"Surrender in the name of his majesty!" Lambert yells in a commanding voice, directed to the contents of the room. The faces within turn from surprise to aggression, and all ascend to their feet, arming themselves.
The great sage witnessing this prepares to drop the staff into the portal, Orpheus gaze turns to the man's actions and immediately flashes a fearful expression. "No!" Orpheus roars, witnessing the eventual loss of his prized weapon, which he had only recently attained. His gaze turns to aggression, chanting a spell to extricate the precarious situation. "Subcinctus Egomet." Orpheus chants his spell and then vanishes into thin air, leaving the room speechless at his sudden vanishing act.
With Orpheus apparently vanishing the great sage succeeds in dropping the staff into the portal. He quickly releases his grasp; the staff comes tumbling down and disappears from sight. As the portal begins to close, Orpheus suddenly manifests a few feet above the ground. He appears right in front of the sage, his right hand gestured forward ready to grab the staff, which is no longer there.
As he reaches forward, falling upon the sage, with fury in his eyes. The sage raises his hands defensively. "Contego." The sage chants his spell, both his hands towards the threat. His fingers stretched outwards as if ready to catch a ball.
An ethereal barrier manifests with a green hue. The barrier is circular and roughly the size of a round shield. Orpheus clench's his fist and descends upon the barrier, bringing down a forceful strike. His fist indents the barrier, before collapsing to the ground. Orpheus lifts his gaze upwards to see the assassin moving towards him, his sword drawn. He is ready to strike down upon his back.
The sage clench’s both his fists as the barrier starts to shake. With tremendous force, he repels his fingers outward. Soon the barrier erupts, enlarging into a globe-like field encompassing the entire room. The barrier surrounds the sage and smashes into Orpheus and the assassin. Propelling them both into the wall and pressing against it from the sheer force.
After a few moments, the sage drops his hands and the barrier vanishes, releasing the two men as they descend to the ground. They fall down and each place one of their hands on the floor to support themselves. Regaining their bearings at the same time, they both turn their gazes on each other.
Now glaring with deadly intent, the assassin lifts his blade and propels forward to strike his enemy. Orpheus anticipates this, quickly draws his sword and blocks the edge coming from the left. Drawing the sword from his sheath he waves it across his body before clashing with the incoming blade. His blade standing vertical as the assassin is horizontal, now pinned to the side wall. "Ignis Adtono." Orpheus raises his right hand, aimed at the sage. A small fireball manifests in his hand as it propels rapidly.
The fireball is only a few feet away from him. He swiftly grabs the table, using it as a shield and deflecting the fire. The sage then lifts himself up, the table clenched in his hands out front. He runs forward like a madman, screaming at the top of his lungs.
He barrels through the two clashed swordsmen and through the door. Performing a forward somersault, breaking the table into pieces as he lands on the ground. "Woah... That was awesome!" The sage looks up at the clashing of swords and smiles as the blood spurts from their wounds, decorating the walls with splashes of crimson red.
His eyes widen with awe at the sight. Everything is filtered as the opium courses through his system, he experiences bliss from the lack of pain and joy from the invincible sensation. His eyes continue to look forward with a pensive gaze. The soldiers and patrons continue to fight ferociously as Lambert lifts his blade above him. His sword is horizontal and placed flat on his right hand. The doorman's blade descends downwards and clashes with the centre of his blade. Struggling together they both press against each other's force for dominance.
"Do you think you can defeat me with strength alone?" Their swords clash together, Lambert taunts his giant enemy as he attempts to kill him.
"I will cut you in half little man!" The giant doorman spits with a mighty rage, gritting his teeth and continuing to push.
"Disappointing, I thought there may be a sharp mind within that thick skull." Lambert chimes as if to mock his aggressive resolve.
His sword begins to bend ever slightly. He then pushes his left hand towards the roof and pulls back his right. With one shift of motion, he pulls his blade to the left side and turns his whole body. The enemy's sword comes tumbling down and indents on the floor. Lambert standing side face to the left swiftly descends his blade directly down and plants it in his right foot. Blood spurts from his appendage, and the blade plunged deep within, securing him to the floor.
"My foot... Ah you coward, too weak to go for the head?" The doorman mocks Lambert's perceived cowardly actions, the pain disappearing from his face, only to be replaced by rage.
