Andre tried to force himself back to his feet, but his body refused to obey his will. His legs felt unnaturally weak and incapable of supporting his weight. It was a surreal feeling. The pain had numbed to a mild burning sensation traversing across his chest and nothing more. How could this mere graze subdue him?
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(“Get up... fightâ€) Andre tried to egg himself on,knowing full well that he stood no chance unless he could climb back to his feet.
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(“You’ve taken worse beatings than this, don’t fall to such a pathetic wound at such a crucial momentâ€) his thoughts began to cluster together in a unanimous determination to summon the strength to finish the battle.
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(“Fight…â€)
(“Fight…….â€)
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The Ixal charged forward towards his crippled foe with a menacing screech, weapon poised forward in attempt to run the hyur through. Andre exhaled sharply in angry desperation as certain death drew closer.
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However, a lifeline… a barrier of earth and stone rose abruptly from the ground, shielding Andre from the impending attack and briefly disabling his foe. Conjury… perhaps a Wailer? It mattered not though for the man was still alone and in danger. He had one final chance to bring himself back into this fight or submit to the beast’s wrath.
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(“It is now or never…)
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Andre continued breathing heavily. The air on that warm and sunny day seemed to suddenly grow cold and painful, stinging his lungs with each breath he stole. He reached deep this time, once again trying to summon the energy to get back to his feet. Could he manage just that much, he felt he would have the ability to continue the fight. It was just that one stepping stone that would power his weakened body enough to continue.
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(“Now… get up….â€)
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The beast reclaimed its footing, setting his eyes once more on the crouched hyur.
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(“Stand up, Andre….â€)
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The Ixal lowered its weapon, aiming the tip of the lance once more at him as it began to charge.
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-(“Stand up!â€)-
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A feminine voice reached him, serving as a final cry of encouragement that rang throughout his head with the same effect as the wails of the Coliseum crowds as he pushed himself slowly, but steadily away from the ground with a strained heave. He barely managed it, but he was finally on his feet once more, offering the creature one final challenge.
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The Ixal beast slowed its charge out of caution and instead stopped a short distance from the hyur, replacing its charging attack with a safer, thrusting strike aimed directly for the man’s fragile body. His caution, however, was misguided. Instead, he played directly into Andre’s hand, allowing him to counter the assault more easily.
Still clutching his chest with his left hand, Andre threw the beast’s lance away with a diagonal strike and followed through with the momentum of the swing to deliver a circular slash to the beast’s upper body. He landed the hit, though the wound was not grave. The creature recoiled briefly in pain but was allowed no time to recover. Andre pressed forward striking the beast’s lance repeatedly as it continued parrying his strikes while being forced backwards by Andre’s persistent onslaught.
Not letting up, the young hyur delivered numerous more strikes, continuing to weaken and fatigue his Ixal opponent who struggled to keep up with his rapid and forceful attacks. It was not the most tactful of strategies, but raw force was all he could muster in his current condition.
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Finally his efforts saw through. The beast, unable to take another beating, lost its weapon through its now, turned-frail grip. The Ixal’s eyes followed its final line of defence as it slipped free from it’s claws and tumbled into a nearby thicket before returning its hopeless gaze once more to the hyur, just in time, to witness him thrust the final, killing blow through its chest. A pained gargle sounded from the creature’s throat as it’s lungs filled with blood. Andre’s stare remained fixated on the creature’s, a fearsome glint flared within as he watched the Ixal’s beady eyes fade until they fell vacant and lifeless.
After a brief pause, Andre slowly withdrew his blade from the beast’s body, causing it to fall limp at his feet.
The sounds of battle and merciless rage fell silent once more as the gentle melodies of nature finally returned to greet the young hyur's ears, sending him home to the real world. The rest of the Ixal must have had also been vanquished, for all that remained to be heard were the beautiful sonnets of the vibrant twelveswood. He gave the fallen a final, momentary glance around him before tilting his head upwards, speaking once more to the forest with a tone that seemed to be mixed with both surprise and acceptance.
