Hello everyone, back again! Sorry it takes me longer to get this out, but I've recently been stressed about some medical things. NO MATTER! Let's get right into it. Favorite if you enjoy and leave a Review or PM if you have any ideas, or just want to talk at me. Whatever the case, enjoy.
The Ashen One stood, in the Firelink Shrine, poised for the simple command from his master that would allow him to test his skills, and maybe, just maybe, show the older man something he hasn't seen before. His grip tightened on the wooden staff he held, ready.
A calm, authoritative voice spoke through the room. "Begin." With that, the Ashen One readied his first spell. As he did, Orbeck cast Magic Shield on a Pontiff Knight Shield, a shield that the Undead had yet to encounter. It was light and already had latent magical abilities in it. A perfect host for Magic Shield.
The Ashen One swung his staff twice, the head of it glowing blue sporadically as two Farron Darts burst forth towards the master. Child's play. With quick and calculated movements, he stopped each blast as they were absorbed into his magic. There was little impact thanks to said magical abilities held within the shield. Another flash, a Soul Arrow pushed its way at Orbeck. He stepped sideways, just enough.
A master managed every ounce of energy, and so he only moved as far as he needed to in order to dodge the spell. By the margin of an inch it passed by him and crashed against the wall. Drawing a dagger, the only weapon Orbeck had permitted him, the Ashen One rushed him, firing a few more Farron Darts as he closed the distance.
Two dulled clangs sounded out as the Undead swiped his dagger across the shield, testing his master's defense. Each time the spell cast on it flashed briefly, signifying the magic absorbing the impact. Once more the Ashen One tried a melee attack, a stab. Just before impact, Orbeck's shield moved an inch to the side, catching the dagger and deflecting it to the side. In the same fluid motion, he pushed outwards with the article of defense, pushing his challenger back.
As the Ashen One stood still recovering from the impact, a fraction of a second was all it took for Orbeck to cast a Great Farron Dart into his chest. The Undead fell to the floor before quickly picking himself up.
"This is supposed to be a test of magic, not swordplay. Please remember that." Orbeck said in his criticizing way of voice. It angered the Ashen One to an extent, but he held his secret until later in the fight. He had to tire him out first. Once again he called forth two Farron Darts, but cast them aside from himself and they curved to meet their target. An odd technique, but not one unknown to Orbeck.
A simple counter for the Sorcerer. Stepping back a foot and a half, he watched as the Darts collided where he was supposed to be. Easy. Seeing that the man wasn't getting a challenge, the Ashen One launched a barrage of six Souls Arrows, draining a large amount of his magic. He would have to drink soon. Orbeck looked at the impending barrage calmly, and walked forward.
He wove through the Arrows like they were not there as he heard the crashing hiss of them hitting the wall. He made it close to the Ashen One, and cast Farron Flashsword. Like it's name entails, the magical blade crashed passed through the Undead's armor in a flash, doing damage. He lashed out with his dagger many times, each strike easily blocked behind the impenetrable defense that only a master behind a shield could have. He was getting pushed back, but it couldn't be long now.
Two out of the five Homing Soulmass hit the Ashen One squarely in the chest, while the others flew past. He smiled however, as Orbeck's shield was dimming. Before giving the master time to notice, he cast three Farron Darts in quick succession, just enough to get rid of the final amount of magic left in the shield. Seeing this, Orbeck began to cast his shield again.
Quickly the Ashen One launched his staff at his master's head before drinking heavily from his Ashen Estus Flask. He needed every ounce of magic for what he was about to attempt. Orbeck ducked around the piece of wood before looking at his apprentice angrily. "Just what do you think you;re doing?" He asked. The Ashen One grinned.
With a push that bent his mind in ways that shouldn't be possible, the Ashen One's hands glowed. Two Soul Spears crashed themselves into existence, pushed to either side by the caster's outstretched arms. He cast a third, putting more effort as a third, larger Soul Spear pushed straightforwards. Still reeling from seeing the impossible, Orbeck failed to put up a complete defense as the Spears, arched downwards and coming up in either direction pushed his shield upwards and lifted him slightly off his feet.
The third Soul Spear crashed squarely into his chest, the robes offering little protection. A deep pain ripped its way into his lungs and heart as the spell burst against him. Nose bleeding from the effort he just used, the Ashen One rushed forward as his master fought for breath. He something he called Dual Farron Hail, as many darts rushed out of his hands and towards the man. This time the shield was up, but he was weak. The first few he blocked, but he was eventually pushed over by the force of them all.
Finally, head hurting so hard he could barely think, the Ashen One conjured the complete body of a Farron Flashword and held it against Orbeck's throat. The spell rippled, fighting against its own existence of more than a few moments. Orbeck sighed, looking up, and coughed a bit of blood. "You've done well", and he passed out.
Later after forcing some Estus into an unconscious Orbeck, he woke up. Immediately the master questioned how the Ashen One was able to cast without a staff. He explained as best he could, but it was more or less sheer determination and will that had allowed him to do it, and it placed enormous stress on both body and mind. Orbeck was amazed, because even one as great as Big Hat Logan was unable to complete such a feat. He vowed to learn it himself.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did the idea. Don't forget to leave a review or PM if you want to tell me any ideas you have for future chapters. And as always, Until next time!.