No sooner had Or'do vanished, arms raised to praise the Sun's glory, than his glyphs were materializing again, etched above the ladder that lead onward, toward a chamber at whose apex a Lothric Knight clad in silver turned dull with mire, his scarlet eyes closed in contemplation. Noraan drew a sharp breath, remembering this beast, and how troublesome he oft was in the company of his healer; surely a fight he could handle alone, but something about his companion inspired curiosity, and it was this more than a dire need for aid that rested his palm against those glowing runes, and bid Or'do come forth once more.
"Mornin" Or'do yawned dramatically as he rose from the stones, his glyphs erupting into a radiant flare around him, then fading like stalwart embers at last turning dark and cold.
"Morning?" Noraan glanced around, "It seems nearer noon."
"Ah whatever." Waving a dismissive hand, Or'do strode into the chamber, heading unerringly for the kneeling knight, who stood wreathed in mottled scarlet as his healer -a skeletal figure slumped and hunchbacked in its voluminous brown robe- wrung a frail note from its chime, empowering its ally.
"Or'do!" Starting after him, Noraan was startled when Or'do merely raised a hand, signalling that he should stay back. What?! Even Noraan had difficulty vanquishing the Knight, far more so when he ignored its healer. What is he planning?
Motionless, Or'do folded his arms and waited as the Knight strode toward him, thrusting its holy blade out to one side, sheathing it in a cone of brilliant white light. Its shield of rugged steel rose, anticipating a slash that never came, for Or'do still stood without moving, glowering at his foe as if his stare alone could melt it where it stood. Perhaps it was perplexed, or merely amused, for it cocked its head at him, scarlet eyes shining like flame kindled in the darkness of its skull.
It swung, blade blurring into a pale crescent, screaming toward Or'do with tremendous force, yet as it bore down upon him, Or'do twisted aside, turning on his trailing foot and bringing up his bare hand, catching the blade on his palm with a flare of blinding light. His fingers closed around the weapon's keen edge and glimmering face, flame rippling over his knuckles and pouring from his fingertips. The light along its blade flickered, uneven and tentative, sickly like drowning torchlight. Amusement crept over the monster's sunken face, quickly souring into panic as it wrenched and strained, unable to tear its weapon free. Or'do closed his fist, the blade shattering like struck glass, drifting between his iron fingers in a glittering hailstorm. He lunged, pivoting on his leading foot and driving his free hand against the monster's face, snapping its head back with an audible crack! A crack like thunder rang out as the Knight spun where it stood, life already turning its eyes dark. It fell limp to the earth, head lolling upon shattered spine, skull caved where bone had been turned to dust beneath the cataclysmic blow. Smoke drifted from its yawning maw, reaching plaintively for the heavens as Or'do stepped over it, thrusting one hand to the side flame swirling around his forearm.
The healer trembled, frantically shaking its chime, yet summoning not even as gasp from its fallen ally. It turned and fled, giving Noraan the stark image of its face twisting in shock as a bulge appeared in its chest, then exploded forth; Or'do's fist covered in gore, glistening wetly in the torchlight, jutted like a decorative spire from its torn flesh.
"Well then, come along." He shook the monster free, letting it crumple to the earth. "We haven't all day."
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