The Smurfocalypse chapter 105: The Search for the Savant Cure Part 9: The Master of the Skies
The results of Jupiter's explosive battle put every Smurf in the area on alert. The forest surrounding Blood Mountain was now on fire and this became obvious to everyone as Jupiter's battle with Mars was heard throughout the area. There was nothing that could be realistically done about the situation as daunting as it was the knights continued their pursuit. It didn't take Falconer long to corner his opponent. A Smurf dressed in bone armor resembling the extinct Smilodon, a long extinct species of big cat from the time of the ice age wielding a one handed axe was pressed against a cluster of trees and Falconer had him just where he had wanted him.
"Well well well… We are in trouble aren't we?" Falconer said with a smirk as he stepped into the moonlit path.
"What have you done to our forest?" The Smurf asks raising his axe.
"Me? I've done nothing. However it seems Jupiter made short work of one of your pals and as a consequence your precious forest will soon be nothing but a bad memory." Falconer said.
"Bastard!" the Smurf shouted.
"Your master should have just given us what we wanted." Falconer said.
"The Raptors of Blood Mountain do not do business with murderers!" The Smurf shouted.
"Rich coming from the guy who blindly serves a Smurf that would attack from behind like a coward." Falconer said.
"I won't stand for this insolence! Nobody insults Master Raptor!" The Smurf shouts.
"Well then! Put your Smurf where your mouth is! If you think you're so tough let's see how you handle an opponent that's fighting you face to face!" Falconer said.
"It's time I, Smilodon Smurf, bestow justice upon the wicked! In the name of Blood Mountain, and all it stands for I will smite you!" Smilodon said.
Falconer and Zarus look to one another and Falconer nods. Zarus then spreads his wings and screeches out as he takes flight and soars towards Smilodon as Falconer draws his Smurf gun. Zarus swoops in for the kill with his talons outstretched when Smilodon generates his Smurf essence as he leaps into the air with a flip to avoid Zarus' talons. Smilodon then takes off as he literally sprints through mid-air with his axe drawn towards Falconer. Zarus's attack collides with nothingness before the falcon circles around and pursues Smilodon from behind. Falconer's eyes widen as he witnesses his opponent dash through thin air as though he were running on solid ground. Falconer takes aim and fires his Smurf gun only for Smilodon to avoid the attack with great speed as he disappears appearing as merely a blur. The bullet flies past Smilodon and strikes a nearby tree trunk. Smildon approaches Falconer and swings his axe with all his strength only for Falconer to avoid the attack with a simple motion as he bobs and weaves his way right out of taking damage, a technique he learned on the plateau during his spar with Archer. Thinking quickly he strikes Smilodon in the helmet with the butt of his Smurf gun and dashes backward just as Zarus approaches from behind and attempts rake his talons along Smilodon's back. Smilodon rolls out of the way of the attack just as Zarus swoops in and follows up with a swing of his axe which sliced through some of Zarus' feathers and nearly cut flesh. As Smildon dealt with Zarus' attack Falconer quickly and skillfully reloaded his Smurf gun before taking aim and firing again. Smilodon turns to face Falconer only to be struck in the chest by a Smurf gun bullet. His enchanted armor caught the bullet and absorbed the damage like a bullet proof vest. Zarus then takes this opportunity to unleash a flurry of peaks aimed towards Smilodon's head, but the Smurf bobs and weaves avoiding each attack before outstretching his free hand and unleashing a burst of air which sent Zarus flying backward despite the massive size difference between them.
"What sorcery is this?!" Falconer shouts.
"Sorcery? No sorcery… I was born with my power. It takes a strong master like Master Raptor to help a Smurf unlock their true potential. What you're witnessing is an air type Smurf essence." Smilodon said with a smirk before leaping over Zarus as he swooped in as though he were playing jump rope.
"I see… an air type Smurf essence." Falconer said.
"Behold and fear the might of the Raptors of Blood Mountain!" Smilodon shouts as he sprints through the air towards Falconer.
Falconer was still a novice when it came to using his sand type Smurf essence, but he endured the harsh training of Hefty Smurf which he was confident would be his greatest strength. As Smildon sprinted towards him through the air he put his empty Smurf gun back on his shoulder and drew his hunting knife. Smildon begins swinging his axe attempting to slice Falconer to ribbons, and as Falconer bobs and weaves he swings his knife with equal speed. Both fighters were rapidly swinging their weapons at each other while simultaneously avoiding each other's attacks.
"Damn he's fast!" Falconer thought.
As they fought Zarus circled around them before swooping down with his talons drawn ready once again to end the fight quickly. However as though aware of his presence Smilodon ended his flurry of blows and flew through the air to meet Zarus head on. He used his Smurf essence to propel him through the air mimicking flight with his axe raised and soared right passed Zarus in a flash. Blood rained down from the sky and splattered on Falconer's face as Zarus cried out and fell out of the sky.
"Zarus!" Falconer shouted.
"I had just about enough of that pigeon interfering." Smilodon said.
Falconer sprinted to where Zarus landed.
"Zarus! Are you alright?!" Falconer said.
The falcon gets to his feet only to reveal an axe wound on his chest. It was a tiny axe wound, but an axe wound nonetheless.
"This foe is strong. We must work together!" Falconer said.
Zarus nodded.
"Let's show him the new move we've been working on." Falconer said as he generated his Smurf essence.
Smilodon watched curiously from his spot in the air as falconer leaped onto Zarus' back. Zarus then sped through the air appearing as merely a blur as he approached Smilodon. As Zarus flew a torrent of sand and Smurf essence enveloped him.
