Post by Empyrean on Jun 23, 2015 18:42:47 GMT
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[attr="class","container"]The girl's words solidified it in Empyrean's mind -- there really was no reason to have her around anymore. If that was all she could do, then she ought to get going as soon as she could. But he didn't take her for that kind of person, and if he wasn't the kind of person to just tell her to shove off, either.
There just wasn't much to make a difference in how this would end. The bear had to be some level -- some high level, and that was why Empyrean wanted her to get out. He didn't want anyone to have to die pointlessly. He'd have been fine with it if she could have done more, but he knew from the beginning that he wouldn't approve of her being around.
If there was something that could break this mental lock -- then he'd gladly do it. Which he did. He'd been planning to keep this under wraps for quite some time, but now was the optimal time to do it. He focused on the air in front of him and gripped his sword slightly harder, and the interface system appeared. With a quick tap of his weapon's hilt onto the confirmation button, Empyrean shot up a few levels, though nothing visibly changed.
Then -- he hesitated. Just a moment. It wasn't anything game-changing, and it wasn't very noticeable unless you were looking straight at him at the time. He just stopped moving for a moment, not really thinking, not really doing much of anything.
It would come as a surprise, then, what he did next. He jumped backwards, towards the girl who had buffed him, and raised his sword like he was going to strike her -- only to drop it before his feet had touched the ground, and instead of hitting her, he simply grabbed her arms with both of his free hands. He smoothly ducked under it, stepped to her side, and wrenched forward with all the strength he could muster.
He threw her off the cliff.
Whether or not she'd hate him for it was beyond his knowledge, but he knew there was a very slight ledge below the precipice of the cliff, on which she would be able to take refuge if she fell on it. That's all he wanted to achieve by that.
It doubled as a mental reinforcement. Now that he was alone, he wouldn't have to worry about anything other than what he wanted to achieve -- survival. Because that's what humans are meant to do, that was the right thing to do under any circumstances. Right? Right.
It was without any more hesitation that he once more jumped down the hillside and next to his sword, which he picked up and raised next to his left side while breathing inwards at the same time. There was about five seconds until contact. That was all the time Empyrean needed. This would have to end in just two strikes.
Five. He charged his attack. It was a simple skill that anyone could use, and it wasn't anything special. If charged fully, it would double the damage of his attacks, which was severely needed for what he was going to be fighting.
Four. Would he even be fast enough? There was no assurance that he would be able to strike at the proper time. He made adjustments for this, minor, slight adjustments.
Three. If his hit would even hit, then the damage would have to be equal to or greater than fifty per cent of the enemy's health. Targeting the head would be required for both of the hits he had assured himself he could do.
Two. If he had a better sword -- one that was equivalent to his new level, then maybe this wouldn't be so difficult. Maybe he could get through, maybe he could have gotten through this without having to push away anyone that could help--
One. There wasn't any more time left to think.
Contact. The sword swept from the bottom left of Empyrean's side to the top right. A diagonal slash that had enough energy backing it up to slice through fur, flesh, and bone. The bear's right arm was cut clean in half, right at the elbow, and his jaw had been parted on the right side of his maw.
At the very same time as making contact with the bear's left arm, Empyrean activated the most basic skill he had -- parry.
The system was supposed to take control of him at this point, but he didn't want it to force him into some sort of cheap movement that made him lose all his combat momentum. He was already deflecting the left arm, all he needed was the effects of the skill, not any extra motion. And that's exactly how it happened.
The bear's left arm flew back in the air, behind his head, and the legs keeping it up wobbled. It fell to its knees, momentarily stunned. Whether it was a matter of personality or simple shock -- Empyrean didn't care. As long as it gave him five more seconds to charge, then that was all he needed.
Raising his sword over his head, he stepped over to the bear's side, the side without an arm anymore. Like an executioner with his sword of justice, he aimed it at the back of its neck. The timing had to be precise. So precise that he had to strike, cut through, and decapitate the bear before it had any time to throw a blow of its own at him.
Empyrean pushed downwards and pulled back with all he had. A perfect cutting motion. At least, that's what it seemed to him. He got sprayed with bad odors and blood as he hacked through thick, matted fur and finally flesh -- but even with all the strength he had put into it, it only got halfway through.
The bear wasn't going to let that opportunity slide -- it struck at him with its good, though mangled, arm. It was better than hitting him with a stub of an elbow. The claws cut through Empyrean's cheap, starter-level clothing. This was what he had feared -- a counter. Empyrean wouldn't be able to handle a counter.
Watching his own health drop down a large portion due to his lack of protection, Empyrean bit his lip hard, enough to bleed. Not that he needed to bleed anymore -- his right arm was already mutilated from taking the most of the bear's attack. All he had left was, well -- his left.
