Ruthlessness is Mercy…
Left alone amidst the ruins, I pondered his warning and disappearance, realizing the complexity of the situation had just escalated. Not only did I need to find a way to cleanse and protect the temple, but now I also had to consider this man’s mysterious agenda and the possibility of his return. His little trick didn’t rattle me however, I’d seen it before after all.
I focused sharply as I whispered a prayer, a divine light briefly shimmering in my eyes as I cast True Seeing. The veil of his invisibility was pierced before my now enhanced vision, and I locked onto his form with an unwavering precision. Without hesitation, I spread my wings, ascending gracefully into the air above the desecrated grounds. I didn’t have much room here, only perhaps about 30 feet before I would hit the ceiling of the temple.
Holding my rapier aloft, I chanted an incantation, my voice imbued with divine authority. Beside my adversary, a radiant, ethereal weapon—a shimmering replica of my own blade—materialized, pulsating with celestial energy. With a mere flick of my hand, the Spiritual Weapon surged forward. It missed its mark however as the man deftly dodged my magical implement. Hovering above the ground, my wings flapped softly, steadying me as I locked gazes with him. “My resolve is unyielding, and I cannot yield. You may choose to surrender, and if you do, I assure you of your safety. Until then, I will continue to defend myself and this sacred place.”
At my words, the man seemed caught off guard by his inability to remain concealed. He scoffed, a smirk spreading across his lips as he dismissed my assurance. “Your ‘word’ means nothing to me right now. I do not back down, and it appears neither do you. So, we must continue this until you give me what I need. I have nothing but a fight for you,” he declared with a defiant tone.
I watched as he scaled the wall with astonishing speed, his movements almost a blur. However, he misjudged the distance in his eagerness to confront me directly, leaping towards me with a calculated risk. The unexpected boldness of his attack took me by surprise, yet amidst the tension, I found an odd sense of exhilaration. The dance of combat, though dangerous, carried with it a thrill that was undeniably… enjoyable.
A smirk of my own tugged at my lips as I raised my hand, directing the Spiritual Weapon to strike him once more. The ethereal blade shimmered as it moved, slicing toward its target with divine precision. “Nice try… but no dice, I’m afraid~,” I quipped, my tone light yet laced with confidence. There was a playful edge to my voice, and I could not help but admire the strength and skill behind his effort, even as I deflected it. My golden eyes sparkled, betraying my amusement despite the seriousness of this battle.
Hovering gracefully above him, my wings beat softly to maintain my elevation. As the playful smirk on my face shifted to a stern expression, I narrowed my eyes and raised my hands. Shadows gathered around my fingers, dark energy swirling ominously as I prepared to unleash a powerful spell. “Seeth,” I intoned, the word resonating in the melodious celestial language, signaling the release of necrotic energy.
My hands glowed with an inky black aura as tendrils of dark magic writhed and twisted around my palms. I directed them downward, sending the surge of magic toward my target with unyielding precision as I cast Harm. Watching intently, I frowned slightly; despite the potency of my spell, he seemed to withstand its effects with surprising resilience.
My voice rang out, firm yet calm, carrying an air of both authority and compassion. I kept my glowing hands extended, the remnants of my spell’s energy dissipating in the air, my wings holding me aloft as I gazed down upon him. “Surrender now,” I commanded, my tone resolute but devoid of malice. “I don’t wish to hurt you further.”
My eyes softened slightly, reflecting a shift from conflict to conciliation, though my posture remained resolute. What I offered was not a plea but a genuine opportunity for peace amid the tumult of our battle. It became increasingly clear that he was not the threat to this sacred place I had initially perceived. However, despite my desire to end the hostilities, I could not fully lower my guard as he remained intent on striking me down.
The mysterious man before me seemed to be frustrated at my change in strategy however, my words falling on deaf ears. I suddenly felt the air around me go dead silent, and I realized that he had cast a Silence spell around me. I raised an eyebrow as I felt that silence envelop me, simply chuckling at his audacity. My adaptation was decisive as I felt amusement dance within my eyes.
Without any need for speech, I simply flicked my wrist with a casual grace, directing my Spiritual Weapon to strike once more. That ethereal blade moved swiftly, shimmering with divine energy as it honed in on my opponent. My expression was a mix of confidence and playful defiance. If this person thought a silence spell would hinder me, I would make certain that he would realize his mistake.
As the Spiritual Weapon made its mark, my smirk remained as I adjusted the grip on my rapier, its blade glinting with a radiant light that seemed to pierce through that oppressive silence. With a graceful, deliberate motion, I swung the weapon in a wide arc, channeling divine energy through it. As the blade cut through the air, a brilliant beam of light erupted from its edge, surging toward my opponent with unstoppable force.
The divine beam veered vastly off course, missing its mark entirely. I fluttered my wings slightly in irritation, but I could feel the spark of playful defiance return within me. Lowering my rapier, I made a deliberate motion with my hand, curling my fingers toward myself in a clear, taunting gesture, as if daring him to try again. The faint smirk tugging at my lips all but betrayed my amusement, even as my stance remained poised and ready. Though the silence still cloaked my surroundings, my body language was clear and unequivocable: Come on, is that really all you’ve got?~
I maintained a steady hover, observing as his irritation visibly mounted with each passing moment. “Arrogant fool,” I thought, he clearly didn’t know who he was dealing with. Neither did I of course, as I suddenly felt his presence impossibly close. I yelped in surprise as he was quite suddenly in the air, having parkoured off the wall once more to reach me. I only barely moved out of the way, knowing all too well what would happen if he struck me.
My breath came in quick, sharp gasps as I regained my footing—or rather, my flight—my golden eyes narrowing as I refocused on him. Though surprise lingered on my face from unexpected resilience, determination quickly reclaimed me as I prepared for his next move.
The moment he landed back on the ground, my sharp gaze locked onto him. Without hesitation, I raised my hand once more, commanding my Spiritual Weapon to strike once more. The ethereal blade shimmered with divine light as it arced toward him, swift and unrelenting, its movements guided by my will as a conductor guides an orchestra.
My smirk returned, tinged with defiance as it made its mark—a devastating blow as it stabbed him through his shoulder. I could have ended it right then and there, he appeared to be close to death in that moment. Instead, I simply let out a sigh as I flew out of range of the Silence spell, my wings beating gracefully. My voice, calm but edged with weariness, broke the stillness as I spoke, “Please… surrender.” There was no anger in my tone, only a quiet plea laced with both exasperation and sincerity. I didn’t want any further bloodshed, and I held firm to my principles even as this battle tested my limits.
I swept my blade through the air, releasing another beam of divine energy. Instead of targeting him directly, I sent it searing past him—a clear warning of the consequences should he persist in his aggression. My desire to end this conflict was earnest; I wished to fulfill my duty without further violence. “Please,” I uttered, the single word heavy with the weight of my plea, hoping he would recognize the sincerity in my request and consider a peaceful resolution.