Taniwha's voice was strangled as he shouted for Heizenburg. The ghoul's hand squeezed tighter around his throat, its grip cold and unyielding, dragging the life from him with each second. His vision blurred, but in the periphery, he could just make out the figure of Heizenburg turning towards him from the rooftop. The ghoul sneered, yanking Taniwha backward as it landed gracefully back onto the previous roof. His feet dangled above the ground, and he clawed desperately at the creature's iron grip, but the ghoul was much too strong. His arms began to lose strength, limbs going limp from the paralysis creeping through him again.
"HOLD ON" Heizenburg yelled.
Unable to breathe, Taniwha's thoughts blurred as the darkness edged closer. He heard the ghoul snarl, its guttural voice reverberating through his chest as it growled something in a language he couldn't understand. In the moonlight, Taniwha could see its claws gleam as they were raised for a fatal blow.
The blade came down in an arc of silver, slicing deep into the ghoul's shoulder. Black, tar-like blood sprayed as the creature roared, dropping Taniwha to the ground. He landed on the street below with a thud, gasping for air as his vision cleared. Heizenburg stood there, steadying his breath, as he raised his blade.
"It's you and me now f*cker"
The ghoul, though grievously wounded, smiled. The wound Heizenburg had made slowly began to heal in front of his eyes. With its injury healing, it lashed out with its claws, slashing across Heizenburg's chest. Staggering back, Heizenburg felt the paralysis beginning to take effect.
"Dammit" Heizenburg grunted.
Heizenburg pressed the attack, blade raised again he sliced and the monster. However since the paralysis had begun setting in, his attack was weak and slow. The ghoul easily deflected the blade to the side, it reached out towards Heizenburg. Its claws aiming to finally take the kill.
The sound of an arrow was heard and the ghoul yelled out in pain once again. It turned to see on the the neighboring roof was Venerem, bow in hand. The ghoul screamed once again, planning on taking one last kill. But as a hunter it made a fatal mistake, it had turned its back on its prey.
"DIE YOU B*TCH"
With the last of his feeling leaving him, the blade connected with the ghoul's back, sinking deep into its spine. The creature froze mid-strike, a horrible, gurgling sound escaping its throat. It tried to turn, to retaliate, but its body wouldn't respond. Now sensing danger, the ghoul let out a primordial scream. However it was cut short as Venerems blade quickly decapitated the beast.
"You alright?" Venerem grunted, offering Heizenburg a hand.
Heizenburg took it, pulling himself up. His chest screamed in pain, but he forced himself to stand. "I've been better."
Still slow from the poison, he limped towards the twitching body.
"Persistent b*stards, aren't they?"
Venerem nodded, his gaze drifting to the dark horizon. He knew night was far from over. Together, they found their way back to the streets and recovered Taniwha.
"How is he?" Heizenburg asked.
"He's alive, thank the gods, but he will be out for a bit."
As they carried his body back to the inn, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the city. It wasn't just one ghoul. The air was thick with the scent of death, and the night was only getting darker.