Mavier’s whole body tensed as he registered the sound of thunder in the distance. Ensuing claps of thunder, enough to rattle the bones of the casual observer, sounded out as their source came closer and closer. At its peak the sky pulsed against the land like a great drum. What a pity. Mavier fought to keep a grin off his face. Just another minute and I might have killed her. The trees began to shake, and Mavier swung at Elena one last time as a parting gift, turning and leaping down the path his flames had burned out earlier in the battle. Hopefully Tim was ready, because two heroes were about to drop on his doorstep, freshly served and ready to go.

A shout filled with indignation and rage answered his retreat, and he ducked just in time to avoid an ethereal spear of holy light thudding into the tree above him. Said tree disintegrated under the overwhelming force, leaving only a charred skeleton and snow of black ash.

Mavier picked up speed.

Maybe I taunted them a bit too much.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Kevin strode through the burning forest with a lazy smirk stretched out on his face. His boots howled as they propelled him forwards with the power of the winds he had imbued them with. Each step allowed for him to take leisurely strides with the length of a giant, but with each step the leather of his boots creaked and groaned. Note to self. When we get back, tell the butler to buy me a new pair of shoes.

The air filled with the oppressive smell of ozone yet again as questing tendrils of electricity gently licked Kevin’s sturdy hands. Each finger twisted a strand of electricity, deftly weaving it into the desired shape. The lazy smirk firmly occupied Kevin’s face throughout the task, the man not even bothering to dodge flaming obstacles in the funeral pyre the forest had become. Flaming bushes were instantly silenced by gusts of wind, and burning trees were crushed to oblivion with hammers of air.

A few more second passed, and Kevin clasped his hands together, pancaking the lightning between his palms. The palms were swiftly drawn back, and a crackling spear of blue lightning formed, held together only by the might of Kevin’s mana, and all the stronger for that.

Now… where are you, my little lizard boy. Kevin muttered to himself, the tip of his tongue unconsciously poking out of his mouth in concentration. His right arm swiftly raised the spear of lighting high, and stood stock still, waiting for the perfect moment to leap into action.

A high-pitched cry of rage far off behind some trees immediately drew his attention, and without even taking a second to verify his target, Kevin inhaled slightly, raising his arm back as far as he could. And, just as it reached the point where he could not raise it back any further, Kevin exhaled and launched the spear towards the cry of rage. A moment of silence followed, breaking only as the spear drilled through several stout trees, never slowing in its path towards the voice. Each tree it passed through disintegrated entirely, finally allowing Kevin to steal a look at his target.

“Motherfucker! So close!” Kevin shook his head in annoyance. The lizard had dodged at the last second. Not like that was new.

Well, his fellow hero had also dodged his shot, albeit barely, so there was that was nice. Not that Elena seemed to think so. If looks could kill, Kevin would be on the way to the afterlife.

Hm. Elena seems to be shouting at me. It’s kind of hard to make her out…

You… almost… hit… me… you… bastard…

It was safe to say she was pissed.

Kevin made an exaggerated show of shrugging his shoulders in response then continued to advance with all the speed his wind boots could provide.

Beneath his feet, the dirt of the forest gradually hardened out and turned to the packed earth that, if he had bothered to pay attention, anyone could tell was leading to the main road.

That is, the main road from Drassington leading to and past the Bastille.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The bastard demon kept running, and for the life of it, Elena just couldn’t figure out why. Not that it mattered all that much, with Kevin hot on their trail as backup, but it… bothered her for some reason. He just kept running down the road, pausing only for the occasional taunt and to parry her hits.

Insufferable bastard.

Elena shot forward with all the speed she could muster, grimacing in irritation as she pushed past the exhaustion that was seeping into her legs. Within seconds she neared the absolute extreme edge of the striking distance between her and the demon. Her maai, as that fucker Kevin would put it. Undoubtably with a smug grin.

Just thinking about it made Elena grip her weapon even harder as she delivered a slashing blow with her longsword. It was no longer shining, as the buff had run out the last time the swords had clashed, but a sword powered by a hero’s strength is still a force to be reckoned with. The sword swung much too fast to be perceived by the mortal eye, but once more it was lazily parried by her opponent. He hadn’t even bothered to fully turn around, or even stop. Elena bit down on her lips as she tried to muffle the sounds her heaving lungs were beginning to take. Still, her breath defied her, only fueling her rage through the feeling of weakness as she continued her dead-on sprint after Mavier.

Ahead of her, the demon suddenly leaped to the side, Elena desperately miming the action as another spear of sizzling lightning tore through the space she had once occupied, past the demon, and impacted on the road.

“KEVIN! WATCH WHERE YOU AIM THOSE!” She roared as she sidestepped the puddle of melted rock and twisted glass.

A sizable dent began to form on the grip of her longsword as her hand clutched it in anger. I’ll teach that fuckstick how to aim properly when we finally finish this shit.

Another crackling projectile arced over her head, turning her hair into a frizzy mess as it narrowly missed her head and was smoothly batted away with the flat of Mavier’s scimitar. Still, it had at least done something. Her grin turned from rage to excitement, and Elena once more threw all of her strength into her legs, leaping towards the distracted demon.

A second past, and she was at the edge of her striking distance. A half second later, and she was comfortably in range. A few muttered words during the mad dash dropped from her lips and exploded into a stream of pure, white light that bathed her sword and the various aching injuries that had managed to accumulate so far.

Mavier’s eyes widened in surprise and his scimitar, still poised over his head after deflecting the lightning spear, began to make a murderous arc downwards towards his opponent. Not even half a second passed, and Elena’s spell completed itself. Once more a choir of angelic singing murmured and whispered with vague promises of redemption, sacrifice, and hope. A bit tacky, but it still did the trick, causing the scorching flames circling the demon’s waist to temporarily retreat, almost in fear. Elena’s smile widened, and her longsword struck out like a snake, soaring towards Mavier’s defenseless left side and biting deep into the skin.

The demon howled with pain, and a merciless palm strike straight to Elena’s face dislodged the sword, and pushed the cleric out of striking range, but the damage was done. Already, a stream of red began to paint his left side, hissing and spitting where it came into contact with the flames still wrapped around the bulk of his body.

“Doesn’t that feel nice and soothing, lizard man?” Elena taunted, gesturing towards the wound and continuing to run after Mavier.

There was no response, other than a scowl and a visible effort on his face to regain focus.