Order vs. Chaos

[13:42] Amidst the seemingly endless void, the magi's wing illuminated the darkness.

He then looked up to the trio as the tick tock of water dripping somewhere echoed about.

They were figures very familiar to him; eyes darting from Vel, to Neo, then to Karias.

"You've finally decided to hunt."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[13:46] Karias stood there, idly spinning his shive from one finger to another.
His malevolent, sanguine gaze glittered in the darkness, as it scanned his surroundings vigilantly, hoping that someone would pass-by, someone who hails from Huangzhou.

And just when he thought that no one will be coming; Salthiel's wing illuminated the darkness, heralding his arrival.

"Salthiel. How nice of you to come to us." - he spoke, cackling whilst taking a step forward.

He glanced over his shoulder briefly; "He's mine." - he murmured outwards as he propelled himself forward and began to hover towards Salthiel; eventually, positioning himself right in front of him and dissipating his levitation magic. Essentially allowing his massive body to come crashing into the ground with a loud thud. His feet were firmly planted onto the ground as his dominant arm reached out for his serrated blade's hilt.

"Have you come prepared to die?" - he inquired whilst exercising his neck, making a couple of audible cracking sounds with his bone-joints in the process.
(Karias Van Landerge)
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[13:48] He was far from the Neo that Salthiel had last met. It was proof to his saying, in the end he did get the last laugh. As Salthiel would approach he would feel an overwhelming rush of negativity as the chaotic dome that traveled with Neo spread.

Resentment, hate, betrayal, and many other emotions exerted out into the space attacking at the psyche of Salthiel. Neo was completely composed all the while, but his power on the other hand... It was unbound and screaming without him having to waste an ounce of effort.

He didn't even look in Salthiel's direction.

"Selected by the divine, escaping the clutches of my kin, and many other achievements. Yet, you aren't even worthy of my gaze boy. Oh, oh my. Such a sad soul you are."

A chuckle as his wrist is flicked in the direction of the boy. A telekinetic force would lightly brush against the male as the feelings of Neo's emotions grow more powerful. "Ah can't you feel the pressure, child? It hurts, yes I know." The hatred was deep rooted, 37 years of sheer hate with little love, it was something that only monsters and demons could understand.

"I won't even bother, Karias, Vel you can do as you please. I expect him defeated, yes?"
(Neo Invidia)
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[13:50] An amused expression grew on the Invidia's face as Salthiel approached.. It was akin to a rat falling for a trap.

"Oh? More so that you wicked Huangzhou people has finally left their walls.."

Vel couldn't help but laugh at the event which just unfolded before his eyes.. He foolishly wandered here without any comrades or reinforcements.. There was only one fate remaining for this one. Gray pupils shifted from the Anauel to his own comrades..

"Tell me.. How are we doing this, mm? He is one who has escaped from our grasp.. One who betrayed us..

Just what is his fate, chaaahaa!"

Waiting patiently, the answer was soon delivered.

"Will do. Karias, I'll allow you the honors if you do not require assistance.

However.. If he attempts to escape and I'm the only to catch him.. Then unfortunately, he may be mines.."

The Invidia kept cautious about Salthiel's movements..


(Vel Invidia)
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[14:02] "I always am," he said as he tilted his chin upwards, meeting the Landerge's gaze.

However, soon he closed his eyes as corruption seemed to ebb off his thoughts. He slightly turned his head as Neo's chaotic energy invaded his being.

Hatred.

And as he slowly opened up his eyes to look at Neo; the vampire's utterance itself, he knew, it was hubris. It was pride.

Indeed it hurt, yet he took a few deep, controlled breaths as he sought the movement of the lifestream from all the chaotic mess. As Neo forced his will against the lifestream, he felt overwhelming pain. For it was not the nature of things.

"Betrayal is a hefty word," he then told Vel.

"But, it was necessary," added the Anauel as he looked back to Karias, pursing his lips as the vampire's potent force pushed him back.

He then dashed backwards, then stabbing the blunt end of his staff against the ground, as a shockwave pushed outwards; causing the field about them turn heavier.

And with that, he would engage Karias.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[14:26] 'Unleash your anger. Show him your might.'
'Blood--… LET IT RAIN BLOOD!'
'We're stronger. We're better.'
The Emperor, the beast and the sage have spoken. And Karias, merely nodded in response.

"Yes. We're better. - he hushed outwards, to himself, as chaotic, arcane-aligned energies seeped out from the very core of his body. They danced like flames around Karias' form and slowly began to expand outwards.

He, too, wasn't the same. Not after going through his latest 'awakening'. The shackles that bounded him, were no longer. His limits were overcome. His fears were gone. The path he had to walk on, was clearer than ever. The path of an Emperor. The path to complete dominance.

Merged with the trio, they were him, and he was them.

Intimidating, crimson matter began to visibly enshroud his body, along with a touch of venomous substances. It swirled and coiled about his form, however, his gaze seemed to be looking elsewhere. Somewhere, afar. It'd almost seem like he was completely spaced out. Lost in thought, perhaps.

Salthiel, meanwhile, attacked. Releasing a barrage of magical blasts towards the vampire; and yet, he remained motionless. Not moving an inch. Seemingly, still lost in thought.

"Salthiel." - he spoke, calmly, as the previously mentioned blasts still were on their way towards him.

"I sentence you to death." - he proclaimed whilst exerting his strength, cratering the ground beneath him in the process.

His gaze was determined. And with his sheer, chaotic will he caused ripples in the very lifestream.

--
Amoment before the magical blasts had collided with Karias' body; he disappeared, seemingly vanishing out of existence. Just to re-appear right beside Saltheil, a moment afterwards. His serrated blade, already brandished with an immeasurable amount of force behind it. The wind generated by the said swing alone was enough to send Salthiel flying across the field.

