Arzlan looked up at Norbert, continuing to munch his apple as his other hand rustled around the box. Picking one up, he threw the apple over as hard as he could. Norbert caught it and spun, not wanting to fruit to break when he tried to catch it. Holding his spoils up to Arzlan, showing the undamaged fruit, he bowed, taking the mask off and biting into it.
Feeling the juice dribble down his chin Norbert spittled out, "Thanks, and wow, they are juicy. So Arzlan, what are you doing down here?" Norbert asked, taking another bite as he looked around, seeing the torches slowly bobbing up and down from the rest of the soldiers waiting to make a move.
Arzlan growled out, "You called me; it would be rude of me not to answer. Something you Morenas don't believe in." as he popped the rest of the apple in his mouth, core and all and began eating it.
Watching the others move around, finishing what was in his mouth, Norbert jerked his head. "I don't know if I can perform well under an audience. A bit of social anxiety on my part," Norbert said, taking another bite and not believing how good the apple was. He was happy to have something proper in his mouth before what he had to do next.
Across the ravine, Norbert heard shouts and clashing far away, turning around and taking another bite; Norbert saw torches moving over there, spells being formed and flung around the place. Lightning bounced off the rock and humanoids; Norbert smelled burnt flesh.
"Your companions are putting up quite a fight," Arzlan said.
Norbert turned around, had their plan already leaked? Was this all a ruse to get them all in? Panic started to set in as he stared into the eyes of the beast.
"Yes, I knew you would come back. That is a weakness you people have as well." Arzlan said, taking another apple from the crate and biting into it, half the apple already devoured in that single bite.
Norbert looked down at his, only half eaten, as he started working on the sides. "Then why are you over here?" Norbert asked the hulking figure.
"Fun", Arzlan said, biting into the last bit of the apple, another one eaten. Leaning forward, picking up both of his cleavers as he stood up to his full height. He was ducking his head down, allowing the visor of his helmet to close.
Pushing back his worry, the plan still worked as lights began. All he had to do was hold off as many people as possible, looking to be a successful operation currently. Taking the apple's last bite the core remaining, Norbert threw it over the edge. Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, getting the apple juice off it, he placed his mask back over his head, ensuring the hood was secured.
Holding the sword out in front of him, Norbert hoped it wouldn't go for too long; fingers crossed that the fireball would appear in the sky. Turning one last time, his hopes shattered as he forced energy into his entire body, able to see the purple light gushing from underneath his mask and between his cut shirt, knowing he would need everything he could against this giant.
Arzlan growled, watching as his prey became prepared; no more running, just a simple fight. Leaning forward, Arzlan pushed off the ground, Norbert hearing it crack under pressure, dust billowing behind him. The crate of apples fell and rolled on the floor.
Norbert stayed still, preparing himself for the impact that would come. Arzlan swiped below with one of the cleavers, the other still behind. Norbert shifted the sword from being straight up, swinging it to meet the oncoming weapon, steeling his body for the impact.
CLANG
The first impact going around, time seeming to still for Norbert as he stared past into the eyes of Arzlan, all sanity lost in those eyes, replaced by an insatiable hunger and a drive to fight. Time was started back up again as Norbert saw the light of the other cleaver coming for his head.
Getting in closer, twisting around the giant, hearing the blade whistling through the air and the subsequent crash as it impacted the ground, rocks bouncing off Norbert. Now behind Arzlan, an opportunity to strike at him unblocked, Norbert slammed the sword down against them, feeling it bite into Something but hold, unable to go through all the way.
Wrenching the sword out, assisted by Arzlan spinning around, Norbert held the blade as a fist came out of nowhere. Trying to block it with the sword, Norbert twisted it to the side of his body, the flat impacting with the fist as the two came in contact with the side of his ribs.
Norbert flew through the air, hearing a crack at the impact as he tumbled around, the amount of force in that much more than the last time he fought the giant. Now realising how much he was holding back.
Arzlan turned, watching Norbert in a pile; shaking his head, he leaned over, the cleaver still stuck in the ground as he pulled it out, successful but wincing from the pain in his left shoulder, surprised that Norbert could hurt him that badly. He remembered the last time he pushed so hard, at one of the tournaments against a surprising fellow.
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Turning around Arzlan watched the body lying on the floor, the purple light coursing off the boy's skin. A shame the fight would be over so soon. As Arzlan walked forward, he saw movement. He smiled growling again, happy that this punk still had some spunk in him.
Norbert laid still, a pile on the ground. The pain in his side slowly calmed down, feeling a final pop as it went back into place, pumping more energy into his left ribs, hoping to repair them quickly. Moving his head, Norbert saw Arzlan walking his way, hearing a growl. Growling in return, Norbert went onto his hands and knees, head spinning as he tried to force it to calm down.
Pushing himself up, he looked around, trying to find his sword. Euphoria consumed him as he saw it, nearly falling off the edge; turning back to Arzlan and only seeing the grin, Norbert dashed to the side as quickly as possible, hearing the stone crack under him.