"It is not my blade that will take your life. A fair trial and the executioner's axe will decide the fate of your head." Lambert replies smiling at the notion of justice being served. "Initium." He chants just as lightning discharges from his handle, moving swiftly down the blade. The electricity crackles and flicks off the blade before entering the man's body.
His arms and legs constrict, violently twitching as the energy surges throughout his body. After a few moments, he falls back, loudly slamming onto the ground, producing a minor tremor. Lambert pulls the blade from the man's foot, and blood spurts out from the seeping gash. He delivers another chant. "Finis." He then turns his gaze to the fighting soldiers and sees two of his own. Each injured and retreating back to him, the patrons crowd in front. With their bloodstained blades and violent intents, the five remaining patrons gather in front of the great sage as he ascends to his feet. "Percival take the injured outside, I will deal with the enemy before us. Go now!" Lambert commands the soldier to his right, nodding he guides the two injured out of the door, leaving only Lambert and two soldiers to remain.
Thinking over the situation, he quickly notices the bulging blood shoot eyes each patron has. Concluding his foes are hopped up on narcotics, he adjusts his strategy. "Patrons surrender now or you will be struck down!" Lambert delivers his ultimatum, in hopes at least one will come to their senses. None falter and so he steps forward, sheathing his blade to his left side. The patrons unfazed by his command, look at each other and begin laughing.
"Oh, I don't like the look of this." The great sage mutters to himself from behind the men.
"As you wish then." Lambert states as he draws his second sword from his right sheath.
With his left hand, he trades the sword into his right. He turns his gaze to the cowering bartender behind the bar, moves to the left a few feet and grabs the open wine bottle. Returns to his position as the enemy patron gaze at him with a confused expression. Lambert lifts the bottle and begins spilling it on the ground. He eventually flicks it forward making a trail of wine and finally tossing it at their feet. The glass bottle shatters spilling the liquid into a large puddle before them.
"What the hell was that!" The middle patron yells as he steps forward, mildly splashing the puddle of wine at his feet.
Lambert gives off a slight smile, gazing to the left, witnessing a bucket of water behind the bar. "I say again surrender now!" He makes another request in a firmer tone, the patrons blatantly ignore him. The great sage behind them looks around frantically for a potential exit but is unable to do so. Lambert witnessing the patron's desire to not surrender turns his head side to side as he signals both his men with a slight nod.
He then places the tip of his blade square onto the ground holding the handle with his right hand. Looking up at his enemy one last time, before speaking a final word. "Initium." Roaring fire spouts from the end of the blade handle. Engulfing the blade, it travels downwards. Soon the enemy patron's expression turns to fear.
The fire ignites the wine on the floor and quickly travels forward producing a raging fire in front of them. They are taken aback by the flames as it flickers before their eyes. Obscuring their vision, a shadowy figure begins to emerge as Lambert lunges forward from the flames. Sword in his right hand retracted back and ready to plunge forward. He glides through the air his blade pierces the middle patron's chest, and blood gushes from the wound as Lambert lands on his feet.
The middle patron attempts to swing his right-handed sword, but Lambert quickly catches it in mid-air. He then propels his arm directly at the left patron. The blade slices the man across the neck, and he falls back with his grievous injury. Lambert's gaze then turns to the right, he withdraws his blade from the man's chest, twirls it around and slices the right-side man across the face. Lambert's soldiers then lunge forward and plunge their swords deep into the chests of the two remaining patrons, distracted by the flickering flames. As all their enemies fall to the ground the soldier on the left grabs a bucket of water behind the bar and extinguish the flame.
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"Now criminal will you surrender or follow the footsteps of your fallen cohorts?" Lambert delivers an ultimatum to the fearful great sage, directing his fiery blade towards him. The coexistence of violent intention mingled with mercy emanates from his gaze as fire flickers from his blade.
In the back room just after the sage came bursting through the door, exiting the room. Orpheus and the assassin cross blades. Their gazes fix on each other, and the assassin pulls back his sword just behind his head and to the right. In a moment he springs the blade forward aiming for his enemy's head.
The blade descends and Orpheus plants his right foot forward, grasps his sword with two hands, inclines the blade horizontally and blocks the incoming sword. Their blades clash as the assassin continues to press forward against Orpheus's strength. The assassin's gaze turns to Orpheus's left side as he pulls back his blade, and twirls it to the left towards his right shoulder.
