Roger gave a step forward as his eyes got dyed golden. A strange mark, very similar to an artistic tattoo, spread on his face. Its lines were curved, undulating around the left side of his face in thick lines and a strong golden color, the same color as his eyes. Depending on how you looked at them, it was like someone tried to tattoo flames on his skin.
These tattoos seemed to be alive as they spread at their own will on his face and just stopped when they totally covered half of it.
'I never saw a paladin without armor before. I had no idea about these tattoos. In the end, they don't shift their form as demons do. What's the nature of their power? Why are they on earth? Why are demons walking on earth as well? Are we all humans with different power, or the real deal, coming directly from hell and heavens? Even after two weeks or so, I have a lot of questions.'
Regardless of his doubts, Tobey felt uneasy about those tattoos. There was something... evil about them. But an evil for his kind, for demons. Probably, for a normal human, they would feel like a holy symbol of power.
After the tattoos finished their course and settled, they shone brightly, increasing that Divine Energy that Tobey could feel very well in the air. His entire body shivered and his mind wavered upon feeling the pressure of all that power. Roger definitely was very strong. So strong that Tobey barely could stand in his presence.
As his power continued to rise, the typical armor of the paladins began to materialize on his body. First, the gauntlets, then the shoulder pads, the chest plates, the tights, metal boots, backplates, and finally the helmet.
The paladin's armor wasn't the full plate, heavy medieval armor. Most of them made use of a lighter version of armoring, which maintained their vital spots covered, also as keeping their flexibility. Tobey saw just a few who used the real heavy armors.
'His armor seems like that of a show I saw a long time ago... were they paladins as well?'
[They were knights, man. And the mythology was greek, it is different. And I think this paladin's armor is better than theirs, it protects more spots.]
'Anyway, paladins have a great advantage over demons just for summoning this armor along with their Soul Mirror, right?'
[Not exactly, you never saw demons fighting seriously before. And the only serious fight that ever happened near you was watched for just some seconds before you left. Actually, you can have armor as well. Of course, between us both, I am the only one who knows how to summon.]
'You bastard...' Tobey gritted his teeth, frustrated.
[I am at your disposal, may you need a bit more power and proficiency,] Mask said in a devilish tone.
Leaving him aside once again, Tobey returned to pay attention to Roger's transformation. There was only one thing missing there: his Soul Mirror.
"Be fast as lightning, terrifying as the tempest, and brighter than the sun... Come and pierce the skies, Caelum!"
Suddenly, a clap of thunder was heard and a lightning bolt fell from the heavens in front of Lancelot. From inside that lightning bolt, a spear was forged, lightning tendrils surrounding it and augmenting its power. The spear's cable was white, and its blade had a silver color. The blade of that spear wasn't the type used in medieval western and northern culture, but rather a Chinese spear, with a leaf-shaped and slightly curved blade
Lancelot Yoder, AKA Roger, gave a final step forward and held the spear solemnly. There was no hesitation in his actions, he didn't seem to have any hint of regret in his eyes as he unleashed all his power. He was prepared to do that.
Before, he had put his friendship with Tobey above his duties as a paladin. But now, he was willing to accomplish his main duty, regardless of whether it hurt his feelings or not.
'Sincerely, from all the other paladins that I ever saw, even though they were few compared to how many might have out there, you were the most human. I think that you, paladins, also have to get rid of your humanity when fulfilling your duties, right?'
[And that's why, no matter how long you run away from me, you will never be able to get rid of me. Soon or later, you will need to surrender and give up on the false humanity that you developed within yourself.]
Tobey didn't answer Mask. Not because he was bothered, not because he just wanted to ignore him; actually, he didn't know how to argue with that. By seeing the paladin's actions and the type of person that he would need to become in order to survive, he himself had his doubts about conserving his human side.
With no more hesitation, Tobey concentrated on the core of his heart, feeling a tingling sensation there. Soon, it turned into a burning sensation, as if there was a hot metal plate pressed against it. After some moments of pain only on that spot, his entire body got hotter every second until he felt the changes in his physique.
In a matter of seconds, he had shifted to his true self, his demonic self.
"I don't have a cheesy phrase to summon it as you and your friends do, but, anyway..."
With a flick of his wrist, his Soul Mirror materialized in his hand. The same dagger with a light red blade and black handle.
'I have been trying to get more intimate with this Soul Mirror in the last few days. I also was wondering how to control this Dark Energy. Everything so that I could survive this battle.'
[Could you do that at all?]
'About the mirror thing... well, you will see. But when it comes to Dark Energy, I think I got the hang of it!'
Bruskly, Tobey's body got surrounded by something similar to a cloud of dark smoke. It was wavering around his body in thick lines, going up, then dissipating after getting some meters away from him.
"That's surely a frightening aura, but this Dark Energy isn't even comparable to my Divine Flame. Who do you think I am?" Roger said, preparing his spear as his body also got surrounded by an energy similar to golden flames. Of course, his aura was several times stronger than Tobey's.
'His speed will be way higher than mine. The same goes for his strength. If I don't be careful I might end up doing something wrong and messing up with everything.'
[Be careful. We cannot die here. He is coming!] Mask got Tobey out of his daze, making him prepare himself as Roger seemed about to rush forward.
[Tobey, he wants to end it in one go. He will give his all in this first attack. You are not rapid enough nor strong enough to stop it at all. The level of power of that Soul Mirror alone is way beyond yours.]
'I know it,' Tobey thought, frowning hard and concentrating on the tip of the spear pointed at him.
[If you know it, why are still standing on the same spot, you punk!?] Mask shouted, then noticed the serious face that Tobey had.
After that, he decided to keep quiet and just watch. When Tobey made that kind of solemn expression, he knew exactly what he needed to do. He didn't need someone bothering him. Mask learned it after going through many harsh times with that man.
'Steel your heart, Tobey. Steel your heart! Use your negative feelings in your favor. Use your negative reactions for the sake of your victory.'
His heart was racing as it had never raced before. Now, he was facing death head-on; it was his first real battle against the paladin who had made him hostage just with his imposing aura, not even needing to touch him back then. He felt like a kid fighting against a nightmare.
Roger (Lancelot), thought for a moment about all the things that he needed to go through with Tobey. He pitied the man. He was a good person. He turned into a good human being. But there was something inside him, the demon reigning in his heart, that should be killed no matter what. He could not kill one side without killing the other, unfortunately.
His energy came to a peak, so intense that even the stone roof under his feet was cracking.
Tobey prepared his dagger in front of his body, his pupils contracting as he focused on the tip of Roger's spear. He barely was breathing.
Roger finally stomped the ground... and that was the only action that Tobey could surely notice he doing before his body turned into nothing but lightning bolt crossing the rooftop towards him.
'At this speed, he won't change directions at all. He won't have the time to change the position of his spear either. The same spot he aimed for will be the same one he will hit. That's why I can defend it!'
Once they both collided, a flash of light burst towards the sky, then a sound similar to a clap of thunder echoed.