Capítulo 27: Captain Lanos vs Crimson Merchant
The Crimson Merchant watched the flaming market with a smug satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with the light of the fire. His blade crackled with energy, each movement leaving a trail of fire in his wake. He could feel the power of the flame coursing through his veins, making him stronger, faster, and more dangerous.
With a dramatic flourish, he reached up and ripped off his mask.
The Crimson Merchant revealed his true face to the world, and it was one that would haunt the nightmares of all who beheld it. His skin was a ghastly pale, a stark contrast to the flaming red of his eyes, which burned with the intensity of the very flames he wielded. His nose was sharp and hooked, reminiscent of a raptor's beak, and his cheekbones were high and sharp, lending him an almost inhuman visage. His lips were thin and drawn back in a perpetual sneer, revealing teeth that were too long and too pointed for any man.
His hair was a wild, untamed mass of black, each strand seemingly infused with the very shadows from which he had emerged. It fell to his shoulders in a tangled mess, as if it had not seen a brush in years.
The Crimson Merchant's grin widened, revealing teeth sharper than any blade. "Your valor is commendable, Captain," he hissed, the flames in his eyes dancing with malicious glee. "But it is futile."
Captain Lanos stood firm, his holy blade a beacon of hope amidst the inferno. "The light of Valthorne will never be extinguished," he retorted, his voice unwavering.
The Merchant swung his fiery sword in a wide arc, and Lanos met it with a bolt of pure light, the explosion sending shards of fire and holy light in every direction. They circled each other, each waiting for the other to make a mistake.
The Crimson Merchant close the gap between them. Lanos brought up his sword to deflect the blow, but the Merchant twisted in mid-air, his blade slicing through a cart and sending a shower of embers into the knight's face. Lanos staggered back, his eyes watering, and the Merchant struck again.
This time, Lanos was ready. He invoked a barrier of pure light, the flaming sword bouncing off the protective shield. The Merchant snarled and tried to close the distance again, but Lanos was too fast. He sidestepped the blade and brought his own weapon down in a swift arc, aiming for the Merchant's exposed shoulder.
The Merchant's speed was unmatched. He caught Lanos' sword with his bare hand, the holy blade sizzling and smoking as it met his fiery flesh. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a bolt of lightning into the steel, causing the blade to vibrate uncontrollably in the captain's grasp. Lanos' eyes widened in shock, but he managed to maintain his grip, the lightning dancing around his hand but not penetrating his skin.
They broke apart, their breaths ragged in the acrid air. The Merchant's grin grew more sadistic as he reveled in the power coursing through him. He leapt into the air, the flames around him propelling him higher. Lanos looked up, raising his sword in defense.
The Merchant descended like a meteor, a pillar of fire and lightning. The ground cracked where he landed, and the knights' shields shattered like glass. Lanos raised his sword in a cross-block, but the Merchant's blade was too swift. It sliced through the steel, leaving a trail of fire that traced a crimson cross on the cobblestones.
The captain stumbled back, his armor charred, but his spirit unbroken. He invoked a light barrier that grew from the ground, surrounding him in a sphere of pure, radiant energy. The Merchant's fiery onslaught washed over it, the flames hissing as they met the divine shield.
A sudden whisper of shadows at the edge of the firelight caught Lanos' attention. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Enigma, his cloak fluttering as he emerged from the alley. His eyes gleamed with malice as he assessed the battle.
With a flourish, Enigma raised his hand and a wooden shield, the size of a carriage, grew from the ground beside him. He hurled it with a flick of his wrist, sending it spinning through the air like a lethal discus. The Crimson Merchant watched with amusement as the shield smashed into the light barrier, shattering it into a shower of sparks.
The two moved in unison. Lanos, his eyes narrowed in determination, brought his sword to bear. The Merchant countered with a bolt of lightning, which Lanos deflected with a well-timed strike. The energy crackled and arced, catching a nearby stall alight. Enigma took advantage of the distraction, conjuring a swarm of razor-sharp leaves from the ground beneath lanos feet.
