Skorn and the Orempisun locked eyes, both moving cautiously closer as if testing each other's resolve. The serpent-like beast's shimmering scales reflected the sunlight, its movements deliberate and calculated. Skorn grinned confidently, cracking his knuckles. "Just another overgrown lizard," he muttered to himself.
Talos, meanwhile, used a burst of wind magic to silently propel himself onto a sturdy tree branch above. Settling in, he adjusted his glasses and observed the creature. "Yep, definitely an Orempisun. Venomous, territorial, and loves to play mind games," he noted, almost sounding impressed.
The Orempisun suddenly slithered back a few steps. Skorn raised an eyebrow, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Looks like it knows who's boss," he said, stepping forward to press his perceived advantage.
From above, Talos's calm but warning tone interrupted his confidence. "Skorn, it's not scared. It's positioning itself to attack."
Skorn glanced back at him, scoffing. "Oh, come on, Talos. Look at it. It's practically trembling—"
"SKORN!" Talos's voice turned sharp. "That thing is about to strike! Move!"
Skorn's grin vanished as he looked back at the Orempisun. It had coiled tightly, its muscles tensed, ready to spring. The realization hit him like a falling boulder.
"Aw, crap."
Skorn hastily slammed his palms onto the ground, channeling his earth elemental power to create a slick slide beneath him. He narrowly escaped as the Orempisun lunged, its sharp scales glinting dangerously under the sunlight. The beast landed with a thud, its scales fully erect—a clear sign it was enraged that its prey had dodged.
The Orempisun's beady eyes darted to the treetops, drawn to the voice that had shouted moments earlier. Its gaze locked on Talos, who was perched high above, pretending to be just another part of the forest canopy. The beast let out a guttural growl, its anger intensifying.
But rather than chase Talos, the Orempisun whipped its head back toward Skorn, who was now crouched on the ground, preparing for a counterattack. With a fierce roar, it rushed toward him, scales bristling and venom glistening at the tips of its fangs.
"Well, isn't this just fantastic," Skorn muttered, raising his fists and stomping the ground to summon his next move. "Here we go again!"
Skorn steadied himself, his sword drawn and glinting under the dappled forest light. He stomped the ground, summoning a makeshift shield of hardened dirt to bolster his defense. Every muscle in his body was braced for the inevitable clash, his eyes locked on the Orempisun as it barreled toward him.
But the clash he expected never came.
Instead, the beast skidded to a halt, twisting its body with alarming agility and redirecting its focus. Skorn's eyes widened as the realization hit him. That crafty little serpent…
"That bastard distracted me so he could go for Talos," Skorn muttered under his breath, lowering his shield slightly. His gaze followed the creature's trajectory as it lunged toward the treetops where Talos was perched.
A slow smirk spread across Skorn's face. "He's intelligent, I'll give him that," he said, his voice laced with grudging admiration. But then, his smirk turned into a wide, toothy grin as he let out a low chuckle.
"But he chose the wrong person to attack. Hah!" Skorn laughed, his confidence surging. "Talos, show him why messing with you is the worst decision he's ever made!"
From the treetops, Talos let out a calm sigh. "Oh, don't worry. He'll learn soon enough."
Talos leaped gracefully to another tree, his movements fluid and silent. Once perched securely on a high branch, he quickly reached into his satchel and pulled out a small bottle of herbal lotion he had prepared beforehand. Smirking to himself, he poured a bit into his hands and rubbed it across his exposed skin.
"This little concoction," he muttered quietly, "is perfect for moments like this." Talos had crafted the lotion using leaves, flowers, and herbs native to this forest. When applied, it masked his scent and presence, making him practically invisible to the senses of beasts like the Orempisun. "Blend in with nature, and you become nature," he whispered with a hint of pride.
Settling into his hiding spot, Talos scanned the area below, watching the Orempisun's movements. The beast slithered cautiously, searching for the voice that had momentarily startled it. Talos waited, calm and patient, like a predator stalking its prey.
Then, with a subtle flick of his fingers, he signaled to Skorn, who was watching from below. It was time. Skorn tightened his grip on his sword and braced himself. The Orempisun was about to have no idea what hit it.
...
Orempisun slithered cautiously to the spot where Talos had been moments earlier, its serpentine body coiled as it scanned for any sign of its prey. Its forked tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air for a presence that was no longer there. It waited, tense and calculating, looking for an opening to strike.
Perched high in a nearby tree, Talos watched the beast with a sly grin. His lips curved upward as he silently pulled out a small glass bottle filled with a potent liquid. Without hesitation, he lobbed it toward the Orempisun. The bottle tumbled through the air, catching the sunlight as it descended toward the oblivious creature below.
Noticing Talos's signal, Skorn sprang into action. Wasting no time, he thrust his palms toward the ground and gathered dirt from the forest floor. In an instant, he shaped it into a sharp arrowhead, dense and precise, before launching it with practiced force.
The dirt arrow flew straight and true, colliding with the bottle mid-air. A crack formed instantly on the bottle's surface, and the moment the glass gave way, a loud explosion erupted above the Orempisun's head. A cloud of thick, blinding smoke burst forth, mingling with the potent scent of herbs and chemicals, disorienting the beast.
"Boom! Right on target," Skorn muttered with a satisfied smirk, readying himself for the next move.
"It's your chance, Skorn!" Talos screamed loudly.
"Ah, what did you say?" Skorn shouted, his ears ringing from the explosion.
"Finish him!" Talos called again, voice booming.
Skorn grinned, raising his hand. He summoned a massive boulder of dirt and slammed it down onto the Orempisun, pinning it beneath its weight.
The Orempisun squirmed desperately beneath the boulder, its venomous fangs snapping, but it couldn't move—trapped.
Talos and Skorn approached the beast, both smirking at its plight.
"Look at you," Skorn laughed. "All that venom, but can't get out of a little dirt."
"Looks like the mighty Orempisun met its match," Talos teased, shaking his head.
Skorn tightened his grip on his sword, eyes narrowing. He stepped forward, raising the blade. "Time to end this," he muttered, heading toward the Orempisun's forehead,
Before Skorn's sword could meet the Orempisun's forehead, the serpent let out one final, guttural growl. Its eyes locked onto Skorn, filled with anger, but the sound quickly faded into silence as the life drained from it. The beast lay motionless, defeated under the weight of the boulder.
"That's 3 points for us," Skorn said with a grin, wiping his hands on his pants.
Talos rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "I hope Ren isn't dozing around while we're doing all the work."
Skorn chuckled. "Knowing Ren, he's probably enjoying a nap under a tree somewhere, plotting his next witty remark."
As they were chatting, the sound of multiple hisses filled the air, sending a chill down their spines.
They exchanged glances, both silently acknowledging the danger. "Crap," Skorn muttered under his breath.
Talos sighed, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the surrounding forest. "So that last growl was an invitation for a party," he murmured, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
Skorn gripped his sword tighter, ready for whatever was coming next. "Well, I hope they brought snacks," he said, trying to lighten the mood, though his tone was serious.
The hissing grew louder, and from the shadows, the ground trembled as more Orempisun, their scales glinting in the dim light, emerged from the forest, their eyes locked on the pair.
Skorn slammed his sword into the ground—"Well, this is going to be fun, I hope."