| that royal flirt Join Date: Dec 12, 2008 Posts: 7 Age: 26 Model: Gaspar Dietrich Powers: Aura Absorption (Z), Aura Generation (XY), Telekinesis (XY), Gravity Manipulation (XY), Thermokinesis (XY), and Photomanipulation (XY) | 
The cloud of dust and debris was too dense for Evariste to tell whether his latest attack had been successful. As he held his breath to avoid inhaling any of the dirt still swirling, he wasn't even sure what success would mean in this case. Normally, he would expect the attack to have injured his enemy, perhaps even seriously if he was lucky. Certainly it should have been enough to provide some distraction and annoyance.
It was too much to hope, but as Ev strained to hear and see through the dust, he thought at least some of his shrapnel attack was making contact. The sounds of rock and concrete crashing into flesh were—maybe—just barely audible over the noise of the debris raining on the ground and the ringing in Evariste's ears. As the cloud dissipated, the outline of his opponent became clearer and clearer, and Ev was sure he saw some bits of the rearguard collide with the other person. He began to be a little bit hopeful.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, dismay slammed into him as he he was finally able to make out the details of his adversary. No blood, no cuts, no gaping holes, no dents, scratches, not even any dust. Ev thought the thing might be a healer, but it was possible his barrage had just bounced off entirely, or flown straight through, as he had. He found himself craning his neck slightly to try to get a good view around the other guy, to see whether all the stones and junk had landed behind him, but Evariste didn't think so.
He couldn't strike his opponent. Ev had encountered force field generation before, but this was different. Evariste's attacker had a whole arsenal of ways to dodge blows and a whole separate battery of ways to inflict damage. He couldn't imagine such a range of powers in anyone except an aura absorber, but Evariste knew instinctively he wouldn't be able to absorb his own aura, so why should this guy?
His curiosity was satisfied on the question of whether the stones had passed through his assailant, if not about the mystery of the person's abilities. Evariste quickly shifted his focus back to his opponent, where his eyes locked into the person's stare. He felt oppressed by the weight of the gaze. It wasn't even a feeling he could identify, just an oddness around the edges. He felt his body calm down, relax almost, though his psyche was in even greater turmoil. Ev was deeply, instinctively scared. It was not just the tactical prediction of a bad outcome, but the paralyzing horror of the unknown he'd last felt huddled in his bed at age four, waiting for something horrible to burst out of his closet.
The sound of his opponent's voice was the monster he'd been waiting for. Evariste recoiled slightly, drew his breath in sharply. The single syllable seemed harsh and out of place given his lack of aura. As the meaning of the word and intonation penetrated his unconscious, Ev fought the urge, once again, to laugh hysterically. It was funny, hilarious even. His terrifying attacker had a sense of humor, and Evariste was just standing there at a loss for what to do next, trying not to giggle at the absurdity.
A flash of movement behind Ev's opponent made him start again. Probably a new attack. Evariste thought he could hold his assailant off for a while still, but he was making no progress towards success. His energy would not last indefinitely (in fact, he was already tiring), and he could not imagine having an opening to run. The guy was just too good.
Evariste stared into the distance for another second or two, trying to make out the shape stirring a hundred yards away. Unused to any real sunlight, the relative brightness of the day was uncomfortable. He unconsciously adjusted the amount of light hitting his eyes, improving his ability to make out the motion in the distance.
When he realized what was happening, he couldn't help but let out a slight snort. His original prey had finally shown up, drawn, no doubt, by the prodigious sound of the hammer striking the earth.
"Great timing," he muttered aloud as the pack of walkers picked up their pace towards the two combatants. He half meant it as he considered that his opponent, too, would have to fight off the band of predators. Perhaps it woud give him an opening. There were certainly enough of the beasts to go around, he thought, as he counted twelve, thirteen, fourteen of the former humans rushing towards them. |