The Keepers of Chaos: A Vault of Hell

Herod Westwood: CXLVI

Champion: CXLVI

"NOoOOO!" Herod screamed. He dropped his body over the edge of the cliff, staring down at Markos. For once he saw a twisted mixture of fear and pain in his friend's face. "Markos!" He could- Markos couldn't-

*SPLCRACCKKAT*

"..." His lips trembled. Markos hit the stone pavement below them. He clenched his eyes shut, finally taking a peek over the edge. A twisted mangled form, with a pale complexion, staring up at the ceiling. Bits of white bone were littered about the ground below, some of them connected to soft pink flesh covered in blood. Around the half-elf's head was a halo of blood resembling a crown painting the floor a bright red color. Herod searched, begging the gods to find some semblance of life. It wasn't meant to be. His eyes met dull grey sea green ones utterly devoid of life and filled with fear. Markos lay in a pool of his own blood. His brains smashed in, decorating the dirt with his caved skull fragments.

"Comrade!" He heard a voice scream behind him. Explosions echoed at his back his ears were filled with a ringing rage. Markos was dead. "Comrade please!"

'Herod he's behind you!'

"Caligo gradus.." His body folded into mist, He spun around appearing behind Victoro, his vision was blurry and his head was filled with bloody rage. "Puderis cornibus arboreis crimen!" An enormous hoof of energy exploded from the air crashing down on Victoro with green fury. Herod hit the ground delivering a rapid strike, while the lord swatted aside a spell being flung from Alekzandr. "VICTORO YOU BASTARD!" He roared, his blood was pounding in his ears, suddenly everything around him seemed small and dim nothing mattered. Markos.. Markos.. Fuck! He spun around, meeting the Lord's eyes mid-swing. "Contere sgrios quae càil cunnus!" Vulity ignited not in fire but a shattering swirling tornado spinning around his sword.

*Shiv-BOOM*

The two blades met, a shockwave pushed out from the joined pair. "Impressive. A shatter incantation combined with a booming blade and eldritch blast all fired at once? I didn't know a sad warlock as yourself could manage such a combination of magic." Victoro smiled humorously at him. The lord's face was matted with dirt, and covered in scratches. Clearly, Markos had done more than this monster wanted to let on. This wasnt right.. This.. he held back tears. No one else. No more! No more! he felt the itch in his brain, the hatred and anger, he would let no one else he cared for die! His mind flashed to his own childhood, to the death sentence he'd beaten, to Ant'tran and more. Death in all its forms, he would conquer it. 

Steadily meeting the priest's eyes Herod felt a fire ignite in his stomach. "That.. was a mistake." He growled, leaning into the hold.

"Why?!" Victoro cackled, Herod was shoved back, suddenly the strength this man had was too much to handle. 'Get in close.. And beat him to death!' He thought. The rapier was pulled back under the Lord's arm before it was shoved forward with blinding speed. "Do you have no one else left to die for you?"

"Ag!" He yelled swatting it aside the lord reposted instantly Herod rolled to dodge another attack but was soundly reposted over and over. "No..." He growled. "Because now I have no reason to hold back.." Every attack he attempted to get in manually would be rebuffed, his feet were faster, his power clearly on match, but his skill. He knew deep down his skill was for some odd reason, no contest. Victoro swung his sword like it was an extension of his arm.

'You can't beat him in swordsmanship!' Vulity protested. He ignored the teal fox.

"Vulity Mor irrumabo ceriorem, ventus!" Herod swung his sword delivering another holy eldritch blast. "Grace, Pluet in lìonadh caelo buille!" the sky opened with a hailstorm of vines and ice shards. His breaths were rapid and his was face twisted in anger he knew that. Victoro looked calm, but his eyes were clearly upset. This ritual needed to be completed. Soon. The Lord instantly pushed his sword against the teal blast knocking it away. That was possible? Herod lunged to the left in an attempt to avoid another strike, it was too late. Cold steel met his leg drawing blood like a leech. "A-" he bit his tongue to avoid crying out, no. This wasnt the time! Blast continued to sail from his left, Alekzandr never refusing to give up even while Victoro blocked them with his cane. He turned his pain into power rolling onto his back to avoid a second blow. "Inern Puderis-" He started.