It was on.


(Karias Van Landerge)
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[14:38] "Chaos," he said, furrowing his eyebrows as golden wings of light carried him above. Within the cave, he was akin to the morning sun.

Unlike Karias, his being, through the Emperor's blessing, emanated order aligned energy. And in the form of wings did they materialize.

Golden eyes burned so bright as he stared the vampire down, before raining down upon him blasts of magic and piercing, feathers of light.

However, the Landerge declared him death despite the oncoming attacks; thus, he froze as chaotic energy forced themselves to him.

And with that, he disappeared, only to appear and cast upon a blow so powerful. The magi only managed to block it in time, however, he was still sent flying away.

In order to stop himself from crashing against the wall, he stabbed his fingers covered with golden gauntlet against the ground, skidding as he did; leaving trails behind.

He then stood up from a kneel, wiping blood off his lips as he spun his staff around; walking slowly to Karias' direction ever so calm.

It was on.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[14:53] As he walked, potent mana flared about him before pointing his staff to the right.

And with that, his movements became faster before dashing forward. Albeit not as fast as the vampire, it gave him enough time to get close and cast his spells.

It wasn't easy, however, as both exchanged blows and magic. Added by the fact that Karias forcibly ripping the lifestream causes him to lose sight of it; thus, akin to losing a lighthouse, he would find himself harmed.

Karias pushed forward, asserting his superior speed and strength. In response, however, the Anauel pushed his arm forward and the vampire felt his body turn slower and heavier.

And with that, Salthiel vanished, seemingly from existence before appearing right in front of Karias; mask only an inch away as he stared against those dreadful, crimson eyes.

Salthiel's staff, however, was already prepared to pierce through the Landerge's chest. Enforced with magic, he was blown away.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[15:02] Swift combat ensued. The two exchanged blows as the surrounding area quite literally quaked due to their sheer force.

Chaos vs Order. Since the beginning of times, these two were pitted against each other, and now, it wasn't any different.

While Karias was definitely superior in terms of speed and sheer strength, Salthiel was able to keep up due to his efficient usage of magic.

Anauel's arm was extended outwards, yet, Karias paid it no mind at first, although his body gradually began to feel somewhat heavier, and his movements became slower, sluggish and amateurish.

Before the vampire had realized that he was dancing right in the palm of Salthiel, he was met with a powerful, magic-imbued attack that connected with his chest, blowing him away in the process.

His body skidded haphazardly as a force somewhat akin to a telekinetic one cushioned his impact with the ground every now and then, to some extent - until he managed to regain his footing.

He brought his blade up and prepared for one last clash which would decide the outcome of this bout.


(Karias Van Landerge)
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[15:07] ** Karias Van Landerge has inflicted an injury upon Salthiel Anauel. ("Permanent Injury", "Permanent Injury", "Permanent", "Severity: MODERATE (-20 Vit)") **

[15:33] Karias lunged forward whilst swinging his blade at Salthiel. Five times. Ten times. The speed was simply astonishing.

The serrated edge of the blade caught skin and flesh, and it ripped and tore, both, alike. Crimson liquids spurted out from Salthiel's bleeding wounds and stained the green grass with blood-red.

Karias' onslaught went on. One moment, he was gone, and a moment later, he was upon Salthiel yet again, with his blade brandished, threatening and deadly.

Very much like Salthiel's own magic trick that he used on Karias, every time that he was wounded by Karias' blade, he'd feel his body gradually growing heavier, and weaker.
While at first it was just barely noticeable, after a good while, it took its toll on Salthiel's performance, though.

If up until now Salthiel was just barely keeping up with Karias, due to their difference in sheer, physical strength and speed, now he'd have even more troublekeeping up. His magic, along with his body, naturally became weaker and sloppier. It was simply a matter of time. The toxin which Karias' blade was coated in had already found its way into Salthiel's system, into his bloodstream.

'That's it.'
'Devour him.'
'Finish him.'

Voices resonated throughout his eardrums as he charged with his serrated edge pointed towards Salthiel. He moved swiftly, and propelled himself even further ahead with his own twisted version of 'gravity magic', and at last, he had reached his destination.

Poisonous substances swirled about and formed a spinning ball-like form at the edge of Karias' blade as he thrusted it forward, right towards Salthiel.

'Annihilate him.'
'MURDER HIM.'
"Kill him.'

"Planetary Erosion." - he murmured outwards as the ball of poison collided and grinded into Salthiel's chest, propelling him along with the attack's trajectory, and eventually away from Karias, causing severe damage in the process as well as injecting even more poison into Anauel's body.

And with that, he was sent flying.
Poisonous miasma and dust arised due to the powerful impact, somewhat blocking Karias' line of sight in the process.

"Damn-.." - he grunted whilst swinging his blade and creating a powerful gale which cleared the surrounding area of dust or poisonous mist-like substance - however, by the time he did that, Salthiel was already gone.

(Karias Van Landerge)
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[15:46] When against a vampire, one should never lose focus.

However, despite his hardest, he was slowly pushed back; as the poison from Karias' serrated blade continuously brushed and wounded him.

His body turned slugging, causing him to miss many of his spells, and his mind seemed to falter. As a result, his reaction time dwindled, reducing his effectiveness to combat.

And with that, he also propelled himself forward in a final, desperate attempt to meet Karias.

He gritted his teeth as the vampire's blade grinded against his chest, and his staff missing its target- the vampire's neck.

Due to the impact of the blow, and the miasma that arose, he took the chance to escape.

Akin to a ghost that seemed not to be there in the first place, the magi simply vanished.
(Salthiel Anauel)