Norbert leaned forward at the edge, scooping the sword up as a shadow approached him. Spinning around, back sliding against the ground, Norbert held the blade against his body with two hands. Just in time as Arzlan landed, slamming both cleavers through Norbert.
The sword took the impact, and he was pushed into the stone, hearing it crack around his as his joints groaned in protest with the force applied. Muscles burning in response, Norbert knew his entire body was purple. As he felt his body, Norbert forgot, caught up in the moment about direction.
All he had been doing was blasting it across his body, hoping it would assist as needed. Norbert placed it over his arms and legs, breathing deeply, reinforcing his hand. Allocating most of it, he kept some in reserve to reinforce his body when needed.
Arzlan was only held down with one blade as the other came up, Norbert knowing his leg would be chopped cleanly off if he did nothing. Forcing energy into his leg, Norbert leaned back, seeing the cleaver creep closer as he pushed against Arzlan.
His back against the ground caused Arzlan to rise slightly into the air, giving him enough time to angle his sword to the side and escape from the twin blades.
Rolling further, he spread his feet out, feeling he was on the path leading down again to the bottom of the ravine. Standing up, his entire back sore from holding up a giant, Norbert rushed forward, sword swinging as he met Arzlan.
The two blades meet Norbert, lifting it above his head, knowing he cannot stay engaged. Now closer, Norbert punched into Arzlan’s stomach, hoping to aim for the kidney in an average person, slightly off to the side.
Hearing the wind come out as a fist appeared in his peripheral vision. Ducking down, it clipped Norbert's back, reinforcing his entire head as he was knocked to the side by force; there was no dizziness as one of the cleavers came for Norbert. Norbert jumped back again, angling the cleaver away, knowing the second would be there.
Confirming it, Norbert went forward again, slicing on the extended arm, feeling it slice through flesh but stopped by something. Norbert wondered what Arzlan did to his bones to reinforce them to that extent to stop a blade even moving.
Arzlan wiped his arm to the side as the blade came out, blood spewing from the wound. Slicing forward, Norbert deflected the blade, heading to the right to favour the wounded side, blood splattering across the ground.
Arzlan's blade came up from underneath, and Norbert had to back up, the two swords clanging together, Norbert forcing the blade down in resistance to stop his body from flying around. The soldiers and the ramp leading up to Norbert's not focusing and hoping they would. He moved his blade away, holding it in front to pierce into Arzlan as he practised firstly with Mark.
The sword was clattered to the side by a cleaver, the left one coming in as Norbert dropped a hand, taking out a dagger and holding it under his sword as he continued forward. The dagger folding, the hilt catching the cleaver and stopping it from moving any further up as Norbert disengaged from Arzlan, now able to see the path leading up.
Gazing quickly, he flipped the dagger into the air, catching it in his left hand, confirming it wasn’t broken as it gleamed off the light, the soldiers standing up standing still, tense as they waited. Not wanting to interrupt the battle between two monsters.
Dagger in his left and sword in his right, Norbert looked back at Arzlan, not liking the feeling of the dagger but knowing a place he could rest it for the moment. Norbert charged forward as he flicked the dagger forward, sending it flying ahead.
Hearing a grunt of pain as he saw Arzlan duck down, ready to swing his blade and strike against the already damaged arm. Sword rose with both hands above his head, ready to strike, as Arzlan flicked his right hand at Norbert. Sending the blade, Norbert had no time to react as Arzlan flicked his wrist as well, the cleaver careering into his body.
Norbert felt it slice into it, his clothes lighting up for a split second before they fizzled out, feeling the blade slice into his body going under his ribs, the tip digging further in as the handle remained poking out.
Pain overwhelmed his body as Norbert stepped back, a ball of fire shooting into the sky as he pawed at the cleaver; with a cry, he ripped it from his body, Norbert seeing a river of blood coming with it and flicking it behind him and over the edge, not wanting to deal with two anymore.
The only thing on Norbert’s mind was that Dousan had found everyone; the only thing left to do was for everyone to meet up. Looking down at his clothes, Norbert saw the wound closing up around him; the pain had left his body.
Knees shaking from under him, Norbert hoped for Arzlan to stay down, that all of this could be over. Spitting a globule of blood onto the ground, amazed that it was glowing purple. Norbert focused forward, trusting the others could make it out now. Echoing around the ravine, Norbert heard explosions from the other side, light flashing, casting long shadows on Norbert as he stared down Arzlan.
Norbert watched as Arzlan shuddered until he stood tall, dagger sticking out of him. Reaching forward dropped the dagger and cleaver, both impacting against the ground. Norbert watched, horrified, as he saw the hands changing, becoming meaty paws as the nails extended, becoming darker and turning into claws.
ROAAAARRR
Norbert looked as Arzlan roared at his opponent, as Norbert stared, horrified at the transformation as the giant went down on all fours. Gulping to himself, Arzlan suddenly jumped forward. The only thought going through his head was, “Guess that" is round two.”