Warriors from both sides leapt up into the frosted skies. Murder lingered like a sickly melody on the back of everyone's throats.
Suth brought down her axe as hard as she could. Catching Vernair by surprise. He fell on one knee, before quickly recovering.
In response, Suth tried to swipe from the right. Vernair lifted his forearm and stopped the advancing blade, his hand wrapped Suth's arm in a tight grip.
He pulled her in, causing her forehead to strike the crown of his head. Suth's head retreated, but not before Vernair pulled her in for another attack.
She flew over his shoulder, landing on the snow beneath. Inviting Vernair to continue the fight on the ground.
Now, weapons became difficult to use. Only powerful striking and strategic defenses played an important role.
Vernair forced Suth onto her stomach, allowing both arms to wrap around her and squeeze the air out her lungs. She desperately tried to fight back against it, but couldn't.
Courage and adrenaline took over her mind and body. Making the battle equal. Suth began shaking Vernair off, only to realize he was tight on her back.
Utilizing his left hand, Vernair began delivering strikes to her face. Hit after hit, she began feeling the numbness of slowly slipping into an usually deadly slumber.
Her heart began to beat faster. She knew something similar to this happened to Quill. The family legacy had to live on, she could not fall. Not until Frosticus was in someone else's hands.
As the punishment continued, Suth began building up the strength needed to escape. Using both hands, she began ripping away the right arm off her body.
Vernair wrapped his legs around her waist, trying to keep her pinned down. But unknowingly revealing a soft spot for her to attack.
To return the favor, Suth delivered a devastating elbow to Vernair's ribs. Forcing him to shut his upper body in hopes of focusing on pinning her in place and protecting himself.
Which got his head into a perfection position for a well placed second elbow. Dazing him for a brief moment. Suth escaped from snake-like death-grip Vernair held her inside.
She got back onto her feet and brought her axe into frame. Making sure it was ready to cut through armor and bone.
Catching her off guard when Vernair tackled her once again. Unlike last time, this time they landed in a position that favored her.
Suth held Vernair on top of her knees, keeping the elite a somewhat safe distance away from her body. He tried to fight her legs down, but was forced back after she thrust her foot onto his stomach.
Forcing him off. Realizing Suth was expecting to get taken down a second time, Vernair decided to change his methods.
He got up, spiked short-sword in hand. Its jagged teeth ran up the blade like thorns on a rose bush. Vernair swung the lightweight weapon as hard as he could to the side of Suth's head.
Just as the weapon came into contact with her, Suth pushed the hand away. Knocking the rest of the blade out of the way. Before Vernair could fix the mistake, Suth grabbed her axe.
With one fast motion, she swiped the weapon quick enough to throw Vernair off his balance. Sending the elite crashing down against the pact snow.
Knowing this was his territory, Suth got up. She traded a risky fist fight with an elite who trained under the Code of the Faceless for a much safer strategy.
Instead of using her arms, she began kicking and stomping Vernair's body. With every kick she landed, Vernair could feel the hatred in her movements.
Not wanting to withstand anymore kicks, he caught her foot. Before pulling it closer to him and sending her off balance.
Suth collapsed onto the ground. Her instincts instantly told her she had to get back up in order to regain her advantage. But the enraged Vernair shut down that thought.
He began pulling her closer to him. Realizing she had a more favorable position, Suth willingly got closer until she had the option to lock Vernair's neck between both of her shins.
When she did, he felt the death trap go off around him. Now being stuck in a difficult position, she began to unleash a furious barrage of powerful hits meant to hurt.
Strength began fleeing from his battle forged body. It felt like a spit to the face. That feeling kept Vernair awake. He wanted to survive this encounter with the Infinus Legion.
Anger began raising deep inside his mind. Bringing him the strength to force open her legs and jump up to greet her.
Vernair brought down the blade of his weapon onto her face. Suth protested by putting her arms over her face and struggling under the power Vernair had.
During that moment of struggle and pain, Suth knew she was redeeming herself. All that was left was to survive. And that, she had her eyes on.
She allowed the tip of the blade to dig into the ground beside her, before grabbing Vernair by the head and bringing it in to headbutt.
He tried to shake off the first hit. But was surprised to feel another, and another, and another. Until he realized Suth was using her sturdy head as a tool to fight him off.
Blood plastered the inside of Vernair's helmet. Painting it in a crimson color he feared. Not because of its meaning, but because it came from his own body.
On the final headbutt, Suth readjusted her hands by placing them on his shoulders. She placed one knee on Vernair's stomach and then pulled.
The Light elite fell on the ground behind her. Allowing her to get up from the powdered ground. Her battle-axe weighed heavily on her hands as she brought it over her head.
Vernair lifted up his arms over his head to protect himself from the incoming attack. But when the blade came down, both arms were severed and the cranium effortlessly cracked in half.
Murderous metal effortlessly cut his brain in half. Putting an end to an elite's life for good. Suth dropped to her knees, she was exhausted from the fight.
Her shoulders relaxed as the Infinus forces began pushing deeper into the place she swore to protect and nurse. While the damage could not be repaired, her failure to keep her once great Legion safe from the Light Legion's grasp has been forgiven.
Not long after, she collapsed to the floor. Helmet had a clear opening to the outside world. She watched the legs of marching warriors march past her. While listening to their stomps.
Digon roared to life as its owners came back home. To bring a mountain back to its former glory.
***
"...do you not know what happened? Nothing around to suggest a simple theory?" A voice echoed.
"Well, I was cheerfully walking back to safety when someone said, 'hey bring her away!' In my mind I was like, 'oh shut up.' But then I realized who it was," an active voice replied.
The first voice sighed before ushering something to someone else. Footsteps walked away from Suth before fading away.
"Alright. Now that you sent your little helper away. Yeah, she passed out because of something, something. I don't know. Exhaustion, I think," the second voice added.
"Such an immature little f- "
"Ah, ah, ah," the second voice laughed. "Remember. I was the one flying through the skies today, not you."
Suth opened her eyes. She realized she was still inside her armor. The early dawn rays have began kissing the lonely mountain.
Thick overhead trees captured sunlight before it could reach her. Letting Suth get used to the low amount of light before going back to normal.
"What does that have to do with anything?" The first voice asked.
Risk shrugged. "I don't know, actually."
Her helmet moved to mimic her head. Gentle metal scraping quietly hummed as she began retaking control of her body.
Digon welcomed her with a powerful gust of arctic wind. Freezing her down to very core, edging her closer to absolute zero. Breathing and heartbeats slowed down, calming herself enough to recount the events that transpired.
The alpha and elite noticed her moving. Risk instantly walked up to her, making sure to walk slower and slower to not frighten her.
When he was over her, his hand fastened around the helmet. A twist and a soft click. The helmet came off.
She looked around them. More warriors rested beside trees. Makeshift casts made from armor plates and wraps decorated most of them. While others only slumped over, catching rest.
"I - is Digon ours, now?" Suth asked.
Risk lowered himself. "No, it's mine. From this day forward Digon is a myth and Risk's Adventurous Mountain of Adventure is its new name."
He laughed with himself. "Nah, nah. Just joking. We lost."
Suth shot up from her seat. She tried to get to the edge of Green Jaw to peek up at Digon. Hoping to see Infinus banners waving in the skies.
"Calm down. It was only a joke. We won. Although you and I didn't win in terms of seeing the fight your side-kick put up. I'm happy she'll be naming her kids after me!" Risk added.
"What fight?" Suth's voice trailed off.