself up for an uppercut. He felt his fist being grabbed as he went up. He forced his arm out leaving them both open for a strike, which they did in tandem. Zaedus going in with a knee to the abdomen, his attacker going in for a rib shot. They both connected squarely making an audible crack making them both disengage and bending over at the waist. Zaedus was soon seeing a flash of light as his head reared up and going a few steps back. He shook his head and looked and saw the big man retract his elbow and grab his side.
'Well, at least we both have broken ribs'
He thought as he noticed the movement. Zaedus sidestepped another launched left elbow that was aimed at his head, and followed through with a jab to the man's chest. Seeing him rear a bit in pain Zaedus mimicked the man's last attack sending his own elbow in, right at his mouth. Zaedus sneered at the man, spitting a tooth out of his mouth. Using his opponent's reeled state he went in again, only to his surprise to see the man side step, and launch a fist at his face. It connected squarely, another flash of light blurring his vision. He stumbled again.
'Man this guy hits like a horse'
He said to himself, he turned to see the man with a trickle of blood coming from his lips. Zaedus could feel the side of his face swelling, blood filling his mouth. Seeing the big man approach Zaedus stood quickly and faced him, spurting the blood welling in his mouth in the guy's face. using the distraction he tackled the man to the ground. Sitting on his chest the Worgen sent blow after blow after blow. Most of them connecting with solid thuds. He was going in for another flurry when a sharp pain pierced his abdomen. He looked down to see a fist in his gut then noticed the world suddenly going sideways as his head connected with the street. He stood slowly, seeing the man wipe his face, and stagger to the side.
"Well..shall we keep going?"
Zaedus asked, spitting another tooth out of his mouth, and also swaying a bit from the blows he had suffered. His body ached now and he knew those spikes did some damage, he could feel the pin point pricks of pain everywhere from the gut blows he receives and he could probably thank them for his lost teeth.
Kiga's attacker and fallen back very quickly, his spear swirling side to side in tight circles and sending the shuriken every which way. A couple stole inside his spinning guard, but didn't strike anywhere altogether vital. As Kiga toppled to the ground and spun about to kick his opponent, the spear rounded quicker still.
Kiga was cracked right beside his temple and his head rocked with the blow. It shot his balance and whilst he let himself fall to only spring backward and counter, the spear came around again and swept his legs out from beneath him, bringing the ground up much quicker. He crashed with little grace and rolled immediately, just as the tip of the spear struck into the stones and sent chunks of the road to either side. Kiga rocked and then rolled back in again, one hand on the shaft of the spear. He pulled his back onto it and forced his enemy down with his weight, then whirled about, both legs spinning and clocking his enemy not once, but twice across the chin.
Still spinning, he used the momentum to spring to his feet and whirled about as he stepped back. A thin layer of ice was clinging to his hand and shirt where he'd touched the weapon.
"Huh. You are pretty quick."
His attacker said nothing but instead whirled his weapon in a large circle, then kicked water into Kiga's face. He rammed the tip of his spear forward and had Kiga not instinctively wound to his side, he would have been run through. The tip tore through his side and stung with it's cold touch, but Kiga came about and raked his Raptor across his attackers chest.
They danced then, ever widening and then narrowing circles, their footwork and answer to the other's own movement. The spear would wind and then thrust, Kiga would dance back and dodge, then lunge in to strike when he was not hammering his foe with knives.
It seemed they were quite evenly matched, though their styles were very different.
Zaedus meanwhile was only met with a crack of his opponent's neck and then knuckles as the large brute adjusted after exchanging blows. He tucked his head lower, grinned... and something a little off happened. His shoulders came up and then pulled in, the man's spine arching as he did so. He gnashed his teeth and they grew a little, becoming sharper and more menacing. The ridge line of his eyebrows thickened and lowered and the large man laughed, his voice deeper and distorted.
"Yep. We keep going."
(Uhoh, someone just got tougher. More free rp, still can't take him down. In fact, he's getting much harder to deal with.)
He straightened himself, rolling his neck and shoulders. As the now bigger man stepped forward Zaedus also decided to "step it up" a bit. He feigned a left hook expecting the block. As soon as he saw the man go to swat it aside, he brought it down, then sending his right hand raking across with an open hand, satisfied to feel his clawed hand raking across the man's chest. He followed through with the momentum and came across again with his left in the spin, seeing eight drag marks across the mans clothes and chest. Soon after Zaedus felt himself flying back from a kick to the chest. He rolled around a bit trying to catch his breath, all the while hearing the man approach. He was suddenly lifted by his armor and cloak as he was picked up. He looked down to see the man smiling. Then pain followed soon after. He counted three punches to body. He grunted with every hit, feeling those spikes dig in past his armor. He grabbed the man's forearm and dragged his claws down them forcing him to let go.
His landing was not graceful to say the least, he was still trying to get over the pain from the barrage. The man's hits were harder.
He decided to switch to the defensive, deciding more so to dodge and only countering when he thought it was necessary. That tactic soon faded when his moves were being countered and he received more punishment.