There wasn't any time to think. If he could have done so, he would have gladly stopped time and given him time for his head to recuperate. He was getting a headache. But, no, there wasn't any time. It was all he could do to drag himself on his back up the hill, his right arm searing in pain as it limply crossed over the hard, rough stones.
Empyrean had to do something -- anything. His hand made a motion not unlike that of a gun. He watched it with grim amusement. Back in America, didn't they always say the best solution for a bear attack was a .50 caliber round? Something to that effect.
As if he had nothing better to do than to deprecate himself even more while he did his best to make range between him and the bear, Empyrean pointed two fingers at the bear and jokingly made a finger pistol. Even let the hammer fire by pushing his thumb down.
A rush of wind exploded. Pressure expanded from the tip of his finger -- from his hand in general -- and the crack of it made Empyrean's ears ring. He had not shot a gun. But it sure felt like he did.
The bear received a face full of high pressure air. It didn't seem to do much damage, but it did delay its movement quite a bit compared to what it was used to.
He didn't have time to make sense of it. He just repeated the motion, thinking it would be effective. And it was -- once again, a wind bullet was shot at the bear. Empyrean's mana reserves weren't the greatest, but he estimated he could pop shots off all day what with how cheap these wind rounds were.
He kept on moving backwards, and he kept on firing forwards. He changed his targets sometimes -- the bear learned that he should duck his head whenever Empyrean made his gesture, and received a painful reminder of who he was fighting when Empyrean deliberately shot the thing's stump of an arm.
Shooting and shooting and shooting more -- it was all Empyrean could do to attack.
And falling was all that bear could do once Empyrean had shot enough. The thing lurched over and fell onto the ground with a solid pound, the making a boom as it did so. The air around it stilled for a moment, and Empyrean stared at it incredulously. Then it exploded. Into money and experience.
Everything after that came naturally. Empyrean used the healing spell he had received to fix his arm, and picked up his sword. He brushed himself off and tucked some spare bits of cloth into his clothing to at least make it seem like he was in good shape.
As he began to walk down the hill -- he wondered if he should go and see what that girl was up to. Then he realized that he more than likely left her feeling flustered and angry, and that it would be better to leave her alone. After all, he had pushed her away. What right did he have to want to interact anymore? None, most likely.
He walked away, into the forest, and let the sun fully set behind him. There was no more to say.
There just wasn't much to make a difference in how this would end. The bear had to be some level -- some high level, and that was why Empyrean wanted her to get out. He didn't want anyone to have to die pointlessly. He'd have been fine with it if she could have done more, but he knew from the beginning that he wouldn't approve of her being around.
If there was something that could break this mental lock -- then he'd gladly do it. Which he did. He'd been planning to keep this under wraps for quite some time, but now was the optimal time to do it. He focused on the air in front of him and gripped his sword slightly harder, and the interface system appeared. With a quick tap of his weapon's hilt onto the confirmation button, Empyrean shot up a few levels, though nothing visibly changed.
Then -- he hesitated. Just a moment. It wasn't anything game-changing, and it wasn't very noticeable unless you were looking straight at him at the time. He just stopped moving for a moment, not really thinking, not really doing much of anything.
It would come as a surprise, then, what he did next. He jumped backwards, towards the girl who had buffed him, and raised his sword like he was going to strike her -- only to drop it before his feet had touched the ground, and instead of hitting her, he simply grabbed her arms with both of his free hands. He smoothly ducked under it, stepped to her side, and wrenched forward with all the strength he could muster.
He threw her off the cliff.
Whether or not she'd hate him for it was beyond his knowledge, but he knew there was a very slight ledge below the precipice of the cliff, on which she would be able to take refuge if she fell on it. That's all he wanted to achieve by that.
It doubled as a mental reinforcement. Now that he was alone, he wouldn't have to worry about anything other than what he wanted to achieve -- survival. Because that's what humans are meant to do, that was the right thing to do under any circumstances. Right? Right.
It was without any more hesitation that he once more jumped down the hillside and next to his sword, which he picked up and raised next to his left side while breathing inwards at the same time. There was about five seconds until contact. That was all the time Empyrean needed. This would have to end in just two strikes.
Five. He charged his attack. It was a simple skill that anyone could use, and it wasn't anything special. If charged fully, it would double the damage of his attacks, which was severely needed for what he was going to be fighting.
Four. Would he even be fast enough? There was no assurance that he would be able to strike at the proper time. He made adjustments for this, minor, slight adjustments.
