The Hippogriff screeched in frustration, its body twisting midair as it kicked its hind legs desperately, trying to shake off the unwelcome weight dragging at its tail. But with no front limbs to stabilize itself, the beast's kicks flailed uselessly, hooves swiping at empty air. Each attempt only threw it further off-balance, forcing it to abandon the kicks and focus on staying airborne.
Instead, the Hippogriff beat its wings furiously, diving toward a nearby tree. Its sharp talons latched onto the thick branches, shaking the canopy with each powerful flap. The creature tried to use the rough limbs to scrape Leon off its back like a horse bucking off a rider.
Leaves and twigs whipped through the air, slapping Eamon's face with every jolt as the Hippogriff struggled to dislodge its unwelcome passenger. The wizard snarled in frustration, momentarily blinded by the foliage. He wanted to cast a shock spell and blast Leon into dust; but he was trapped. The belt securing him to the saddle had snapped during the earlier chaos, and now, with every wild movement of the Hippogriff, Eamon had to clutch the handrail in front of him to avoid being thrown off entirely.
Below him, Leon gritted his teeth, clinging stubbornly to the Hippogriff's tail. He braced his feet against the tree's branches, using them like footholds. With a surge of effort, he launched himself upward, fists ready to strike.
Eamon felt the sharp impact of iron-clad knuckles slamming into the bottom of his barrier, the blows ringing out like thunder on glass. Each punch sent tremors through the shimmering shield, threatening to crack it, though the magic held; for now.
But Eamon's sharp eyes noticed something critical.
The boy hanging from the Hippogriff's rear couldn't use both hands for spells; his magic was locked away by the physical demands of the fight.
Realizing this, a sinister grin spread across the wizard's face. "You've made a grave mistake, boy," Eamon sneered, his voice filled with venom. "You're as good as dead."
Without another word, Eamon dismissed the shimmering purple barrier in front of him. The shield flickered and vanished, freeing his hand to conjure a spell. His eyes burned with triumph as he traced glowing sigils in the air with inhuman speed. Purple light shimmered in the shape of a deadly magic bullet, forming at the tips of his fingers, ready to end the battle.
Leon's heart pounded. The sudden disappearance of the barrier caught him off guard, and when he saw the spell forming, panic surged through him like a lightning bolt. 'I have to stop him, now.'
Summoning every ounce of strength, Leon let out a guttural shout and hauled himself up by the Hippogriff's tail. His fingers scrambled along the beast's hindquarters until he managed to grip the rear arch of the saddle with his left hand.
He swung himself upward with the desperation of a man scaling a cliff, 'just in time to intercept the wizard's wrist.' His right hand clamped down hard on Eamon's arm, jerking it off course.
The Hippogriff broke free of the treetops at that moment, its wings finally able to spread wide. It soared into the open sky, angling sharply to the side as it fought to stabilize its flight with two struggling passengers onboard.
The sudden tilt threw both men off balance, and Eamon's spell went wild. The magic bullet, intended for Leon's chest, shot off-course. It grazed Leon's shoulder, scorching a hole through the chainmail and leaving a searing streak of pain across his skin.
Leon winced but kept his grip. "Ha! You missed!" he shouted, his voice filled with exhilaration and defiance. 'The narrow escape ignited a thrill in his veins; he was still alive, and now it was his turn.'
Eamon hissed in frustration, his composure slipping. He tried to steady himself, releasing his grip on the front of the saddle to quickly draw another sigil in the air.
But Leon wasn't about to give him that chance. As Eamon's fingers moved to trace the spell, Leon lunged forward, throwing his left arm around the wizard's shoulders. With a brutal twist, he grabbed Eamon's left wrist, stopping the spell mid-gesture.
Their bodies slammed together in a chaotic tangle atop the Hippogriff, the beast squawking in protest as it struggled to maintain altitude under the added weight.
Leon grinned through gritted teeth. "No more magic tricks for you." His grip tightened like an iron vice as he twisted Eamon's arms together in a crude but effective hold. 'It was a move born from brawls, a "strongman's lock" that pinned Eamon's arms in front of him, rendering his fingers useless.'
Eamon thrashed beneath him, snarling. "You miserable brat!" His voice dripped with fury, his eyes blazing with hatred as he struggled against Leon's hold. But the boy was relentless, digging his fingers into Eamon's wrists to ensure not even the slightest gesture could be made.
