Boom!
The shield got blasted off into the stratosphere, as a huge explosion of darkness assaulted the eyes of the duo. "I cannot believe that I was nearly bested by bunch of scrawny, no-good, tiny little runts. I usually abhor taking my time killing people, but you, you on the other hand, I will enjoy. I will relish tearing you apart, limb from limb, flesh from flesh, bone from bone. Now. Feel. My. Wrath." Dark flames silently emerged from both hands, burning brightly beneath a 5 tiered circle. The heat from the flames, though not hot, seemed to burn the very air around it, sizzling sounds being heard every so often from the surroundings.
The boys' eyes shrank in horror, as they realized that, although Neil is a tier 4 sorcerer, he had somehow managed to invoke a tier 5 spell, and its not any spell, its one of the dreaded one, the forbidden ones: Demogyre, the flames of Sabbadon. Flames erupted from his hand, twisting, warping the surrounding air, creating illusions, or maybe scenes, of twisted pleasure, souls in constant agony and pain. Neil transformed the flames into swords, held in each hand, and walked slowly towards them.
Jake and Grud could do nothing as he approached them, the fear emanating from the flames rooting them in place. They watched in horror as Neil walked closer to them step by step, hope diminishing each step. Just as they were certain all hope had been lost, the archaeologist, barely recovered, lunged at Neil, grabbed his hand, and forced it downwards. Just as the flames had ignited the floor, she shouted, with strength fading, "Hurry, run! I can only hold him back for a couple of seconds! Save yourselves!"
Grud, snapping back, asked in desperation, "Please tell me you're joking? Right? Right?" The archeologist just looked at him, and smiled sadly. Tears started dripping from his eyes, as he realized that they had inadvertently killed her. The archaeologist, noticing this, comforted him with soft words. "Don't blame yourself. I knew this was going to happen to me anyways, Neil never lets his victims get away, whether they are his intended targets or innocent bystanders. I'm just happy that there are still people left in this word that cares for others selflessly, most people nowadays care for profit first before anything else. Go now, save yourselves!"
Just as Jake and Grud managed to find themselves a safe spot, the unstable flame held in Neil's hand exploded, igniting the surrounding area before dissipating into nothingness. Curiously, the area where they were hiding in was almost unharmed, as if an invisible shield was protecting them.
After hiding for 15-20 minutes, Grud peeked his head out, whispering "Coast clear. We can move no-" Suddenly, a burned, mottled hand rises from the hole, and before Grud can do anything, it grabs him by his arm, hoisting him up. The hand, now revealed to be Neil's, brings Grud close to his face, raspily saying "Well, look who we have here? I can't believe my luck, getting myself the very boy who caused all of this. You know, I wasn't going to kill her. Someone had paid me, handsomely at that, to bring her back to them, alive, but now I don't think its possible. So, who do you think should pay the price!" Neil spun Grud in a circle, before slamming him hard onto the ground.
Blood fell from Grud's forehead, as his head cracked slightly. The sheer pain from the impact caused him to fall in a coma. Yet this did not stop Neil at all. On the contrary, bloodlust sprouted from his eyes, as he started to punch him repeatedly, enjoying the torture.
Jake woke upon hearing dull thumping noises. As he searched the source of the noise, he grew enraged: Neil constantly punching Grud, till his body was nearly destroyed. In anger, he picked some debris, and started hurling them towards Neil. Although most missed, some hit, which turned Neil's attention from Grud to Jake. In annoyance, he backhanded Jake, as he was too busy beating up his first victim.
Jake flew across a short distance, before sliding down from the wall into a pile of rubble. With blurry eyes, he watched as Neil beat Grud. watched as Grud bled. watched as he could do nothing, watched as he could do nothing. Anger grew in his heart, until something inside him seemed to open.
In a clouded manner, he stood up, fists held in a drunken manner. He rushed towards Neil, yelling "Get away from my friend, now!" Neil, surprised, stood still until Jake landed a few punches on him. He grew angry, and lashed out, punching Jake away. Undeterred, Jake continuously ran to him, fighting constantly to protect Grud.
Though what was unknown at the time was that while fighting Neil, Jake started incorporating the unknown martial arts the old man had taught him. From it, slight golden clouds could be seen emerging from his fists. Neil glimpsed at them, eyes widening in shock and horror.
Neil launched another flurry of attacks, which proved to be ineffective against an enraged Jake. Punch after punch, kick after kick, stab after stab, Jake was relentless as he fought him. Weirdly, Neil could not use his dark magic, as if something was blocking him from doing so. He slowly grew frightened as he fought against jake, realizing that he was losing against a mere 18 year old boy, 18!
This thought stopped his attacks against Jake, which proved fatal for him.
For in that very moment, Jake struck his killing blow. Golden vapor condensed into clouds, forming into an immemorial gauntlet, imbued with powers unknown. Jake used the last remaining vestiges of his willpower to punch with all his might, landing the decisive blow on Neil's stomach.
Eyes widened in fear, Neil took a last look at Jake, before exploding into a fleshy firework. Looking at his handiwork, Jake soon fainted into the rubble, arms splayed out, with a smile on his face.