The captain leaped over the whirlwind of leaves, landing gracefully. His sword sang as it cleaved through the air, aiming for the Merchant's heart. But Enigma was faster. A wooden spike shot up from the ground, stopping the blade's descent with a deafening crack. The Merchant took the opportunity to close the gap, his fiery blade a mere inch from Lanos' throat.
With a snarl, the captain activated a holy shield, a dome of light that sent the Merchant reeling back. The flaming blade was knocked from his hand, landing in the flaming wreckage of a nearby stall. He watched as Lanos retreated, his sword now a bastion of divine power, the light pushing back the shadows that had gathered around the Merchant.
The Merchant's eyes narrowed, and his hand shot out, grasping for the fire that danced around him. The flames coalesced into a whip, which he cracked through the air with a sadistic grin. The whip snapped at Lanos, wrapping around the holy blade and yanking it from the captain's grip.
Lanos stumbled, his shield flickering as he tried to regain his balance. Enigma took this moment to pounce, his hands a blur as he summoned a wooden scythe from the air. He swung it in a wide arc, aiming to reap the knight's life.
The Crimson Merchant watched with an amused smirk as Lanos managed to evade the scythe's deadly swing. The knight's holy blade, now a fiery projectile, shot back at the Merchant, who caught it with a snarl, the heat of the blade searing his hand. The two stared at each other, both knowing they had underestimated their opponent.
"It seems we need to change our approach," the Merchant murmured, his voice low and menacing.
The fiery whip snaked out again, latching onto Lanos' ankle. He yanked the knight off his feet, sending him crashing to the ground.
Lanos struggled against the searing pain, his eyes watering from the intense heat. The Merchant leaned over him, his grin a macabre sight in the firelight. "Your god's light is no match for my flames," he whispered, his breath hot on the knight's face.
With a flick of his other hand, the Merchant sent a gout of flame shooting into the air. It formed into the shape of a phoenix, its fiery wings spread wide, before diving down at Lanos. The knight rolled, narrowly avoiding the incinerating plume, but the force of the attack sent him tumbling into a nearby stall, knocking over barrels and crates.
The air was thick with the scent of burning wood and flesh as the Crimson Merchant and Enigma closed in. The latter's eyes gleamed with excitement. Lanos managed to get to his feet, his armor charred and smoking. He knew that he was outmatched, but his faith burned as brightly as ever.
The Merchant's fiery whip lashed out again, wrapping around Lanos' chest. He pulled him close, the heat from the flaming lash searing the captain's skin.
"Your valor is your downfall," the Merchant sneered, his voice a mix of amusement and contempt.
The fiery lash tightened around Lanos' chest, the heat intense and unbearable. He gritted his teeth, pushing against the pain, his eyes never leaving the Merchant's burning gaze. With a roar of defiance, Lanos summoned the last of his strength, channeling the light into a final, desperate strike.
The Merchant anticipated the move, his hand flashing out to catch the captain's fist. The flame from the whip surged up, consuming Lanos' hand and forearm. He screamed, a sound of anguish that was drowned out by the roar of the burning market
Before Captain Lanos could do anything, Enigma flashed towards him and sliced through his neck with a precise cut.
The Merchant's whip retreated, revealing the grisly sight of Lanos' head rolling away, his eyes still aglow with the light of his faith. His body fell limply to the ground, the flames that had once been his armor fizzling out like a candle in the rain.
The market was a scene of absolute devastation. Stalls lay in ruins, the air was thick with the acrid scent of burned flesh and charred wood.
Amidst the wreckage, the Crimson Merchant and Enigma surveyed their handiwork, their faces a mix of satisfaction and anticipation. "Our work here is done," the Merchant said, his voice echoing through the smoldering remnants of the market.
The two villains disappeared into the shadows, their forms fading like embers in the night.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder