dev 2 - embracing fears

Once more do the forces of Dawn and Baudkengrad meet on the field of battle. Vampires take their place on their home turf to repel the advancing marches of undead lead by Arthur. Tension and malice fills the air as the two opposing armies meet in the center of their battlefield, and it takes mere moments for the fighting to begin.

Lucien vs Arthur
Bei Bei vs Corinth
Morrana vs Ross
Ithaca vs Neo
Yadongic vs Farin

Again and again, the ceaseless fighting between him and the Vampires continued- while the rest of Agartha sat in peace and warmth, Arthur was keen on continuing the assault against the Undead creatures up north for as much as even possible. Even if it would cost him his dreams.

The moment two sides clashed, Adjudicator easily dispatched any non-magi Servant that would come his way- two scarlets beneath the mask's shade were looking for naught but a single target on the whole battlefield, someone whom he could not face the last time.

Lucien.

Accompanied by Undead bodyguards, the man at last met his opposition. Staff drawn, the clouds roaring in the threat of unleashing their Storm, and the electricity swarming Arthur with each step he makes. As expressionless as he was, thanks to the mask, beneath the skin there was the thrill, the mix of adrenaline that his heart pumped, the feeling of his life being on the line.

Badum, badum, badum.

"I knew I'd find you here. I knew that we would still clash our weapons."

Rising above the ground just slightly, Arthur drew a sharp inhale; he steeled his mind, his soul and his body for what's to come. He knew this fight wasn't going to be easy.

But that just makes it more exciting, doesn't it?

"Are you prepared for this?"

A single word, but without much waiting, it's already clear he was going to attack. Mere seconds before the two fight.
(Arthur Rowan)

The wave of dread and death is practically palpable from Lucien's force. In an instant does he take to the battlefield, splaying blood and gore about as if it were so easy. A flick of his hand sends his massive sword forth, held aloft in a single hand.

Of course, there was only a single target that Lucien truly ever strived for. The moment his eyes level upon the mask of Arthur Rowan, his grin turns almost psychotic, his eyes murderous and his stance feral. He exhales, slowly, a mist of green venom ebbing slowly from the back of his throat.

"Arthur, Lover, it has been.. Far, far too long. What kept you, dear? I have been expecting you for.. Quite some time now." He laughs, aloud, body slowly rolling and twisting as if he were stretching out his limbs. The sword gleams brightly against the snow, intermingling with the dull crimson aura that surrounds him.

That very aura which slowly begins to crackle and burn more brightly, which flares outwards and upwards. While the normal aura he maintains is simply a dull crimson, this appears to almost be the color of fresh blood from a wound, burning and rising upwards to the skies. His very presence seems wicked and horrid, the nearby area bathed in a sanguine glow.

"I've.. Got a new surprise for you, you know. My ascendance. You are the second to see me at this full power. A gift. You should be honored, King. Now, do be a good boy and don't die in this fight. Such a boring death would not be fitting of this.. Calibre of show, yes?"

It seems he's barely restrained himself, his entirety barely able to stop from lurching forwards. Seems he's waiting for Arthur to move first..
(Lucien Voss)

Powerful and fast- The same kind of powerful that Lucien has always been, but almost amplified tenfold. The burning crimson that surrounds Voss is omnipresent, even in the times where Lucien seemingly just disappears amongst the shadows of the trees. His blade crashes into the bones of his bodyguards, completely barreling through them like a maddened animal just to strike upon Rowan.

Time and time again does this process repeat. Often times it seems that Lucien aims for a bite, though no flesh is immediately able to reach. It is not matter to him, as just as quickly as it seemed he was aiming to bite down into him, he shifts and collides his sword against armor.

It is brutal and vicious, but to an extent that even Lucien had not been at for some time. There's a moment where it almost seems that Voss has a mortal blow- And instead, the blunt edge of Sorrow's Aria crashes into Arthur's chest, sending him flying backwards as Lucien lands upon his feet.

He says no words, as his gaze expresses all the intent it needs. A murderous, bloodthirsty stare that sends horrific intent towards the Adjudicator. A singular and obvious warning and a threat, or perhaps an invitation?

'Come get me. I'm right here. Just try to kill me.'
(Lucien Voss)

It's almost expected.

The overwhelming brute strength and speed of Vampires has been often underestimated, but even while Arthur knew it well, he still could not anticipate just what would grip him here and then- it's the power that was able to get past his bodyguards without any issue whatsoever, it's the strength that he kept trying to get away from, all to make sure he does not get struck.

