Etto hissed, rising to his feet, his body shifting and changing as though he were wrapped from head to toe in black snakes with metallic scales.
"You two need to leave here, now!" Alabaun struggled to shout.
"You've seen better days, old man. I think we can handle some low class assassin." Nillan spoke.
"You don't get it.. he casted an Oath of Damnation!"
Nila's eyes widened. "What..?"
"Curse or no curse, we aren't going to leave you here. Or that worthless kid." Nillan called back, the castle breaking away as a huge sword of rock formed in his hand.
"Damnit.." Alabaun cursed, still holding his wound. He turned to Darius. "Damn kid.." he thought of his sealed arm. He knew it wasn't the kid's fault.. but..
Etto leapt from the ground up at the siblings. Nira disapeared in a flash of light, but Nillan only stared as the assassin came, raising his sword to block Etto's claws, but when they collided, Etto's arm split apart into three, the shifting black chains rushing past Nillan's guard and slashing across his shoulder and side.
"Damn you!" Nillan cursed as he swept his blade through the air, stomping his foot to the ground as a pillar flew out from the castle, hitting Etto in the stomach, his body folding and his face hitting the stone. Nillan raised his sword above his head as it shifted into a hammer before slamming it down on Etto's head, the stone shattering shattering over his skull while the pillar beneath him crumbled and he was sent tumbling. Electricity struck the earth as Nira appeared, a blade of lightning sweeping across the ground and crashing against Etto's body, sending him streaming through the air.
Nillan leapt into the air, rushing after Etto as he waved his hand, a pillar rising up from the earth and crashing into the assassin, lifting him into the sky. Nillan's hammer formed into a huge gauntlet around his arm, which he brought down on the mage, the pillar splitting under the weight.
Etto crashed down through the pillar as it crumbled, Nillan coming to land beside his sister as the assassin plummeted to the earth, rubble tumbling through the sky.
"Think that did it?" He asked, panting.
"I wouldn't think so." She said. "You do know what an Oath of Damnation is, right?"
Nillan waved his hand, "Yeah, yeah, I know. But it shouldn't matter, he's up against two mages."
The ground shifted at their feet. Nira leapt into the sky, while Nillan clapped his hands, stone covering his entire body as chains rose up from the dirt, wrapping about him and rattling while they tightened, their edges ripping through the stone. They constricted around his body, pulling tight as his arms were wrenched outwards.
Etto blurred into sight in front of Nillan, his fist crashing into the boy's chest as the stone shattered, his ribs snapping under the force as the chains came loose and he tumbled across the ground. Cascading light crashed to the earth behind Etto, who spun, his talons raking through the electricity, but no one was there. Alabaun smiled as Nira appeared from the sky, her own lighting coming down on Etto, enveloping his body as a spear of electricity struck his back.
Etto crouched over under the pressure, but that's about all it did. Nira's eyes widened as cold eyes turned on her, crude blades flying from Etto's back. A slab of stone crashed into her, knocking her aside as Nillan ran at Etto, his arms raised, huge gauntlets coming down on his foe.Etto held out his own arms, which collided with Nillan's, the earth cracking at their feet as the two struggled to overcome one another.
Nillan grinned, "And now you're done." He growled, holes forming along the gauntlets, a massive blast of energy emitting from the crevices. Shockwaves tore through the earth as Etto's body shifted from the force, but even still the assassin stood firm, even managing to gain advantage over the boy as he pressed his arms down. Chains wrapped around the stone, ripping it away before tightening down on Nillan's arm, ripping through his skin.
Nillan's face contorted as he backed away, his stone armor gone. Etto came at him, black claws tearing through his flesh as his chest was ripped open. Etto lifted his knee up to his chest before sending it forward, his foot hitting Nillan where he bled, his body folding as a shockwave flew from the impact and he spun, flipping through air before crashing through the castle wall.
Nira managed to get to her feet as her father stood over her. "Go to your brother." Alabaun spoke, flames coiling around his body.
"But.."
"He's bleeding out as we speak. Now go. I'll be fine."
She stared at the grass where Alabaun's blood spilled. She grit her teeth before disappearing in a flash of light.
