Go, Siraye commanded. Within less than the time it takes a heart to beat, they had each struck their first targets. Black blood and darkened body parts flew in accordance with their strikes.
It looks like Thoma's going to have his hands full, she thought, severing the heads of three hegraphenes simultaneously.
She pushed forward, making sure that each of her companions were able to handle the enemies that came for them. Within a few moments, everything had gone according to plan, as she was able to single out the largest creature with the plume that protruded from the back of its head.
"I recognize your kind, and know you have the capability for speech. Who are you and what do you want?" she asked plaintively "You know that I can speak, and yet you do not realize that I am far superior to any of the others you or your companions have slain? To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement," Gavar replied, spreading his thick arms widely.
"Before we begin, know that I am Gavar, Lord of the Iron Plume clan of Hegraphenes; the greatest clan in the entirety of the Underworld," he said with a wide gesture. "What I want, however, is nothing I am willing to share unless I deem you a worthy opponent. Give me your name so that I might give you a swift end in return," he said, unsheathing a jagged blade that was nearly the length of his body.
Siraye chuckled as her golden eyes flared. "The mighty Lord of the Hegraphenes has already found me worthy of his blade but not his purpose? Fine, then. I am Siraye Fayren, Commander of the Royal Guard and of those that have kept your kind at bay for the last few centuries," she said, drawing her own sword.
"Then you certainly have survived many battles. From one warrior to another, know that I will not judge you lightly, nor will I leave you any room for error," Gravar said, getting into his stance as the battle raged on around the two of them. "I would expect nothing less," Siraye said with an excited yet voracious grin on her face.
A cloud of snow kicked up as the two of them dashed in towards each other. The clash of their swords rang out through the forest, creating a shockwave that knocked a few of the lesser hegraphenes off their feet. "You're stronger than you look," Gravar said, putting enough pressure on her blade to hold it in place.
"After the last battle I had with your kind, I learned very quickly to not even bother conserving my strength," she said coyly. They pushed away from each other, meeting up somewhere else away from the larger group for another barrage of strikes, stabs and parries.
Vyra, Haldir, Ysevel, and Derion had their hands full dealing with the others that charged them. Ysevel's sword cut beautiful arcs of blackened blood through the air, while Vyra's spear quickly found itself embedded beneath the jaw of a creature. Haldir had to retreat a little to make sure he wasn't going to get swarmed while nocking another arrow.
Derion, however, was dancing a fine tune of slaughter and death, the likes of which even his comrades began to question whether he was entirely sane after all.
After having cut two of the creatures down, Ysevel looked for Thoma and Irun, knowing their battle was still ongoing. She increased the amount of mana in her eyes to be able to see their signatures between the trees.
He's had to reveal his third stage so quickly? Either he's planning something or Irun really has him on his back foot. His old friend is most certainly hiding something, but I can't quite figure out what it is, yet, she thought, lifting her sword up to block yet another incoming strike.
Meanwhile, Siraye was still battling Gravar, both of them having inflicted minor wounds on each other. The blood from her cuts began to seep through the open spaces in her armor. Another slice came down at an angle which she barely managed to parry. Unfortunately, she was unable to deflect it entirely, as the tip of the blade cut from the top of her eyebrow down to the base of her jaw.
That's going to leave a scar, she thought as she clicked her tongue, wincing through the pain.
Increasing the amount of mana in her body tenfold, she dashed behind Gravar; her eyes glowing intensely as her face was little more than a blurred shadow. Gravar turned just a little too late, as her sword had already found purchase between the thick, chitinous plates that lined his body. She sliced at those seams repeatedly, feeling the edge of her blade bite into sinew and flesh alike, forcing the dark creature to its knees.
She heard a quiet gurgling beneath the chitin that covered the lower half of his face, and allowed herself a heavy sigh. "You were better than the last one I fought. I'm just sad it had to end so quickly," she said, using the point of her blade to tilt the hegraphene's chin up towards her.
"Unfortunately, the last one I'd ended up killing much more quickly. Gods, I wasn't even able to ask it a question before it croaked. Now that you've been beaten, and holding out better than the last one, I've got to ask: Why the fuck are you here?" she asked, glaring down at the kneeling creature.
"You've beaten me fairly, and I accept my defeat," he began with a bit of a cough. "I will honor your wish, from one warrior to another, so long as you offer me a quicker death than bleeding out like this," he said, black blood still pouring from his mouth and down his neck. Siraye responded with a simple grunt and a nod.