But that doesn't succeed.

A blunt hit with the blade, and he's sent flying backwards, tumbling and clutching his chest- for a moment, it seems that the crimson pools out from beneath his mask, a clear sign that blood is spilling from his mouth, and yet it's held back. The warm liquid only meets the mask's inside, responded with a cough.

His heart is pounding, his mind is almost telling him to run, but yet- there's something else that forces him to stand his ground, still, the compelling power from elsewhere that caused him to prevail against Corinth.

'Do not dare run.'
'Fight until your body can't move a muscle.'
'Get a grip of yourself. You're not like this.'

Although his stance seemed weakened just a moment ago, it seems re-invigorated. Without any words, the Undead bodyguards are empowered to rise again and protect him.

Until their final limit.
(Arthur Rowan)

Perhaps the Adjudicator simply was not expecting the sheer ferocity that Lucien now had on display. His entire form BURNS with hatred and malice, moving through the trees and the snowy banks with vigor and speed. Powerful swipes of his sword crash again and again into Rowan, likewise rending apart his skeletal bodyguards with reckless abandon.

He practically crashes into Arthur with his shoulder, the crimson eruption that makes up his aura splashing about blood to the nearby area. Of course, a vampire and a blood mage had long since covered the battlefield in a horrid slurry of blood, sanguine scarlet covering both of them long before the fight ended.

The tackle is enough to cause his opponent to fall back for a moment, though perhaps not off of his feet- Unfortunately, that situation wouldn't be found out. Instead, Lucien strikes once more from the side. And then again. And again. Voss crashes forth at unheard of speeds, striking into unguarded or undefended points upon the Adjudicator with every blow.

And then, flesh enough is exposed for Lucien to sink his teeth into.

Unlike normal bites, this one is horrendous. Fingertips, long since carved out to be akin to claws, rip and tear through flesh as Voss sinks his poisonous fangs deep into his flesh. He pulls a massive chunk of flesh outwards, a boot coming to kick Arthur aside, hands covering his lips as he feasts upon the flesh he had pulled out.

From his new position, one could see that Lucien, in this state, was not a mere human or vampire. Blood drips from his mouth, covering the already bloodied snow, hissing out breaths that mist the air with poison and blood and gore. His eyes focused upon his food, much more akin to a wild animal than anything else. He almost seems feral, almost lost to the world.

Bested, now would be the only time that Arthur would have to escape before the Vampire once more turned upon him.
(Lucien Voss)

Such a shame.

How come he was able to achieve so many great things, to change how the things of this world work, to mend and repair what gods could not, but lose like this? To fail and fall so badly when it comes to dealing with a Vampire- perhaps the strongest there is- but still fail.

He was meant to be a beacon, a symbol of humanity's rise. What would it mean if he's beaten?

Strike after strike, push after push, slice after slice, and Adjudicator's defence was drastically weakened as time went on; the spill of crimson around them was horrendously large, and perhaps if it wasn't for his affinity to the blood, he would simply bleed out to death already, but... he still stood.

He still took his hits, one after another.

But then, there's something worse; the weakness in him, the strength and speed that Lucien displayed, it all piled up to allow this to happen, and the flesh from him is ripped out for the Vampire to feast on- his eyes widen beneath the mask, two round scarlets gazing in shock from the pain and bloodloss, grasping at the wound. The darkness fills his vision, an embrace of cold death awaiting, and yet--

-- something pounds inside his mind, something that refuses to let him die here.

'NO!'
'Get up. NOW!'
'LEAVE!'

He falls on his back, but his gaze points elsewhere, to a faraway rock; his body almost refuses to move, each and every inch of his muscles protesting with overwhelming pain to an attempt to survive, rather than die here, but he makes it.

In a moment, he disappears, leaving naught but a crimson pool to where he was defeated.
(Arthur Rowan)

The attacking undead force is fierce, striking down and besting several Vampires- But ultimately, on their home turf, Lucien and his kin prove to be ultimately too much to handle. They strike hard and fast, but when the smoke clears and they're forced to retreat, a certain Neries girl is missing from their ranks..

Lucien vs Arthur [VAMP]
Bei Bei vs Corinth [DAWN]
Morrana vs Ross [VAMP, CAP]
Ithaca vs Neo [DAWN]
Yadongic vs Farin [VAMP]

Vampires 3 - Dawn 2