"Etto!" Alabaun called, holding out his hand towards the assassin, who turned unnaturally, his head twisting and his body folding at the waste. Marks flashed across Alabaun's arm as he began to cast a spell. "It would seem I underestimated you. But to think you would take an Oath of Damnation?" Alabaun shook his head. "Is this really worth the cost? To serve your grand king? The Nameless? Are you truly so loyal?"
Rage crossed Etto's eyes then. "The Nameless.." came his distorted, twisted voice. "Nameless.." he spoke again.. "Nameless.. Nameless… NAMELESS!!!" He roared, his chains flailing from his body as he exploded towards Alabaun.
Light flashed across Alabaun's arm and an explosion flashed through the air as Etto stopped dead in his tracks, being launched aside. Etto growled, turning back to Alabaun, taking a step towards him, but another blast came and he was knocked back once more.
"Well? If you are so enraged, then approach me, assassin. For every step you take upon my turf, you shall be punished."
Etto hissed, whipping around and setting his hollow eyes on Alabaun. He leaned forward, leaping at the mage, but the moment he came close, he was sent away by a blast of light.
Alabaun closed his eyes, shaking his head as Etto crashed to the ground. His eyes glowed as arcana flowed around him, taking a step towards Etto as he stood. Light warped across Etto's body, fusing into him before exploding, ripping the chains from his form as he was sent back once more.
"I am the first mage to come from the Nameless. My realm is that of the divine, unseen, and impenetrable. If you wish to face me, then turn your head, and face me. For every step you take, you walk upon the edge of my command, and when you approach, you will be repelled, until your determination is sundered." Alabaun spoke, his voice calm but powerful, booming as each word came.
Alabaun flashed out of sight, appearing before Etto, placing a finger to the mage's chest. Light expanded from Etto's body, spreading through him before a lapse of arcana enveloped him, exploding and sending shattered chains flying. The chains evaporating as a hole was blasted through his body, his blood spraying in a cascade of dark crimson as he was launched back.
Alabaun lifted his chin, his cold eyes drilling down on Etto. "Do you yield, beast?"
Etto rose from the ground once more, glaring at Alabaun with eyes of pure hatred. He roared and chains flew out from his body, rushing down Alabaun, but the moment they came close, waves of light flashed across them and they crumbled away as the light flew down the chains back to their caster, explosions crashing in waves over his body.
Etto dropped to his knees, gasping for breath as blood fell from his open chest. Chains slowly coalesced over the wound, closing it. But that didn't mean he wasn't in pain. His talons dug into the dirt in frustration as he growled with each breath.
"You lack the honor and dignity every mage should hold." Alabaun spoke, his words harsh and his tone blunt. "You care for nothing and no one. Only fighting for your own insatiable blood thirst."
"At…ra.." Etto spoke, his words incoherent.
"I'm sorry?" Alabaun asked.
Etto leaned back on his knees, clutching his head with his talons as his mind seemed to spin and shatter, his thoughts a jumble of images and rage.
Alabaun's expression hardened. "You are truly pitiful."
"Pitiful..?" Etto echoed, followed by a maddened laugh. His head twisted in his claws, his neck snapping as it rotated to the point of almost being upside down. He slowly lowered his hands, a warped, white grin spreading across his mask. "Pitiful.. you mages.. all of you.. the same.. same, same, same, sinful smears across this sundered hell.."
Alabaun sighed. "It would seem that spell was far too much for you to handle. I will end you swif-"
Alabaun's eyes widened as Etto's warped image blurred into sight beside him, talons ripping through Alabaun's side, tearing through his flesh as his bones split, huge lacerations gouging deep into his body as flashing light consumed Etto, the explosion sending him flying past Alabaun, who gasped for breath as he collapsed to his knees. He grasped at his wound as red spread across his whole body, running down his legs and side, staining his cloak a dark crimson.
"Damn..!" He cursed in pain.
Alabaun looked over his shoulder, his eyes going wide and his heart dropping as he saw Etto standing over Darius, staring down at the boy, his head still twisted unnaturally.
"A mage..who does not.. bleed.."
"No!" Alabaun shouted, attempting to get to his feet, but he crumpled back to the ground, his wounds far too severe. "Darius..!"
Etto bent over, grabbing Darius by his throat and lifting him off his feet. Chains slowly emerged from his body, wrapping about Darius as the assassin threw the boy over his shoulder.
"No..don't!"
And then Etto was gone, both him and Darius disappearing in a blur.