Fall of a Graceful Darkness *Malice's Battle*

[Ludro "Ace" Gamblington]

Lurdo's legs were hit, but his arm took most of the damage. When he landed, his arm was bruised, bleeding and facing in the wrong direction. "Ouch... That is a Trump card..." He said, as he stood up. One of his cards got under him and lifted him up to follow Malice. "Ah, I am not letting you leave the poker table. Not yet."

[milicia]

Racing past it's massive legs Milicia moved swiftly up the creature's tail. Though it lashed back and forth with every twist of Quaytvol's hips Milicia somehow managed to remain on top. Still, five hundred feet was a long trek and by the time she had reached it's sturdy back her hasted blur had faded and left her old body to pause for breath.

Yet as she peered up along the horizon like landscape of the abomination's back she saw the sorcerer waiting for her. "You again. Had I known you have dared to cross me again I would have crushed you in Guasto when I had the chance." She said with a panting grimace.

[Maliciferum]

(So it appears that no one {including myself} is really into this battle, so I am going to end it. I'm summing up what the rest of the Malice portion of this battle, and then whoever decides to continue will have to face Quaytvol)

Malice was kneeling on the ground, clutching his left arm and staring at Zelos and Ludro. The trio stood among the wreckage of their epic battle. The carcasses of countless slain soldiers littered the ground between the gaping holes, twisted plants, and patches of scorched earth.

An expression of peace graced Malice's porcelain face. The sigil Trucido had placed on him was broken, and he was free. Sensing his end, Malice stood. "Forgive me heroes. This is not the outcome I had intended." As his body began to disintegrate into black and purple smoke, he gazed upon the destruction he had caused. "Trucido's power over me has been usurped, but your fight has not ended." Pointing to Quaytvol, Malice explained that the creature was crafted by Trucido from anti-matter, much like his soldiers. Malice revealed to the heroes that in order to defeat it and stop it from destroying what was left of Allorum they would have to find what was anchoring the anti-matter to the world. (check it's head) And with a final smile, Malice was gone...absorbed into the magic of Allorum.

[milicia]

(Ummm, what?)

Milicia stood in wonder as Malice died...very suddenly. "Looks like that's one less thing for me to worry about." Turning to Quaytvol's head she made her way forward, hoping to find a way to bring down the massive beast.

[Ludro "Ace" Gamblington]

Ludro watched as the foe he was fighting dissolved. He smiled, and said "Looks like I won the jackpot..." He then grabbed his side, with his bruised up arm, "And I know when to call it quits.." He then landed on the ground, and stumbled away from Quaytvol. "This is the high roller table, and I don't have enough chips to go in." He winced at his extreme pain to his gut, and stayed under the tree, well behind Quaytvol's path of destruction.

[milicia]

Moving as fast as her body could to the peak of the monstrosity's head Milicia saw the point Malice mentioned. While the rest of the head was covered in a tough carapace the spot in question seemed to pulse slowly. It was as if it was breathing, waxing and waning to its own dark rhythm.

"Time to end this." Milicia pulled forth a dagger from her legging and threw it into the exposed weak point of Quaytvol. With the dagger stuck she called on her magic with a long incantation. The sky trembled with fury as the arcane forces gathered above her.

At last with the final words she pointed a finger out at the dagger and from the clouds came a sharp bolt of lighting that struck the beast in it's exposed area. She knew one bolt would not be enough to quell the creature's rampage, so she kept her focus and unleashed bolt after bolt against its weak point, each one bringing her closer to victory.

[Quaytvol]

As Milicia casted a spell at Quaytvol, a mass formed quickly behind her. As she made the second bolt, it took on the form of the former ruler of Night Warspawn. The former ruler raised his blade and slammed it right at Milicia's back at an earth shattering force.

[milicia]

As the sky illuminated with a streak of deadly electricity Milicia saw the towering shadow of Night stretch across Quaytvol's head. Leaping towards the weak point she moved just quickly enough for the blade to miss it's mark, while the air pressure it carried with it sliced across the back of her coat.

Pivoting quickly to conceal the glowing Rune of Bonding on her exposed back she stared at Night with surprise. "You... I had wondered what had become of you Night. To think you were reduced to no more than a slave of Trucido's whim. Worry not, it is a fate you will not have to endure much longer." She followed her words with a quick incantation as another bolt struck the dagger, sending it unerring might into Quaytvol once more.

[Quaytvol]

The Night that that stood there, and when the lightning bolt struck the dagger, he shoved his sword towards the dagger and removed it from the spot. "I am not the real Night. I only took his image since it is his ashes we are using." He moved towards him, as he looked at his blade, and grinned, "You are not going to win by striking there with magic. You will be dead 3 times over before you would have made a dent." He said as he swung his blade down at her again.

[milicia]

Gracefully hopping backwards Milicia dodged the slash of the imitation Night. Her glance moved from the exposed weak point back to Night, and with it her expression changed from frustration to a wide grin.

"If you were really made with the spirit of Night, then a shred of his honor should lie within you as well. You want a strong opponent to battle don't you? Then quell this senseless murder of my people!" She swept her hand out dramatically as she spoke. "They are but gnats at your feet. Leave them be, and I will offer you a battle worthy of your strength."

[Quaytvol]

Night shade stood there, and grinned it's eyeless face at her. Quaytvol stopped moving, and then roared loudly. "You got it, but if someone attacks Quaytvol, it is their risk..." He then bolt over and side swiped right at Milicia's legs.

[milicia]

Milicia drew forth her epee in time to parry Night's slash. Her eyes grew in surprise with indeed how easy it was to deflect the impostor's blade. She flashed a smile confidently as her open palm radiated with heat before blasting at Night with a column of flames.

"It seems you have his characteristics, not his strength. I'll stop you soon enough." With a tiny hop back Milicia begun a lithesome dance as she begun to channel a holy spell.

[Quaytvol]

THe Night looked and then it grinned. "Doing a spell? Have fun with that!" He said then he swung multiple of times right at Milicia, building strength with every movement with his arm.

[milicia]

Milicia moved to the steps of her spell, dancing away from Night's blade when she could and using her epee to parry Night's weapon away when she drew close. Were it a contest of strength she would surely lose but an epee was nothing if not strong at deflecting pure strength with it's design.

"A copy doesn't stand a chance against me, especially not now. Now taste this!" Milicia raised her hand as she pretended to cast forth an arcane spell. What the old Night was would have never known was that Milicia had her divine magic in the night time thanks to her fixed rune. With a twist forward she formed a barrier over her epee, creating a needle thin extension of the blade as she thrust it into Night's head.

"Now it's time I finish this." Sliding the blade out she paused to make sure Night was dead.

[Quaytvol]

The Night looked right at the blade and grabbed it. "I am not the real Night. I am not even a person, so a stab in the head wont just do it." He said, then swung his blade right at her defenseless torso.