Orpheus witnesses this and swiftly switch his stance with his left foot forward. Curving the blade around, he blocks the incoming blade to the right. Their swords clash once again, and Orpheus's gaze turns to the opening. He pushes himself forward, their blades detach, and he rushes his left shoulder into his torso. Pushing him back against the wall with a loud slam, the assassin is put off balance as Orpheus guides his blade towards his enemy's chest.
Just before the blade pierces the assassin's torso, his body swiftly transforms into the mist. The blade passes directly through him and plants itself into the wall behind. "Damn that little trick is impressive, but annoying." Orpheus quickly states, turning his head to see the assassin reforming behind him. The assassin rematerialises with his sword raised and propels the blade diagonally towards his neck.
Orpheus reacts to this by letting go of his sword, swiftly ducking down and then performing a dodging roll. Quickly he turns to the assassin at the end, raising himself. They are now opposite each other with the assassin blocking the doorway. He then kicks the door closed as men crowd around in the other room.
Orpheus lifts his right hand and aims it towards the assassin with his fingers stretched out, chanting, and his red ring glows. "Ignis Adtono." A small fireball manifest from his ring, moving into his grasp. It propels itself forward in a swift motion. The assassin witnesses this, immediately turns to mist and manoeuvres away from the flame, hitting the wall behind him.
Reforming a few feet to the left, he raises his sword towards his enemy, directing the tip of the blade at his torso. Orpheus flashes a frustrated expression, weighing his options as he continues to aim his hand. "Damn it, with that transfiguration spell, direct confrontation is impossible. Then perhaps an indirect approach is needed." He thinks to himself, contemplating his next strategy. His eyes glare at the assassin, making ready his sword.
Orpheus begins to focus his gaze, and his outstretched hand tenses as if he is grasping an object tightly. "Imperium Corpus." He chants, clenching his fingers together, and the assassin's body begins to constrict with both his arms facing downwards. With this, the assassin is paralysed and unable to move. Orpheus grins at the accomplishment, his enemy completely at his mercy.
With Orpheus's grip tightening the assassin suddenly transforms into mist once more. The grip releases as if the assassin was never there, to begin with. "Damn it, that is getting annoying. Hmm, it seems that spell is governed by his will, rather than a spell or an object. The old tricks are not going to work." He thinks to himself, analysing his opponent's skills and abilities before making his next move.
The mist begins to propel itself directly at Orpheus. Just before it reaches it transforms back to the assassin, his blade guided towards his chest. Orpheus quickly lifts his hands in a defensive position and begins to chant a spell that may assist him. "Contego." A barrier manifests in front of him, it is rectangular in shape, roughly the size of the assassin. He directs the tip of his blade downwards as he clashes with the barrier.
Smashing against it Orpheus is slightly pushed back against the sudden force, reacting he gathers his strength and propels the barrier forward launching the assassin into the opposite wall. Orpheus visibly exhausted by the feat drops his arms to his sides. The barrier disappears, and the assassin ascends to his feet, ready for another round.
In the other room, the great sage continues to stand aimlessly. Lambert aimed his fiery blade directly at him. He continues to look forward, his eyes incessantly blinking, as if it requires great effort to keep them open. His gaze eventually turns to the blade before raising his right arm. "Subcinctus Objectum." The great sage flicks his fingers slightly and chants the spell. Lambert's blade suddenly disappears from his very hand. He gazes at his empty palm with confusion, the soldiers behind him look with equal expressions. The great sage starts chuckling with laughter. Soon the sword suddenly appears in mid-air just a few feet away. "Oh shit!" He exclaims as the sword descends to the ground, all their gazes following the blade.
Lambert kneels down and retrieves his extinguished blade. "We will not fall prey to your magic, dark sorcerer, come peacefully and face the king's justice!" Lambert delivers another request as the great sage blatantly ignores him.
His gaze shifts to the bar with two bottles of intact wine. He turns his outstretched hand to the bottle and begins another attempt at the spell. "Subcinctus Objectum." The wine bottle vanishes and the sage smiles with glee as if expecting the bottle to come to him. The bottle manifests just above the rightmost soldier and descends quickly, smashing upon his head with a loud shatter.
