User blog:Ziharku/Log 27: Eagle Eye (part 2)

A gunshot echoes through the air. Crimson splatters across my face, weaving a river down my chest.The charging Troll, still propelled my his momentum, falls face-first to the ground and slides, stopping less than a yalm in front of me. A cocky laugh draws my attention as well as the few remaining enemies in the vicinity. The Ranger seems to be enjoying the fight a little too much. As I take a quick glance around, I can’t help but notice the majority of the dead have an arrow in the head (although the latest kill seems to have been killed by a…gunshot to the head). I suppose Captain One-shot is a title well deserved by the Ranger. With a brisk jog, I run over to my fallen blade. The curved blade glimmered in the afternoon sun, tip-down with the blue pommel skyward so as to meet my hand. Taking it, I feel a static sensation. With two blades in hand again, I feel a bit relieved. The sensation doesn’t last long though, as I can hear the pounding of feet coming from the brush.

Worry furrowed the Corsair’s brow. With the Ranger taking care of so many foes with ease, perhaps Ziharku wouldn’t even need to use his magic. Then, a thunder began to crescendo. More units! Surely a battalion or two judging from the way that the ground shook under their heavy feet. With a flick of the hand, The Ranger sent the rifle over his head and into his off hand with well practiced dexterity, setting the elongated barrel to rest against the rampart wall. Pulling the ebony bow from his back and nocking three arrows, he heaved the bow-string back to his chin and pointed skyward. Sitting, waiting, the muscles in his arms pulsed. A sense of dread filled the Corsair. “He’s not…he…"

As the thunder of footsteps reached a pinnacle, I couldn’t help but stagger back. A full horde of Trolls, twenty strong, came charging from a path on the Northwest. Swollen eyes set themselves on the Immortal that stood before them, and twisted lips set into a grinning snarl. It is on this day that thunder preceded lightning.

The Corsair laughed as the horde emerged from the woods. Three arrows would only take three foes, slowing and stopping those behind. Surely with this Ziharku would be forced to display some powerful magics to confirm what he’d thought was seen in the Obliette. Suddenly, three bolts of lightning strike the horde, blowing the Trolls away in a cacophony crashing and flying bodies. Nearly falling over in shock, the Corsair scanned the sky. Not a cloud to be found! The Corsair muttered to himself, “Where the hell did lightning come from without a cloud in the sky? And that was certainly no form of black magic."

When the smoke cleared, I lowered my guard to find that the force before me had be entirely decimated. Those should have been yours, a voice calls out to me. Looking around, I see no one in the field. It must be one of the voices within me. So many ripe souls, so much energy. The Trolls have magic to teach you, if only that interloper wouldn’t ruin the fun. It’s true, the number of Trolls I’ve killed in the past is regrettably low. There are perhaps more magics I can take from them. Looking around me, I can see two at the front gate. The hole I’d made in it had been enlarged by invading Trolls as an attempt to reach the Ranger, but these two seemed to be fleeing from the building. Setting into a sprint, I headed for them. Weaving the mana before me, I ready for the kill when suddenly they too slump down into a dead heap. ''Again, your prey is lost! There is no strength to be had in assailing a corpse!'' Cursing my luck, I make my way to the back of the building hoping for more.

"You won’t get away that easily…" Staring down the arrows on his bow, the Ranger was leaned over the rampart. Sensing the aura of the Trolls within the building, he had seen two of them on the run, headed to the front gate. Just as they ran into view, the bow string whistled as tension released, arrows sailing to their targets. A grin on the Ranger’s face, he stood up satisfied, then noticed an aura intensify. Ziharku must have been aiming for those as well. “Ah, well I’m sure he’ll find a few more somewhere." Closing his eyes, he searched again for the auras of those on the stairwell. Just three now, and all finally fleeing. “Bah, a chase, really?" His right hand went to his shoulder for another arrow, only to find the quiver empty. With a sigh, he cut the Imperial quiver from this chest, a hollow rattle as it landed beside so many other empty quivers. Just one remained now, one that he’d brought with him initially. “Aww, nothing but the expensive ones left. Really a waste to kill cannon fodder with these." He straps on the quiver nonetheless, then hangs the enormous ebony bow from his back as well. Taking his rifle up, he rummages through his pack as he descends the stairwell. Taking a handful of pullets, he loads it.

"Even copper bullets are too good for these things." Reaching the ground floor, he sees a Troll, lumbering out the back door, though having trouble in his panic. “Alright, lets make this quick." Raising his focus, he takes the gun first in his right hand, shooting an explosive round into the door. The round, penetrates, but no explosion. Counter-clockwise, the Ranger turns, whirling the gun overhead and taking the stock with his left hand. Sliding the left foot forward and arching the tail towards his right foot for balance, he fires a second explosive round, hitting the bullet he’s fired before. The collision sets both off, splintering the door in its entirety, while the Troll on the other side is killed by the concussive blast. I make it to the rear of the building just in time to limp body propel itself through the air an into the dirt. Again cursing my luck, I run by the door in an effort to finish circling the building and find something along the way.