At this point Zaedus knew there was not much he could do. he had already put enough strain on himself when using magic earlier. It was worth a shot, but he did not want to take the chance. He focused on himself and called to his magic again, this time instead of being on the offensive he went on the preservation side of it. He called to it to give him energy, to flow stronger and amp him up.
He avoided doing anything that displayed the power as two of his fellow Sentinels were standing not far away. He would have called them into the fray but decided not to waste their lives.
Feeling somewhat rejuvenated, albeit temporary, the two went at it again. Dodging, weaving, sending blow after blow. After a few minutes the tables once again seemed to turn on Zaedus. As his landings became less frequent, his opponents were. A final dodge and a reassuring blow to the other man's face sent them standing across from each other again. Zaedus was huffing, and his ears began to ring a bit from the shots to the face he had received in the tangle.
The two guardsmen had watched for a moment after getting back to their feet and waiting for their heads to stop ringing after being kicked harshly. They picked up their blades and naturally, came to defend their Commander.
"We'll take care of this monstrosity sir! You should get your weapon!"
The large brute smiled wide then, gnashing his terrible teeth. He twisted his foot upon the wet stones and then lunged forward suddenly, much faster than anyone could hope to anticipate. His large, heavy hands crashed the two guardsmen's heads together and they fell in a pile, limp upon the ground.
The man, almost ogre sized now; lifted his armored boot and held it above the pair, smiling at Zaedus, He was clearly going to stomp the men whilst they were down and with the power at his disposal, it might likely end poorly for them.
"C'mon puppy. You getting tired?"
Kiga and his opponent were equally locked in battle at this time. It had been a buzzing, flashing and whistling exchange of throwing knives and quick work with that blasted spear. Kiga was starting to tire, though it didn't slow him down. It likely wouldn't until he hit the wall - well his wall, rather than the one he was now bouncing off of to dodge that spear again. Anyone watching would notice that the spear moved with alarming speed, a dozen strikes in a second and little but Kiga's own agility keeping him from being skewered. He was torn and tattered, as was his opponent; but the man only seemed to be getting quicker.
That spear spun all too quickly. His feet shuffled over the wet ground as he rushed towards Kiga, too quickly for him to maintain his guard. The tip of the spear lashed forward and Kiga shot back and ducked to dodge the blow... but the spear was turned again and deftly rocketed the blunt end under Kiga's chin. He fell onto his back then with a splash, stunned for a moment.
"Hah! Fasstesst my foot!"
(Ok Zae, one more round of us getting thoroughly beaten up!)
He shouted, he felt a sudden burst of energy seeing his two comrades fall. He may have not known them personally, but they were Sentinels. He charged forward sending a shoulder into the big man knocking him back a step away form the two Sentinels. He lashed out out sending blow after blow after blow. He was amazed at the force of each one as they hammered into the brute's chest and abdomen. Before he realized it he had pushed him back a good ways, and he continued his assault. He saw the bruising, and the bleeding from the constant assault, felt bone give way with the rib strikes.
Zaedus soon found himself reeling back from a well placed kick. Landing on his back he went to roll getting on his hands and knees, then getting replaced on the ground as another kick hit him directly in the stomach. Zaedus grabbed instinctively reeling in the pain. He rolled back to his hands and knees, spitting up a fair amount of blood. He looked into the pool.
One more try. He placed his hand in the pool willing the blood to form a solid spike on his knuckles. Seeing the brute approach, he sprung up punching him again in the stomach. He jerked his wrist away breaking off the spike, leaving it embedded into the man's stomach.
He fell back to his rear and with his last bit of effort, so Zaedus thought, commanded it to fragment. The man reeled back as it did so, leaving a gaping wound in his stomach. As Zaedus tried to stand he was placed back on the ground with another kick, but he did notice the man drop to a knee, hand on his stomach. Zaedus rocked side to side as he laid there, the sky was swirling, and his ears rang from the constant abuse.
He felt sick, probably from the over use of his ability. But it left them at a stand still. Zaedus was battered and wounded and he left his opponent in the same shape despite the fact Zaedus was still losing.
Zaedus may well have overestimated the damage he'd wrought on the enemy, it was certainly unusual but there seemed to be a dense plate of bone behind the large man's abdominal muscles. Zae's blood tactic had also cost him quite a bit, drawing blood from a heavily diluted state and forming a solid object with it was very taxing. The big man moved closer and was still grinning. Oh sure, Zaedus had pummeled him thoroughly but that alarming smile didn't indicate his was hurt nearly enough.
Meanwhile, Kiga didn't have the protection that Zaedu's armor afforded him. He work light and loose fitting clothing to better suit his mobility, but his opponent this time was countering his speed with an alarming ability to strike far too quickly. He lacked the power of his much larger counterpart, but the attacks simply kept coming. Kiga was now spending too much time trying to dodge and keep away from the fierce end of that spear and much of his clothing was cut through and torn. Neat cuts across his skin trickled hints of blood and agitated him, he was beginning to tire some.