Three. If his hit would even hit, then the damage would have to be equal to or greater than fifty per cent of the enemy's health. Targeting the head would be required for both of the hits he had assured himself he could do.
Two. If he had a better sword -- one that was equivalent to his new level, then maybe this wouldn't be so difficult. Maybe he could get through, maybe he could have gotten through this without having to push away anyone that could help--
One. There wasn't any more time left to think.
Contact. The sword swept from the bottom left of Empyrean's side to the top right. A diagonal slash that had enough energy backing it up to slice through fur, flesh, and bone. The bear's right arm was cut clean in half, right at the elbow, and his jaw had been parted on the right side of his maw.
At the very same time as making contact with the bear's left arm, Empyrean activated the most basic skill he had -- parry.
The system was supposed to take control of him at this point, but he didn't want it to force him into some sort of cheap movement that made him lose all his combat momentum. He was already deflecting the left arm, all he needed was the effects of the skill, not any extra motion. And that's exactly how it happened.
The bear's left arm flew back in the air, behind his head, and the legs keeping it up wobbled. It fell to its knees, momentarily stunned. Whether it was a matter of personality or simple shock -- Empyrean didn't care. As long as it gave him five more seconds to charge, then that was all he needed.
Raising his sword over his head, he stepped over to the bear's side, the side without an arm anymore. Like an executioner with his sword of justice, he aimed it at the back of its neck. The timing had to be precise. So precise that he had to strike, cut through, and decapitate the bear before it had any time to throw a blow of its own at him.
Empyrean pushed downwards and pulled back with all he had. A perfect cutting motion. At least, that's what it seemed to him. He got sprayed with bad odors and blood as he hacked through thick, matted fur and finally flesh -- but even with all the strength he had put into it, it only got halfway through.
The bear wasn't going to let that opportunity slide -- it struck at him with its good, though mangled, arm. It was better than hitting him with a stub of an elbow. The claws cut through Empyrean's cheap, starter-level clothing. This was what he had feared -- a counter. Empyrean wouldn't be able to handle a counter.
Watching his own health drop down a large portion due to his lack of protection, Empyrean bit his lip hard, enough to bleed. Not that he needed to bleed anymore -- his right arm was already mutilated from taking the most of the bear's attack. All he had left was, well -- his left.
There wasn't any time to think. If he could have done so, he would have gladly stopped time and given him time for his head to recuperate. He was getting a headache. But, no, there wasn't any time. It was all he could do to drag himself on his back up the hill, his right arm searing in pain as it limply crossed over the hard, rough stones.
Empyrean had to do something -- anything. His hand made a motion not unlike that of a gun. He watched it with grim amusement. Back in America, didn't they always say the best solution for a bear attack was a .50 caliber round? Something to that effect.
As if he had nothing better to do than to deprecate himself even more while he did his best to make range between him and the bear, Empyrean pointed two fingers at the bear and jokingly made a finger pistol. Even let the hammer fire by pushing his thumb down.
A rush of wind exploded. Pressure expanded from the tip of his finger -- from his hand in general -- and the crack of it made Empyrean's ears ring. He had not shot a gun. But it sure felt like he did.
The bear received a face full of high pressure air. It didn't seem to do much damage, but it did delay its movement quite a bit compared to what it was used to.
He didn't have time to make sense of it. He just repeated the motion, thinking it would be effective. And it was -- once again, a wind bullet was shot at the bear. Empyrean's mana reserves weren't the greatest, but he estimated he could pop shots off all day what with how cheap these wind rounds were.
He kept on moving backwards, and he kept on firing forwards. He changed his targets sometimes -- the bear learned that he should duck his head whenever Empyrean made his gesture, and received a painful reminder of who he was fighting when Empyrean deliberately shot the thing's stump of an arm.
Shooting and shooting and shooting more -- it was all Empyrean could do to attack.
And falling was all that bear could do once Empyrean had shot enough. The thing lurched over and fell onto the ground with a solid pound, the making a boom as it did so. The air around it stilled for a moment, and Empyrean stared at it incredulously. Then it exploded. Into money and experience.
Everything after that came naturally. Empyrean used the healing spell he had received to fix his arm, and picked up his sword. He brushed himself off and tucked some spare bits of cloth into his clothing to at least make it seem like he was in good shape.
As he began to walk down the hill -- he wondered if he should go and see what that girl was up to. Then he realized that he more than likely left her feeling flustered and angry, and that it would be better to leave her alone. After all, he had pushed her away. What right did he have to want to interact anymore? None, most likely.
He walked away, into the forest, and let the sun fully set behind him. There was no more to say.
[attr="class","info"]HP99% | MP84% | n/a
[attr="class","info"]WC1635 | brenninstein (blanck mass remix)
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