"Sand bullet!" Falconer shouts as he kicks off Zarus' back and flies towards Smilodon.
Smurf essence and sand alike began to imbue his knife as he soared towards Smilodon.
"Sand talon!" Falconer shouts as he jabs his knife towards Smilodon.
Smilodon was so preoccupied by Falconer that he lost track of Zarus. He dodges Falconer's Sand talon attack and Falconer soars past him and begins to fall out of the sky. Then Zarus collides with Smilodon his beak shattering the Smurf's chest plate and cutting into his ribs. Smilodon screams and flips through the air from the force of the attack. Zarus swoops down and catches Falconer on his back putting an end to his free fall.
"Nothing can overcome the strength of a lifelong bond!" Falconer shouts as Zarus circles around to soar towards Smilodon again.
"Avian strike!" Falconer shouts.
Like a shark ripping apart his prey gradually in the water. Zarus was able to take advantage of his airborne opponent and flew at great speeds soaring right past Smilodon his talons slicing deep into the Smurf's stomach and sending him out of the sky. Falconer jumps off Zarus and imbues his weapon once again with his sandy Smurf essence as he descended towards Smilodon.
"Sand talon!" Falconer shouts as Smurf essence generated sand enveloped his form.
Still suffering from Zarus' attack Smilodon was unable to avoid Falconer's swift combo. Falconer jabs his knife deep into Smilodon's armor and they both crashed into the ground.
"Sandstone driver!" Falconer shouts as they crash onto the ground and his knife sinks into Smilodon's stomach.
Smilodon screams in pain as Falconer rolls off of him landing on his feet. Despite his injuries Smildon was back on his feet a look of sheer rage plastered on his feet. Zarus swooped down towards his with his talons out and Smildon avoid the attack with a cartwheel allowing Zarus to soar right by him.
"You're strangely nimble considering your injuries." Falconer said.
"Fool! You think these injuries are enough to defeat me?! There's a reason I'm a warrior of Blood Mountain!" Smilodon shouted as he raised his free hand.
The moment Smilodon outstretched his palm a strong tailwind began to pull Falconer towards him. His weapon hand was raised high ready to strike. Falconer found himself being pulled towards Smilodon despite his resistance.
"Wind tunnel!" Smilodon shouted.
Falconer was pulled towards Smilodon and then Smilodon struck Falconer in the shoulder with his axe. The axe cut deep into Falconer's flesh obliterating the armor guarding his shoulder and cutting into him as he screamed. At this point both fighters were bleeding profusely and it'd only be a matter of time before blood loss weakened them. Falconer attempted to stab Smilodon in the head causing him to revoke his technique long enough to dodge, and then Smilodon lunged his head forward and sank the saber teeth of his helmet into Falconer's back by clamping his helmet shut causing Falconer to scream out in pain as the long fangs dug into his back just barely missing his spinal cord.
"I have you now!" Smilodon yelled as he raised his axe to finish Falconer off.
Smilodon swings his weapon hand only to have his axe forcefully yanked out of his hand by Zarus who swooped down just in time causing Smilodon's bare fist to collide with Falconer's helmet.
"Grr… That bloody bird! No matter I can simply tear you apart with my fangs." Smilodon said.
Falconer screamed out in pain as Smilodon's helmet fangs began to rip through his flesh.
"How much longer can your armor endure this attack? I wonder what I'll sever first. An artery? Perhaps a tendon, or bone? Maybe I'll just rip a chunk right out of you!" Smilodon said.
At that moment Zarus dropped Smilodon's axe right on top of his head. The blade cracked the helmet in two causing it fall apart and fall off Smilodon's head. Falconer stood up straight and part of the helmet was still lodged in his back. Falconer picks up a stick and shoves it into his mouth as he pulls the fanged helmet fragment out of his flesh. He chomps down on the stick and screams as the fangs slide out of his skin. He then spits out the stick and tosses the fragment aside.
"Your tough and resourceful I'll give you that, but with a wound that deep it won't be long before you bleed to death." Smilodon said.
"Worry about your own wounds first!" Falconer said.
Zarus swoops down towards Smilodon again giving him little respite. Smildon runs to collect his weapon and Falconer takes this opportunity to reload his Smurf gun. As he does this Zarus manages to grab Smilodon in his talon and proceeds to carry him towards a tree trunk before letting go. Smilodon goes crashing down towards the trunk of the tree and then kicks off the tree trunk and soars through the air towards Falconer with his axe drawn at great speed, using his Smurf essence to propel himself. Smilodon raises his axe and attempts to slice off Falconer's head when Falconer aims his Smurf gun at Smilodon's chest and fires the rifle at close range. The bullet violently lodges itself into Smilodon's chest and the Smurf screams out dropping his axe and landing on the forest floor with a thud.
"Impossible…" Smilodon said.
"You put up a good fight, but I'm afraid it's time for you to die." Falconer said not even bothering to turn towards Smilodon.
"I suppose my own arrogance is to blame… I shouldn't have tried to fight a falcon in the air." Smilodon said.
"You discovered things a little too late." Falconer said turning to Smilodon.
"I've undoubtedly bought enough time for Terry to get master Raptor to safety… The rest is up to her." Smilodon said before he died.
"Hmph… Fool. Nowhere on Earth is safe for those who mess with the Knights of the Smurf Table." Falconer said as he down his Addicting Potion of Instant Health.
Falconer turned to Zarus.
"We have to rendezvous with Hefty. Are your wounds severe?" Falconer said.
Zarus shook his head.
"Great. Then lets track him down, and let him know we succeeded." Falconer said.
Zarus and Falconer then began to use their expert tracking skills to find Hefty.