With the bottle shattered, the soldier remains standing for a few moments. Lambert and the other soldier turn to him, and the soldier collapses to the ground unconscious. "Damn it was supposed to come to me. I need my drink, hey bartender can you pour me a drink?" He starts moving towards the bar, the bartender cowering behind it.
Lambert kneels down to tend to his injured comrade, seeing he is still breathing he ascends and slowly moves forward. The sage grabs the remaining bottle with his right hand and starts pulling out the cork. He strains to remove it as Lambert and the remaining soldiers come up behind him.
Lambert moves forward and a loud crash is heard from the back room. Orpheus and the assassin come crashing through the door and into the room. Lambert and the sage turn to this, he finally removes the cork and begins downing the wine. Orpheus and the assassin eventually ascend to their feet, both opposite each other. "Sir Orpheus are you alright, do you need assistance?" Lambert calls to Orpheus, raising his blade towards the barely fazed sage as he continues to consume the alcohol.
Orpheus now holding his blade once more points it at the assassin, who returns the gesture. The sage's eyes turn to the sword grasped by the unconscious soldier. He gestures his left hand across his chest, toward the blade and curls his fingers as the sword suddenly moves on its own. Lifting into the air and propelling itself towards him. As the blade flies through the air, it completely passes him and the blade's tip soars towards the assassin.
He notices this and shifts his blade to deflect. The blade glides through the air, clashing with his sword, deflecting it into the wall just behind the bar, narrowly missing the bartender's head. "Hey, I'm on your side!" The assassin turns to the half-drunken sage and calls to him.
Orpheus noticing the distraction immediately presses his advantage. Slashing his sword downwards, the blade goes for his torso and his body becomes mist once more, with the sword passing directly through.
Lambert aims his sword at the sage who leans against the bar, tumbling back over it and landing next to the cowering bartender. Lambert looks to his right, the assassin still in mist form propels himself forward. Crashing against him, he quickly becomes solid form, propelling him back down the hallway. Landing on the ground the soldier beside him immediately goes to his aid.
The sage behind the bar, sitting down with his back against the wall continues drinking the wine bottle. He turns to the afraid bartender, pulls a few coins out of his purse and gestures the money to his face. "Three gold pieces on the assassin guy. What have you got?" The sage makes his bet, taking another swig of wine.
The coins fall out of his hands and onto the ground, and the bartender looks at him with disbelief. "Are you serious!" He yells back, visibly shocking the sage, he turns his ear away from him. He ascends to his feet just behind the bar, Orpheus spots him and immediately rushes towards the bar.
Sword in hand he points the blade across the bar, directly at his neck. "Where is my staff, where does that portal lead. Tell me now or your death will be painful!" Threatening the sage, the object of his wrath looks back with a vacant expression.
"Look I don't even have a clue what is even happening let alone what I did before." The sage replies with his now typical clueless expression and bloodshot eyes. His gaze begins to dart all over the room. Orpheus's expression grows ever more aggressive, he reaches over the bar and grabs the sage, continuing to threaten with his blade.
The assassin turns his gaze behind him and witnesses Orpheus threatening the sage. He turns around and again transforms himself into mist, floating towards him. "But I have, I don't know got this thing in my head... I... I... Can't really remember, oh wait I got it!" The sage struggles to converse with the now-confused Orpheus. He squeezes harder on his shirt and pulls him forward, the sages' hands immediately raise as if surrendering.
"What the hell are you babbling about?" Orpheus states with utter contempt, pressing his sword forward just as the assassin manifests behind him, grabbing him on the shoulder.
"Oh, I got it now." The sage mutters right before clarity manifests in his eyes. "Subcinctus Hominum." He chants an unfamiliar spell, and the assassin grabs Orpheus's shoulder with a tight grip, rematerialising into a solid form. Looking back, they both suddenly vanish into thin air, leaving a confused sage still holding his hands up. "Did... Did you see that, I mean did you do that or did I?" Muttering to himself, his hands descend to his sides and his gaze turns to the clueless bartender seated on the ground.
He then shrugs his shoulders and picks up the wine bottle, before taking another long gulp. Lambert eventually rises to his feet, moving towards the bar with his last remaining soldier. His eyes emitting an unfamiliar fear, he muses on Orpheus's sudden disappearance.