All-Consuming Shadows

[Jaixe]

Jaxe scurried along the rooftops, having caught the scent and heard the cries of a child. He had to hurry, lest the others in his group managed to get her first. Still, something seemed wrong. Prey were unusually scarce, and their entry into the First District was blocked by powerful hunters... He continued onward though, followed by four other shadows and a red nocturne, flying above them.

[Jaixe]

Jaxe continued forward, nearing his prey as he saw other shadows moving about, and the cries of the young girl grew louder. That disturbing sense of danger didn't dissipate, however, and he chose to skirt along the rooftop edges, followed by his peers. He stalked the girl, debating on whether to make his move.

[Jaixe]

Jaxe watched as the other shadows neared. He still hadn't made his choice, and it seemed his indecisiveness would cost him his next meal. Then, he sensed another entity nearing their location. It seemed his instincts paid off as he awaiting the arrival of his next victim.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis warily stepped into the second district, keeping alert. Looking around, he realized the reason they were so easily able to take this part of the town - the district seemed almost made to hide heartless. seeing a pair of yellow eyes, he looked to watch the eyes emerge as a shadow. wordlessly, Teldranis turned on one of his psi blades, striking it just before it was able to morph to dodge the blow, Thankful it had underestimated him in that moment. He was aware killing one would likely bring more, though...

[Jaixe]

Jaxe decided to abandon the girl as his target, seeking out the stronger heart. He watched as the other heartless suddenly stopped in their tracks, sensing the same as he did... A larger meal had appeared in their den of shadows. It was a matter of whether the hunters can take down this new prey.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis looked around, seeing several more heartless appear before him, from several sides. Well, at least they'd be distracted from the girl... Perhaps she'd escape while Teldranis fought these beings... and died in the process. Feeling he'd had enough, he finally snapped out to the heartless "Come, then! See what it takes to slay one of the firstborn!" he broadcasted to the beings approaching him, lighting his second psionic blade to begin what he imagined would be his last battle...

[Jaixe]

Jaiex watched as the first group of shadows charged at Telldranis. He watched from the rooftops, curious. His instincts told him that this opponent was great indeed, but those around him were desiring to rush into the action. It was his inaction that seemed to entice them onwards.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis turned as the first shadow clawed towards him, neatly sidestepping the attack before stabbing it with his psionic blade, the shadow's height making this somewhat awkward, and demanifesting it with the strike. A second shadow jumped towards him, only to be knocked away by a kick from Teldranis, Before Teldranis, now in a stooped stance to better combat these creatures, stabbed at a third. However, the creature morphed at the last second, going around and behind Teldranis, whilst a fourth scratched at him, the blow bouncing off of Teldranis's shields, which were built to last such light attacks. Still, Teldranis knew they could not last forever...

[Jaixe]

Jaxe couldn't wait much longer. He skimmed across the roof to be able to launch from a good angle at his prey. An angle he hoped to not have guarded... and then he jumped, launching from a flank and landing, quickly followed by the four other shadows.

The first four shadows darted for Tell immediately, but Jaxe hesitated, wondering one last time if this was a good idea. He waited to see if his pawns would survive the first assault.

[Teldranis]

Striking down first one, then another shadow with his blades, Teldranis lightly jumped back before stabbing outwards again, missing the suddenly-morphed shadow only to suddenly jump to the side, keeping the 4th heartless in view, which was running at him, whilst keeping the now unmorphed shadow in view.

[Jaixe]

Jaxe watched as Tell easily felled his allies, and then a fireball came crashing down on his prey. So, the mage wasn't such a coward after all. That was good. He morphed and moved out of Tell's view before utilizing his revival ability on one of his fallen comrades, deigning to wait until his moment to strike.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis was pushed back by the attack, and a beeping of his shield generator's informed him the shield was currently at 20%. Seeing the firey attacker on the rooftop, he realized he could never reach him from his current position. However... what if he were to use that technique? Only high templar were really supposed to have the mental fortitude to use it... but Teldranis was out of options. Charging energy on his forehead, he suddenly fired off a bolt of blue energy in return at the red nocturne - a Psionic bolt. At the same time, he sidestepped the pair of Shadow's clawing attacks, kicking one of them further away.

