quickly, avoiding the blow. As the hammer swung past her she stood back up and landed a solid punch directly into the center of Ramiel’s breastplate. Although Nuriel didn’t wear gauntlets, her fist was protected by an aura of shining Caliber energy that created a powerful impact and Ramiel stumbled backward. Nuriel wasn’t finished however, and she spun, delivering a kick right to his neck. Ramiel used the force of the blow to throw himself over in a flip, and landing on his feet, dashed in with his hammer extended.
Nuriel flared her Caliber and with a sweeping arm gesture sent a wave of torn earth and rock washing over Ramiel. Ramiel cursed as he raised his arms defensively, flaring his Caliber a brilliant gold, causing the wave of sundered earth to break upon him like waves over a rocky shore.
Nuriel stood staring Ramiel down. He returned her gaze with his one molten-topaz eye. He tilted his head, cracking his neck. “Nice one, love. Seems you’re starting to get the taste for real battle. But you just standing there makes me question whether you got what it takes to kill me.”
Nuriel’s golden eyes narrowed into slits and she flourished her claymore. From the corner of her eyes she noticed that the formation of knights down below were slowly starting to make their way up the path. It wouldn’t be long before the first of them were within striking range of bolt-throwers.
Ramiel scowled. “So, you’re just going to stand there and make me come to you?” He chuckled and spit. “I don’t usually chase after women, but for you I’ll make an exception.”
Ramiel sent a burst of Caliber energy forth, exploding the debris around his feet toward Nuriel. She extended her left hand, golden Caliber energy encompassing it and deflecting the debris. But now Ramiel was on her. Nuriel flourished her claymore, deflecting the hammer, just as Ramiel jumped and spun with a kick. Nuriel was forced to flip herself backward to avoid the blow, and when she landed she immediately spun outward with her sword, the sharp black tip of the star-metal blade slicing Ramiel’s chin open. She twisted the opposite direction, spinning her foot around and bringing her heavy star-metal boot square into his chest. It impacted like thunder and Ramiel fell backwards, rolling upon the ground before springing back to his feet.
Ramiel cursed as he took a hand and wiped the thickening pool of blood from his chin. Nuriel held her offensive stance, crouched upon the ground with her sword at the ready, her golden eyes trained on her target. Ramiel looked at her, his lips upturned in anger of the indignity of being hit. Twice.
“You’re giving me quite the problem, love.” he said. He spat upon the ground. “I ain’t gonna hold back any more.”
Nuriel flourished her sword, her molten eyes not flinching despite the growing problem behind Ramiel. A battalion of knights was now forming and more than a few bolt-throwers were trained on her.
Ramiel seemed to sense them and held up a gauntleted hand as he spat on the ground, not taking his burning eyes off Nuriel. “You all stand down until I’m done here.” He winked at Nuriel.
She flourished her blade.
Ramiel shot in with a roar, his hammer whirling in controlled circles. Again Nuriel found herself having to work her sword in quick motions to deflect the blows as they were delivered in blinding speed and uncanny force. Even deflected Ramiel’s blows came like sledgehammers, threatening to knock her off balance. It took all her skill and Caliber to withstand the impacts and keep on her feet. Just as she thought she was getting ahead of the game, almost ready to get back on the offensive, Isley was back in the fray.
Silently Nuriel cursed. She was glad her mentor had not been badly injured or worse, but she could face Ramiel better alone. Isley was quick. Blinding even. His sword strokes were fast and true, but they were also predictable. Isley was a good warrior; not great. Unfortunately,
Nuriel flared her Caliber and with a sweeping arm gesture sent a wave of torn earth and rock washing over Ramiel. Ramiel cursed as he raised his arms defensively, flaring his Caliber a brilliant gold, causing the wave of sundered earth to break upon him like waves over a rocky shore.
Nuriel stood staring Ramiel down. He returned her gaze with his one molten-topaz eye. He tilted his head, cracking his neck. “Nice one, love. Seems you’re starting to get the taste for real battle. But you just standing there makes me question whether you got what it takes to kill me.”
Nuriel’s golden eyes narrowed into slits and she flourished her claymore. From the corner of her eyes she noticed that the formation of knights down below were slowly starting to make their way up the path. It wouldn’t be long before the first of them were within striking range of bolt-throwers.
Ramiel scowled. “So, you’re just going to stand there and make me come to you?” He chuckled and spit. “I don’t usually chase after women, but for you I’ll make an exception.”
Ramiel sent a burst of Caliber energy forth, exploding the debris around his feet toward Nuriel. She extended her left hand, golden Caliber energy encompassing it and deflecting the debris. But now Ramiel was on her. Nuriel flourished her claymore, deflecting the hammer, just as Ramiel jumped and spun with a kick. Nuriel was forced to flip herself backward to avoid the blow, and when she landed she immediately spun outward with her sword, the sharp black tip of the star-metal blade slicing Ramiel’s chin open. She twisted the opposite direction, spinning her foot around and bringing her heavy star-metal boot square into his chest. It impacted like thunder and Ramiel fell backwards, rolling upon the ground before springing back to his feet.
Ramiel cursed as he took a hand and wiped the thickening pool of blood from his chin. Nuriel held her offensive stance, crouched upon the ground with her sword at the ready, her golden eyes trained on her target. Ramiel looked at her, his lips upturned in anger of the indignity of being hit. Twice.
“You’re giving me quite the problem, love.” he said. He spat upon the ground. “I ain’t gonna hold back any more.”
Nuriel flourished her sword, her molten eyes not flinching despite the growing problem behind Ramiel. A battalion of knights was now forming and more than a few bolt-throwers were trained on her.
Ramiel seemed to sense them and held up a gauntleted hand as he spat on the ground, not taking his burning eyes off Nuriel. “You all stand down until I’m done here.” He winked at Nuriel.
She flourished her blade.
Ramiel shot in with a roar, his hammer whirling in controlled circles. Again Nuriel found herself having to work her sword in quick motions to deflect the blows as they were delivered in blinding speed and uncanny force. Even deflected Ramiel’s blows came like sledgehammers, threatening to knock her off balance. It took all her skill and Caliber to withstand the impacts and keep on her feet. Just as she thought she was getting ahead of the game, almost ready to get back on the offensive, Isley was back in the fray.
Silently Nuriel cursed. She was glad her mentor had not been badly injured or worse, but she could face Ramiel better alone. Isley was quick. Blinding even. His sword strokes were fast and true, but they were also predictable. Isley was a good warrior; not great. Unfortunately,
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