Turning back toward the front door, the Ranger sees the last two cowards escaping through the hole in it. Searching the doorway (or rather, gateway as it was a large gate that acted in the same way as a drawbridge), he found the chains the held the door in place. Taking aim, he fires off a few rounds with his gun, breaking the chains and releasing the gate. Then one more at the top of the gate to get it going. With just a moment’s delay, the heavy gate comes crashing down on the two unfortunate enemies below. Suddenly, another spike in my aura’s intensity draws the Ranger’s attention. Running out the front door, he is surprised by what he sees.

Being a ranger type himself, the leader of the Trolls had been able to hide his presence from The Ranger for the duration of the fight, giving orders from nearby without fear of being fired upon. I, however, had been able to lock on to him by sensing his essence, and with my greed for essence so intensified even his magic wards could not keep him hidden from me.

With a deep inhalation, I spit fiery breath into the wooded area he had taken as his hiding spot, driving him out into the open. Confused at being found, it took a moment for the Troll to compose himself, giving me enough time to lunge rapidly with both blades. My blades met only armor though, and the creature jumped back, taking aim and firing a large shell directly at my chest. Bringing both blades together in an X, I avoided to be hit directly by the shell, but the concussive blast from his hand-cannon sends me to the ground and shatters my right hand’s blade. Face in the dirt, I curse and curse and curse this being.

"YoU waAnt tO Do ThiiIngS tHE HaaArRrd WaY thEn…." Burning…burning…my eyes won’t stop burning. My throat, too, rages at the beast’s call. My mouth is not my own, as the voices curse the creature in a mixture of tongues, many I cannot understand. Panic covers the Troll’s face, as he fires again. My body reacts, ducking down on all fours, then springs forward with a distance even a Poroggo would find hard to match. My hands, wrinkled and writhing as nails become claws, I dig into the Troll’s arm as it blocks my attempt to reach its head. My swords…where are my swords… ''You don’t need such weapons. You Aaare a weapon…'' Yes…yes with these claws I can still lacerate. With my magic I can…

With a heave, the Troll slams me (being attached to his arm) into the ground. I sharply exhale as the wind is knocked from me, gasping for breath, as the Trolls smirks. With his mind calmer than mine, he believes to have an advantage. Further infuriated, I leap to my feet. The aura of a Lamiae at my back, I set into a Hysteric Barrage, trying to claw my foe to death, leaping and bounding about as I try at his face.

The Ranger, aghast at my current state, stares in shock for a moment as I curse the creature and assail it in a berserk state. Finally regaining his composure, he takes aim for the Troll’s head, holds his breath, and lets loose a bullet. In my frenzy, I save the beast’s life. Jumping, the bullet goes into my back, though somehow lacking the force to propel my body. With a sigh, the Ranger takes aim again, and again I take a bullet in the back. A frown breaks across the Ranger’s face. That’s twice you’ve made me miss you lout. Taking a stronger bullet, one of adaman, he takes aim one last time…

A stinging sensation in my back. And then another. I can feel the bullets in me, though I care not for whence they came. Each sting costs me a strike as I wince, and with the second my foe manages to catch me by the throat and hold me high. A bellowing laugh escapes the creature’s disgusting mouth, as I cringe at his terrible breath. Almost so bad as to match a Morbol’s. Fury still in effect, I rake at my captor’s hand until blood erupts, causing him to drop me. And with terrible timing. As he releases me, the Ranger takes his shot. The bullet would have gone through my waist, then to the creature’s head, if not for the dropping. It instead pierces my neck as I fall. The end result remains though, as the Troll drops with a shocked expression on his face.

The Corsair sits in silence, watching my limp form, hoping that the damage isn’t critical. The Ranger runs forward a few paces, then stops as he goes over the scene in his head. So good as his eyesight may be, he hoped that his eyes lied in seeing the flight of the bullet. He stands in silence a few moments, before I stir. A sigh of relief, then horror on his face, as I rise. My form, rather twist. My consciousness, currently unsound. My body rose like a zombie, with blood seeping out of the hole in my neck. The Ranger called out to me, trying to bring me back to sanity, but this was only met with the voices’ cursing him. For the pain, for taking so many of their prey, for being alive. The called to me, told me to make the Ranger’s power my own.

Charging on all fours, I leap at the Ranger. My extended arms were met by twin daggers, parrying my strike, followed my a headbutt that only seemed to rattle me. Falling straight on my back, I look up through bleary eyes to see his bowstaff (easily extendable or destendable) being yanked from the ground by his tail and, with a flick, collapses it into a smaller state and tucks away neatly at his belt. He must have used it as an anchor, to turn my momentum against me. Such rational is quickly brushed aside though as my forehead throbs with the pain and the voices renew their call with more vigor than before. That power…such reaction time…they could be yours with just…one…kill… An indiscernible wail brakes my lips, tears at my vocal chords, and I rise attacking with far more haste. Wherever I strike, there is no mass to be found. Only air. It’s almost as though the Ranger is foreseeing my strike. Knives dart around me, catching at my robes but not penetrating. My lips cackle at the attempt to pierce the cloth. Suddenly, the Ranger has disappeared.