[Jaixe]

The Red Nocturne fired a sphere of flames at the attack and found it ineffective against the nature of the attack, failing to block it and dissipating due to it. Jaxe morphed and moved about again, getting closer to Tell while the other shadow he resurrected moved immediately after him. As the shadow struck, so too did Jaxe from behind. From a third angle, the other remaining shadows unmorphed and struck at Telldranis, having kept out of view earlier.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis looked around, seeing the other shadows come into view as he fought. He knew there was a good chance he would die here today - but he would do so fighting, as an honorable protoss warrior! "For Adun!" Teldranis yelled, firing another psionic bolt at a nearby charging shadow, before dodging another shadow's attack, slicing it as he did so. He'd started to get used to these being's attacks, but, as he scanned the area again and saw several more appearing, he realized that the odds were still not tipped in his favor.

[Jaixe]

Jaxe revived another of his fallen comrades again as the two remaining shadows leapt forward at Teldranis again. They weren't letting up, as as the other Heartless formed around Teldranis, they stayed back, waiting for their moments to strike.

[Teldranis]

Pulling himself back, Teldranis struck down the first heartless, only for the second to claw at his armor, reducing the shielding to 5%. Striking down this heartless as well, Teldranis Fired a psionic bolt at Jaiex, thinking him simply another heartless.

[Jaixe]

Jaxe saw the bolt all too late as he was struck. However, he formed into a black cloud of shadowy energy rather than fully dissipating. A part of him called for him to continue to exist, refusing to fall here regardless of the circumstance. While the cloud began to swirl into a singular area, the other heartless lunged themselves at Tell, seeking to devour him.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis struck out once, twice, thrice, each hit striking a kill, but several more getting through, knocking out his shields, though most able to do little more than scratch at the armor they, luckily, hit, As Teldranis took the opportunity to take out several quickly, as they tried to escape, the clawing attack leaving them open and unable to morph for a couple seconds.

[Jaixe]

The Heartless retreated quickly from the superior foe and as another more equal foe began to form. Behind Tell, an outburst of power erupted as a more humanoid-looking heartless appeared. This one standing considerably taller and more intimidating. It glared at Tell as it fully formed from the disparate shadowy cloud. Its yellow eyes showing no emotion, no fear.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis stepped back, sensing a large amount of energy from the life-form, matching that of a protoss warrior. finally regaining his nerve, he taunted the being. "Come! Zerask Gulihda!" Teldranis said, shifting to a thinner fighting stance better for fighting a singular opponent.

[Jaixe]

Jaxe morphed and instead of moving leapt out of the morph appearing in the sky. He used the ability to attempt to fool his opponent as he resurrected the Red Nocturne that fell earlier. He came down on Tell in a jumping attack, using only one claw though.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis held one gauntlet up to stop the claw, surprised at the power of the blow slightly pushing down on his arm, while striking with the other hand, his warp blade stabbing for the being's chest. Teldranis couldn't believe how strong the being he was facing happened to be, but resolved to defeat it nonetheless.

[Jaixe]

Jaxe flipped over Telranis, avoiding his counterattack altogether and as he pulled his attention away, the Red Nocturne attacked him with a sphere of flames. He morphed, regardless of whether the flames struck home, and flanked his target, striking at him at ground level rather than jumping, bringing his second claw to bear and casting a gravity spell.

[Teldranis]

Teldranis saw the fireball just in time and dodged out of the way with an elegant side-step, before seeing Jaiex's sudden attack. Ready for the attack this time, Teldranis made a swiping motion with his psi-blade to ward him from getting so close with his claws, before firing a psionic bolt shortly after, giving Jaiex only a second to see the attack charge. As the gravity spell suddenly struck his body, Teldranis attempted to stand his ground, getting dragged nonetheless, and feeling it's oppressive effects on his body. "not... possible." Teldranis said, barely fathoming the idea of a being of flesh and blood capable of such spatial manipulation.

[Jaixe]

The bolt crashed into Jaxe's arm as he attempted to morph again and dodge the attack. He reformed to the side again, resurrecting one of the fallen shadows. He watched as Tell struggled only for a second before he moved to attack him, uncaring for the Protoss's plight.

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