An immense aura was swirling around Marcus as he lept down. When he hit the ground a powerful shockwave separated the two forces. Seeing him on the battlefield all the other vampires took a step back.
Marcus walked forward towards Zack as Ren prepared to engage. She could feel the man's threatening aura but didn't back down. Zack raised his hand stopping her as he went forward. All the soldiers retreated forming a line as did the vampires.
"Who are you to decide my vengeance is complete. It's not done till every soldier of this city dies." Marcus stated with immense killing intent.
"You've taken plenty of lives, and those responsible for the act have suffered already. I know firsthand that this place is flawed, but they were trying to improve. These soldiers were at the outpost and had nothing to do with it. Those families inside don't deserve this either." Zack replied.
"Talking is pointless," Marcus declared as he charged in.
The dragon went forward to strike, but Marcus extended his hand halting it. Marcus spent five hundred years mastering the ways of magic, and mystic arts of his people. The dragon couldn't move forward but opened its mouth preparing to spew fire.
Marcus squeezed his hand clenching its mouth shut and the fire continued to swell inside till it exploded from within. As the rubble, and flames erupted Marcus shifted into a mist to avoid damage. Marcus reappeared charging forward with immense speeds.
Zack could still see his movements enough to read his attacks. Marcus appeared next to him swiping for his throat. Zack ducked it and attempted to sweep his leg. Marcus jumped into the air aiming a powerful kick for his head, but Zack raised his arm blocking it.
The impact caused Zack to slide in the dirt, but his arm was sore from the force. Zack launched a fireball for his chest, but it was tossed away. The flames only put minor scorch marks on the palm of Marcus's hand.
"You're indeed adept in magic, but it's gonna take stronger spells than that." Marcus taunted.
Marcus called forth spikes from the ground attempting to cripple his target. While Zack dodged it Marcus swept by cutting him across the cheek. Zack retaliated by creating a refined shockwave between his hands before launching it forward and it sent Marcus rocketing into the wall.
The pools of blood around Zack began to bubble as daggers launched from it. One of them pierced Zack's shoulder, but he managed to evade the rest. The weapon was strong enough to pierce his armor, and it was digging further into his body.
Zack ripped it out as the armor began to seal up. The cost of mana was indeed taxing to fix the armor. Before he could recover Marcus was already back in his face as they continued to clash. As the two exchanged blows the earth was crumbling around them, and all the bystanders were forced back by the waves of power radiating from their collisions.
Ren was fascinated by the battle in front of her. This was the first time she has seen Zack fight seriously. Ren trained with him before but never saw him exude this much strength. The vampires also shared her fascination.
Marcus was in the top five of all vampires across the land. For one human to match his strength was unheard of. Even Aleister feared him, and it's why he agreed to leave the civilians alone.
"How can a human fight on par with him?"
"That chill that's running down my spine couldn't be from a human."
"If he isn't human then why is he fighting for them?"
The two continued to clash as blows landed on them both. Realizing how powerful Marcus was he had no choice but to use his mana blade. A deep slash went across Marcus's chest as he lept back launching a barrage of thunderbolts from his fingers.
Zack slammed his forearms together enveloping himself with layers of earth. The lightning began to chip away at the earth as Marcus intensified it. The barrier was regenerating itself, and it started to irritate Marcus. Marcus's wounds slowly closed up as he prepared a massive blast from the clouds above. As he was gathering energy Zack popped up behind him from the earth.
Zack swung for an arm, but Marcus spun around swinging his claw. The attack was aimed at Zack's head, and as he leaned back to dodge it cut across his forehead. Zack called forth a condensed blast of wind striking his chest. While he was flying back Marcus extended his hand as scarlet magic flowed around Zack.
Zack could feel something strange in his body as blood began to flow out slowly. His body began to feel weakened as something attacked him from within. Zack calmed himself sensing the cause and could feel traces of Marcus's magic inside.
To do this much bloodletting from a shallow wound would require blood magic. Zack studied blood magic before and knew the dangers of it. Without experience in manipulating it, Zack could make it worse leaving him only one option.
Zack's eyes went gold circulating his grace rapidly through his body as he purified the foul magic. The blood halted falling to the dirt and seeing this puzzled Marcus. Only a handful of people in his long life was able to stop his technique. The gold eyes staring at him was also something new.
Before Marcus could process what happened Zack was in front of him. Marcus was about to attack when a powerful blow hit his diaphragm. Blood spewed from his mouth as he flew back. Marcus reached up calling down a massive thunderbolt.
Zack raised his hand before it struck him to block the attack. The impact raised thick dust, and when it cleared everyone was speechless. Zack held in his hand a concentrated force of lightning. Placing both his hands together the lightning dissipated. Zack approached Marcus as he struggled to think of a counter.
'Magic isn't effective unless I surprise him, and no way I can match that strength in this condition.'
The ritual Marcus performed early cost him a lot of his stamina, and Zack was not an opponent he could take at half power. Zack raised his hand pointing it at him gathering holy energy, and then Lauren popped in his head.
Zack recalled the feeling of her growing cold in his arms, and how he viewed the world after. If faced with her killer he surely would do the same. With this in mind, his hand slowly lowered.
"Someone killed the woman I love a few years ago. When it happened I didn't care if the world ended and I wanted someone to hurt for it. I know your pain, and your anger is justified, but if I don't stop you others will come. Even if you defeat them they will send more, and their desire for the land will outweigh the guilt of sending men to their deaths. After the city was taken back you could still flee, and survive the fight. The result would still be a war just between the humans for the spoils. This would engulf the land in conflict, and hurt those trying to live in peace. It could even lead to another dark age, and everyone would suffer. That includes the people you care about that are still here." Zack declared while walking forward.
Marcus saw the sorrow in Zack's face when he spoke of the war, and he could tell the words were sincere. He knew the cost of a dark age, and the effect it would have on his people. Marcus could tell from Zack's strength, and eyes he wasn't human. Then he looked over at his companions. The only humans around Zack were the people he saved. While pondering his words Arthur appeared on the wall.
"It's the princess!" A soldier shouted pointing to the wall.