Leon knew he had to keep the pressure on. 'If he couldn't cast Isa's Arrow in this close-quarters brawl, Eamon sure as hell wasn't going to summon any spells either.'
The wizard, now fully realizing his disadvantage, threw his head back in frustration, trying to slam it into Leon's face. But Leon anticipated the move and leaned to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow.
"Nice try, old man," Leon taunted, his voice breathless but triumphant. "But I'm not letting you off this ride."
Eamon writhed in rage, trying to shake Leon off, but the boy held firm, pressing his full weight down on the wizard's back. The Hippogriff flapped its wings harder, veering awkwardly through the sky as it struggled with the two combatants fighting on its back.
Eamon was caught. His spells rendered useless, his body pinned by the relentless boy clinging to him. For the first time in the battle, true panic flickered across the wizard's face. 'He was out of tricks and out of time.'
And Leon? 'He was just getting started.'
With a final, determined grin, Leon whispered, "Let's see how good you are without magic."
Leon twisted his head just in time, narrowly dodging Eamon's headbutt attempt. But without a weapon or any other good option for attack, instinct took over. With reckless abandon, Leon smashed his own forehead into the back of Eamon's skull.
'BANG!'
Pain exploded through Leon's head, radiating down his spine. It felt like he had just slammed into a stone wall. Eamon's body barely flinched, the shimmering magic layer surrounding him absorbing the brunt of the impact. Leon staggered for a moment, his vision swimming from the blow, realizing with a sinking feeling that 'he'd hurt himself far more than his enemy.'
"Dammit," Leon muttered through clenched teeth. 'I just gave myself a headache for nothing.'
Eamon sneered, unbothered by Leon's failed attack, but Leon's mind was already working furiously. 'Think. There has to be a way through this.'
Then it hit him; the crucial bit of information Corvis had shared during their mission to assassinate Piriano.
The personal protective spell Eamon was using wasn't just any defense, it was the 'Master Atias Shield', a near-impenetrable layer of magic, without blind spots. Eyes, joints, vital organs, it covered everything with ruthless efficiency. Leon knew this from bitter experience. 'No amount of grappling or cheap shots would break through it.' Not with conventional methods.
Unless…
A flicker of memory resurfaced. 'The mouth.' Corvis had mentioned that even the most powerful mages struggled to protect their mouths when casting complex spells. Reciting incantations required precision, and any defensive layer could interfere with pronunciation. 'That might be his only weak point.'
Leon's lips curled into a grin. 'It was worth a shot.'
Before Eamon could react, Leon loosened his grip on the wizard's right wrist, shifting his focus entirely. With a snarl, he jammed his iron-clad fingers straight toward Eamon's mouth, aiming to yank out the wizard's tongue and cut off any chance of further spellcasting.
Eamon's eyes went wide with panic. Realizing what Leon was trying to do, the wizard clenched his teeth with all the strength he could muster, locking his jaw tight. The cold iron fingers scraped against his lips, prying at the edges, but Eamon resisted with everything he had, his face twisting into a grimace of fear and fury.
Leon growled in frustration as the wizard's teeth held fast. 'If I can't pry his mouth open, I'll just have to smash it open.'
Without missing a beat, Leon balled his fist, the metal joints of his gauntlet clinking ominously. With a fierce snarl, he drove his fist straight into Eamon's face, aiming for the clenched jaw.
'CRACK!'
The impact sent a jolt through Leon's arm, but the reward was immediate. Eamon let out a muffled cry as his teeth audibly shifted under the force of the blow. Leon felt something give beneath his knuckles; a sharp, satisfying crunch that could only mean one thing: 'loose teeth.'
Eamon let out a muffled whimper, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth. Leon pulled his fist back, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he noticed crimson smeared across his iron knuckles.
"Got you now, you bastard," Leon muttered, his confidence surging.
Eamon, his lips trembling with pain and rage, instinctively raised both hands to shield his face, abandoning his earlier attempt to draw sigils. Blood dripped from his mouth, staining his robes, and his spells were momentarily forgotten in the chaos.
Leon seized the opportunity, raining down two more powerful punches. 'BANG! BANG!' Each blow landed with brutal force, but Eamon's hands, now locked firmly over his face, absorbed the worst of the impact.
Leon growled in frustration. 'Even injured, the damn wizard was still holding on.'