He pulled back quickly, then spun again and when he came full circle, his stance wound low; his hands locked together. His fingers slid, folded and his palms twisted, his eyes closing for a moment. The water pooling about his feet started to stir and then was spread outward in a spinning circle as the air around Kiga started to twist, dragging his tattered clothing and causing it to flap like so many small flags on a ship's rigging. His eyes opened and he breathed out slowly, then sucked in and all of that shifting vortex of wind wound inward, sucked past his lips. The air about him was now normal, but Kiga seemed bolstered, invigorated.
He sprang toward his opponent, then shifted to the side so very quickly it was hard to follow. He wheeled end over end, came up and off the ground and spun in the air - his heel leaving a fine trail of rainwater as it came about and cracked across the side of the spearman's face. He spun again as he landed, twisted and shot his other foot about, a high crescent that slashed through the air with alarming speed and again, crashed his foot across the other side of his opponent's face. His hands were out as he kept winding, spinning almost like a top beside his opponent, to his front, his back and then about again - and his axis leaned as one leg straightened and brought him off the ground, the other tucking in. He spun once, then twice; then came about and smashed the ridge of his foot clean into his opponent's face with savage speed and accuracy.
Not yet done, Kiga dropped like a stone and tucked into a ball at his enemey's feet, rolled and then shot up. His two feet left the ground as his hands pushed and like a rocket, both his heels crashed into the poor sod's chin as Kiga sailed past his front, airborne again. The ninja twirled and turned in the air, his eyes wide with intensity as he came to land behind his target.
Before the spear-wielder could fall, Kiga clasped both his hands on either side of the man's head and twisted, savagely. There was a loud, terrible crack as his neck gave and finally, Kiga took a breath.
It should have been well over. But the man's head turned to face Kiga, whilst the rest of his body remained facing forward.
"Oooh, that was fasst. Almosst fasst enough."
The man's body then turned at the hips upward and his arms brought around his spear and delivered an incredibly combination of blows that shattered Kiga's defense and sent him reeling. With the last blow, the assailant dragged his spear through the water about them and then slammed it into Kiga''s chest. It did not pierce but instead, a loud cracking rippled through the air as blue aether sparked from the weapon and Kiga was suddenly encased in ice. Completely unable to move.
The smaller man laughed, then turned to face Zaedus and his opponent.
"Oh look, bird boy has frozen up. You wanna ssssmash him up for me, Unrax?"
The big man looked over his shoulder and smiled wide, his eyes gleaming with the suggestion.
Zaedus just laid there, waiting for the ringing in his ears to go away. His head pounded and throbbed with pain, the simple action of moving his eyes made it hurt. He rolled over onto his side, and his eyes widened, well one did, the other had been swollen shut. He saw Kiga frozen at spear point.
'Ahhh...we may be done for.'
He thought. He looked back up to the big man, marveling at how he was still standing. Whatever he was, or whatever power he possessed was obviously far superior than Zaedus could muster. Even his magic did no real damage to him.
"Well, it seems you have us. If you would humor me on why we have been so labelled to be killed, I think that dying, or capture won't be all that bad."
He asked more than said. Zaedus was sitting on his rear now, trying to keep his vision focused from the movement.
Zaedus' questioning drew the attention of the smaller of the two, who waggled the tip of his spear in front of Zaedus' face. He looked down at the great Worgen warrior with a taunting sneer and laughed as he spoke.
"Oh wait, you really don't know? I thought ssomeone might have figured it out by now. I ssuposse we should try harder to get the messsage out. Wisstvale is ourss, Ssentinel sscum."
That really sseemed, I mean seemed to be an excessive amount of esses, but the man didn't falter. His bigger friend was looking the still frozen Kiga over and was cracking his knuckles before pulling his arm back. He laughed as well at the ninja's untimely demise.
"Heheh. See ya, squirt. Ya gonna be so many pieces in a minute."
Right before he decided to swing though, the spearman swung about and interrupted his partner. His back was now to Zaedus as he seemed a little alarmed quite suddenly.
"Hey now, not sso fasst. If you ssmash him, you'll desstroy all thosse pretty baubless he hass. Wait til he's nice and ssoft, then ssmash him."
The big lug had paused and was thinking about his friends suggestion, but was still facing Kiga.
If Zaedus was going to do anything about this situation, now would be the opportune moment. The spearman was quite close.
He debated the chances of lashing out against the man who had frozen Kiga. He could strike, possibly distract or even kill him and save Kiga by distracting the bigger one to him and away from Kiga. This could lead to even more serious injures, or potential death but he would at least be attempting to save three others. Or he could fail, and have everyone killed.
He mulled it over for what seemed like forever, but it was only a matter of seconds. Before he even realized it his sword was in hand and he was charging the spear man hoping to run him though. No doubt his attack was too telegraphed with the drawing of his sword, and no doubt his stumble alerted his movements.
At this point Zaedus didn't care. Maybe his distraction, if it proved successful , would give Kiga the time needed for the magic from the spear to fade and give him a chance to retaliate along with Zaedus. It was worth the shot, and Zaedus was taking it.
He knew that even if this was successful, it would cost him much. He had already taken a beating, and was feeling the full effects of it. He was taxed enough from that and it did not help the use of his magic had further fatigued him.
He expected failure, but the chance of his theory being accurate was all he was willing to gamble on.