FVN Chapter 217 A Knight's Stand
Chapter 217 A Knight's Stand
Bubbling, popping, and scraping; the heat growled and hissed at everything it touched. The air itself seemed to ignite, causing a sewer lid to pop up from the scorching temperatures. As a droplet of sweat trickled down his chin, he made the first move–
Bringing his sword up, it became engulfed in a coalescence of scarlet and black aura, intertwining into a blossoming skull.
["Deathprint Blade"]
The gathering of magical output weighed down his blade, having to tug it down with both hands into a mighty slash. A rippling conjuration of a rose-blooming skull was released, tearing forward through the melting asphalt.
As the skull chomped its rotten teeth through the burnt street, the Sun hadn't budged an inch, not so much as unfolding his blazing arms.
'He's not–?' Jasper thought, watching the deathly release crash against the manifested star.
The impact expanded with a howl like that of fading wolves, taking the form of a toxic cloud that engulfed the burning entity. Only for a split-second did he believe he might've claimed victory before the smoke was pushed away, giving way for the unbridled shine of the Sun once more.
"Right, thought so...A guy can hope," Jasper mumbled with a tired breath.
The Sun's arms had yet to so much as unfold, not having moved from his spot as a vicious smile remained perched on that fire-formed mouth.
"That was your opening strike? Unimpressive, but I shall respond," The Sun dictated.
A chill ran over the knight's body with the declaration from the entity, witnessing the figure unfold their arms with malicious intent. Every part of his body instructed him to "move", though he had no idea where–after all, the Sun's reach was simply too vast.
From the fingertips of the Sun, condensed, fast-moving beams of solar energy released, being whipped around without any care for collateral. No, it was more it seemed that the Sun sought to destroy not just the human, but everything around him–
"Ga-ha-ha-ha!"
Jasper ducked down, dodging one as another came for his torso, only intercepted by his floating shield automatically getting in front of it.
Looking upon that mighty figure, Jasper questioned himself again–
'What am I doing? Do I think I even stand a chance against something like this? Seriously, just look at it, Jasper–that's the sort of shit you'd be seeing in a comic book! Save it for Superman or Thor–well, they aren't around,' he convinced himself, feeling the overwhelming heat radiating off of the overwhelming presence.
Amidst his own doubts, he blinked back into focus, finding the figure gone from the burnt screen, instead right in front of him before–
A flash of heat pushed against his body, though it was the direct force that he felt first. It rippled through his body, feeling that tremendous fist drive directly into his abdomen. All he could see was that fiery smile, burned into his mind as the air was pushed out of his mouth as a steaming gasp.
Before another breath could be drawn, he was flung back by the follow-up of the swift punch, smacking into multiple seats, crashing right through the wall as he bounced into the theater lobby. All he could do was cough out and gasp, wheezing for air as he laid on his chest, feeling as though he had swallowed burning coals.
["In terms of defensive capabilities, the "Armageddon Armor" was the best he had access to. Yet, the magical metal was caved in with the steaming imprint of the Sun's knuckles."]
Those heavy stomps were felt more than they were heard, each one sending vibrations that murmured through his armor.
'Gotta...get up,' he urged himself, having to beg his muscles to listen.
["Wartime Rejuvenation"]
The knight-class ability pushed a refreshing force through his body; flowing into each limb, his aching bones and sore muscles were given a second wind.
It wasn't a "heal" by any means, though it provided him the means of picking himself up off the floor. With a hardly sturdy stance, he rose to his feet, breathing out as he stared ahead at the hole left in the theater lobby from his own body.
"Able to stand? Not as fragile as I thought, then. You get commendations for not having your insides turned to ash," the Sun remarked, already standing before him. "--Let's see where that limit lies, then."