My eyes dart around furiously, trying to grasp his location, when I hear the twine of a bow from behind. Turning, I can see him! I take a pace forward…and I cannot advance any further. Looking down, I see an arrow binding my foot to the ground. Another soft hum from the twine, and both feet are held. Roaring in frustration, I reach down. Peapuk fletchings scratch my hands as I struggle to break the arrowwood that hold me down. In a burst of strength the arrows snap between my fingers. Standing back up (thought hunched) I lift my feet, blood trickling from the bottom of my boots as i drag flesh along the arrow’s length and finally out over the broken edge. Almost instantly, the pain recedes, and my feet (even the boots!) have mended. Looking back up at the Ranger, my lips contort into a grin and I lift my head, letting out a roar. No arrow can bind me, and such damage is fruitless! the voices call. As my gaze returns to the Ranger, his gun is extended, aimed directly at my head.

A gunshot echoes again in the air. Blood trickles down my cheek from a fresh cut on the side of my face. “A warning shot. The next one is headed for the middle of your brow instead." Rage holding my body, I get down on all fours and prepare to leap when suddenly, my energy is released. The voices wail in agony, unable to move me any further. Looking at me, the Ranger sees my remaining sword beneath my hand, and recalls something: a conversation we’d shared after Raubahn’s attempt on my life. I had mentioned a gift, something to keep on me at all times in case I should ever lose myself, and I had come back that day with a new sword. THAT sword. Dropping his gun, the Ranger runs to me, kicks me to my back, picks up the sword, and drives the pommel into my stomach. With a final scream, the malfested voice disappears and my body returns to its former state.

I open my eyes to find myself on a sling, being dragged behind the Ranger and the Corsair. “Hmm? About time you woke up you lazy bones. That damned Troll sure hit you pretty hard didn’t it?" Thinking back, the images of the battle didn’t involve being knocked out by a troll but… My hands shot up to feel my neck. No hole to be found, my body must have somehow regenerated in my infuriated state. I questioned the presence of the Corsair, and he replied, “The group sent me out after a while to make sure nothing happened to you two. I came along just in time to help drag you back home." I sighed in relief. So the Corsair hadn’t had to see what occurred here today. “When we get back," the ranger said, smirking, “drinks are on you for all the arrows I wasted saving your sorry ass, yeah?" The Corsair laughed in agreement.

I am able to walk by the time we reach the city, and the White Mage is convinced that we need a thorough examination for possible damage as the Ranger weaves a tale of what happened on our mission. Nearing the end, I worry that my sorry state of being will be revealed, but instead my fight with the battalion’s boss turned into, “Oh, and then he went after the boss. Took a hit right to the noggin and slept most of the way home after that!" I blush in embarrassment, even though this isn’t the truth. I suppose it’s better for the both of us that no one know I went berserk and that he…shot me in the neck. As the White Mage goes to examine my back, I recall the stinging of bullets. Taking my Jubbah off, two copper bullets fall to the floor. My body must have ejected them in my intensified healing! “Well…he did throw a few things, out of boredom, at me while we thought the area was safe. I guess I just didn’t feel those fall down my back."

This was met by a questioning expression on the little White Mage’s face, then a hardy laugh from the Ranger. “I gave myself ten points apiece for getting them into your collar!" When he was finally convinced we were wound-less, the White Mage left the medical bay for his own room. Taking a quick check of the area with his senses, the Ranger had me stay for a bit. He told me what really happened, just in case I wasn’t entirely aware. I sat in horror listening to my appearance. If I wasn’t wearing Immortal’s clothing, I’d surely no longer be human. The Ranger said, though, that it would be a secret safe with him. “No sense in worrying the others over something I know you’ll take care of, aye?" I nod in agreement, and he leaves as well.

The Corsair sits in his room alone, recalling the battle. “I felt such intensity from him at that time. I can only imagine what he could do if he used his magic in that state…"

Meanwhile in Balrahn Way, my medic was having a meeting in the night. “I have a report for you, Grand Visier"

"Go on then," replied the Grand Visier. His ruby armor shined in the moonlight as he emerged from the shadows.

"The force of Trolls hired..failed in their attempt today. I made sure he was there, but…I under estimated his company."

A frown too the Visier’s face, wrinkling his brow. “I want him gone, Cajus. See to it."

"Yes sir." And with that the Visier left. Cajus then proceeded to the tea house in southeastern Whitegate, where an Elvaan Ninja emerged from the shadows. “So it is true then. For the leak of some kind of information…"

"The Visier, and the Immortals, want him gone." Cajus finished. “See to it that plans continue to go astray for the time being, I’m going to report to his Majesty, Destin." The Ninja became one with shadow and disappeared again. Satisfied that he was alone, Cajus grinned, walking back to head quarters. I do hope things continue to go according to plan.