Â
“Can not even death taint your beauty?â€
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(“Get up... fightâ€) Andre tried to egg himself on,knowing full well that he stood no chance unless he could climb back to his feet.
Â
(“You’ve taken worse beatings than this, don’t fall to such a pathetic wound at such a crucial momentâ€) his thoughts began to cluster together in a unanimous determination to summon the strength to finish the battle.
Â
(“Fight…â€)
(“Fight…….â€)
Â
The Ixal charged forward towards his crippled foe with a menacing screech, weapon poised forward in attempt to run the hyur through. Andre exhaled sharply in angry desperation as certain death drew closer.
Â
However, a lifeline… a barrier of earth and stone rose abruptly from the ground, shielding Andre from the impending attack and briefly disabling his foe. Conjury… perhaps a Wailer? It mattered not though for the man was still alone and in danger. He had one final chance to bring himself back into this fight or submit to the beast’s wrath.
Â
(“It is now or never…)
Â
Andre continued breathing heavily. The air on that warm and sunny day seemed to suddenly grow cold and painful, stinging his lungs with each breath he stole. He reached deep this time, once again trying to summon the energy to get back to his feet. Could he manage just that much, he felt he would have the ability to continue the fight. It was just that one stepping stone that would power his weakened body enough to continue.
Â
(“Now… get up….â€)
Â
The beast reclaimed its footing, setting his eyes once more on the crouched hyur.
Â
(“Stand up, Andre….â€)
Â
The Ixal lowered its weapon, aiming the tip of the lance once more at him as it began to charge.
Â
-(“Stand up!â€)-
Â
A feminine voice reached him, serving as a final cry of encouragement that rang throughout his head with the same effect as the wails of the Coliseum crowds as he pushed himself slowly, but steadily away from the ground with a strained heave. He barely managed it, but he was finally on his feet once more, offering the creature one final challenge.
Â
The Ixal beast slowed its charge out of caution and instead stopped a short distance from the hyur, replacing its charging attack with a safer, thrusting strike aimed directly for the man’s fragile body. His caution, however, was misguided. Instead, he played directly into Andre’s hand, allowing him to counter the assault more easily.
Still clutching his chest with his left hand, Andre threw the beast’s lance away with a diagonal strike and followed through with the momentum of the swing to deliver a circular slash to the beast’s upper body. He landed the hit, though the wound was not grave. The creature recoiled briefly in pain but was allowed no time to recover. Andre pressed forward striking the beast’s lance repeatedly as it continued parrying his strikes while being forced backwards by Andre’s persistent onslaught.
Not letting up, the young hyur delivered numerous more strikes, continuing to weaken and fatigue his Ixal opponent who struggled to keep up with his rapid and forceful attacks. It was not the most tactful of strategies, but raw force was all he could muster in his current condition.
Â
Finally his efforts saw through. The beast, unable to take another beating, lost its weapon through its now, turned-frail grip. The Ixal’s eyes followed its final line of defence as it slipped free from it’s claws and tumbled into a nearby thicket before returning its hopeless gaze once more to the hyur, just in time, to witness him thrust the final, killing blow through its chest. A pained gargle sounded from the creature’s throat as it’s lungs filled with blood. Andre’s stare remained fixated on the creature’s, a fearsome glint flared within as he watched the Ixal’s beady eyes fade until they fell vacant and lifeless.
After a brief pause, Andre slowly withdrew his blade from the beast’s body, causing it to fall limp at his feet.
The sounds of battle and merciless rage fell silent once more as the gentle melodies of nature finally returned to greet the young hyur's ears, sending him home to the real world. The rest of the Ixal must have had also been vanquished, for all that remained to be heard were the beautiful sonnets of the vibrant twelveswood. He gave the fallen a final, momentary glance around him before tilting his head upwards, speaking once more to the forest with a tone that seemed to be mixed with both surprise and acceptance.
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“Can not even death taint your beauty?â€
Characters: Andre Winter (Hy'ur) / K'nahli Yohko (Miqo'te)