eternity, tension thick in the desert air. The young man, sweat glistening on his brow under the relentless sun, slowly lowered the makeshift lacrima rifle to the ground, his fingers trembling slightly as they released their grip. Obsidian's gaze remained steady, assessing the young man for any signs of aggression or deception.
"You've got guts, mate," Obsidian murmured, his voice carrying a weight of both respect and warning. "But you've lost the plot…" He raised a hand pointing towards the young man's rifle, "if ya think that pee shooter is gon help you… " A grunt escaped a man's throat as Obsidian increased the pressure on a man's arm a broken lacrima rifle laid astray.
The young man swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. "We were just... we needed supplies," he stammered, eyes darting nervously around the dig site where his companions were now cautiously emerging from makeshift shelters.
Obsidian's expression softened imperceptibly he's seen this before back home young men and children being forced into a bitter situation. "Supplies, aye?" His eyes flickered briefly to the scattered remnants of equipment and provisions hastily abandoned nearby. "And what about the workers you left injured at the mine?" His eyes falling on a wounded man.
The young man's shoulders slumped, guilt and fear mingling on his face. "We... we didn't mean for that to happen," he whispered hoarsely. "It got out of hand."
Obsidian's jaw tightened, but he nodded slowly, acknowledging the young man's words. "You can make this right, mate" he said firmly, gesturing for the young man to step away from the rifle. "Tell me where the others are. I'm here to clean up your mess." He spat venom lacing his words.
As the young man hesitantly complied, pointing towards a distant ridge where the remaining bandits were regrouping, Obsidian's mind began to calculate his next move. This was just the beginning of his hunt for Dyzo Drockelt and his notorious crew, but already he could feel the sands of the desert shifting beneath his feet, leading him closer to his elusive targets.
Continuing his relentless trek through the unforgiving desert, Obsidian suddenly froze in his tracks, senses sharp as he caught sight of a lone figure observing him from afar. The scorching sun beat down mercilessly, casting harsh shadows and reflecting off his black steel gauntlets as they activated with mechanical hisses and clicks, covering his bandaged forearms up to his elbows. Unbeknownst to the Huntsman, he had unwittingly attracted the attention of an unknown group.
Meanwhile, in a secluded enclave not far away, an elderly, hotheaded woman scowled as she examined stolen job requests through a pair of intricate binoculars. These documents had been meticulously protected with tracking spells, only removable by a Lamia Scale guild mark. "That outfit..." she muttered, eyeing the insignia on Obsidian's shoulder—a marking reminiscent of one seen behind Kaseigan's ear.
"That's Dyzo Drockelt!" exclaimed a young mage with white hair, peering through the binoculars beside her. He straightened abruptly, urgency coloring his voice. "Sherri, get ready! We need to intervene."
But before they could act, tension crackled in the air as Dyzo Drockelt, a formidable adversary, drew a massive straight sword from its scabbard. With a swift motion, Obsidian activated a fire dust crystal in his gauntlet, his golden aura flaring as his destructive semblance surged. The ground beneath them shifted as Dyzo manipulated the sand, attempting to ensnare Obsidian while closing the distance with deadly intent.
Gritting his teeth against the searing heat, Obsidian's fist collided with the ground, converting the sand beneath his feet into glass. Evading Dyzo's blade with a quick sidestep that left a grazing cut across his cheek, Obsidian reacted swiftly, using his golden aura-enhanced semblance to launch a powerful kick. Though Dyzo parried the blow with his sword, the force of the impact sent the sand mage sprawling backward.
Undeterred, Dyzo smirked, relishing the challenge. "Now this is what I've been waiting for—a worthy adversary!" He adopted a low stance, conjuring a wall of sand infused with fire lacrima at the sword's pommel. As the wall surged forward, Obsidian met it head-on, his lightning crystal gauntlets crackling to life with a charged ball of energy. With a primal battle cry, he shattered the glass barrier, closing the gap between them.
Blades clashed in a flurry of motion and magic. Obsidian's lightning-infused gauntlets countered Dyzo's fiery sand manipulations with bursts of air and lightning strikes. Each clash reverberated across the desert landscape, leaving scars of glass and scorched earth in their wake. As the intensity of their duel escalated, Obsidian seized an opportunity, sweeping Dyzo off his feet with a well-timed leg sweep.
Momentarily disoriented, Dyzo activated his sand magic defensively, evading Obsidian's attempt to impale him on the glass spikes left behind. The sand mage retaliated with a spell, attempting to crush Obsidian under a wave of compacted sand—only to be met with unexpected resistance. Obsidian's lightning dust gauntlet surged with brilliant blue light, overloading the crystal within. With a fierce determination, he self-destructed the crystal, transforming the surrounding sand into black fulgur.
The explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the desert, scattering both combatants. Dyzo, singed and battered, staggered to his feet, eyeing Obsidian with newfound respect. "You're tougher than I thought," he grunted, wiping blood from a split lip. "But this isn't over."
Obsidian stood firm, chest heaving with exertion. "I'm just getting started," he retorted, voice low and steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
As the dust settled around them, both men assessed the other warily, their duel now a test of endurance and strategy. The desert stretched endlessly before them, holding secrets and challenges yet to be uncovered. Obsidian knew that capturing Dyzo Drockelt and his band of outlaws was more than just a job—it was a mission that would push him to his limits, testing his skills and resolve in ways he had never imagined.
With the sun beginning its descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the dunes, Obsidian and Dyzo prepared for the next round of their deadly dance. In the heart of the desert, amidst swirling sands and crackling magic, the hunt continued—a relentless pursuit fueled by determination, honor, and the promise of justice yet to be served.