The effect was instantaneous. The hammer user dropped to one knee, his heavy weapon dropping beside him. The twin sword bearers collapse onto each other, fallen as if they were suddenly ripped of their power. Grace, too, fell, a bone-chilling frost creeping on her as she drew ragged, tired breaths. The only one to be seemingly unaffected is Evans himself, whether that be his efforts or because the elder dragon didn't target him remains uncertain.
Vaal hazak slowly got back on all fours, its head now facing the strange anjanath before it. Though it was not one to speak on the matters of strange either. "Anomaly, what brings you to my lair?" Evans didn't respond. He couldn't as his shock ran deep. What did it do to Grace and the others? And WHY IS IT TALKING!? "Who are you calling an anomaly!? YOUR the damn anomaly here!" Vaal hazak paused as its mind registered the electric signals that made words in its mind. And then it laughed. A strange sight to see as it had no visible vocal cords, nonetheless, human ones. But laugh it did.
"I suppose that is true. But why should that matter? After all..." A plume of effluvia begins to escape its mouth as it continues addressing Evans. "Don't you have other things to worry about?" The rolling fog began to creep towards the fallen hunters, a stark contrast to the speed it once displayed. Without hesitation, Evans spat out another gale, forcing the effluvia back. "Fascinating...truly fascinating. In all of my travels, I have not seen a creature like you. Not since the wars."The effluvia continued to spread, but that detail was the least of Evans' concerns. "Travels? Wars? What the hell are you talking about!?"
Vaal hazak didn't continue. It merely watched. Waited. Stalked as if on the hunt. Gale after gale continued its wilful pushes, but it had no effect, as soon the dwelling was all but submerged in the gasous toxin. Evans was quickly running out of wind. But not out of options. Seeing as the elder dragon had no intention of moving from its spot at the moment, Evans hurled one more gale, this time directed at the melded eyes of the creature. The eerie green flames flickered as the eyes closed shut. "Insolent whelp, this action of yours will only hasten your execution." The elder dragon spoke as Evans gathered up the fallen hunters. Thankfully, the cloth held strong, reducing the amount of effluvium entering their lungs. Otherwise...
'Less thinking, more running!' Shaking the dire thoughts from his mind, Evans bolted to the opening within the lair. Before he fully left, he turned to spew a fireball. The small kindling flame arced like a small comet before reaching a patch of effluvium near Vaal. The rotten vale shook as a high magnitude earthquake emerged from its depths. Evans shielded the paralyzed hunters as best as he could, bearing the brunt of the explosion's aftereffects. Stalactites struck his leathery hide as he continued the impromptu extraction. Calm soon returned to the rotten vale, with Evans turning to check his work.
Like smoke, Effluvia soon began to rise as out of the inferno, a burning Vaal hazak emerged. It held an expression that carried no anger or worry. Only one of unconstrained, happy malice. "It seems you have some fight in you, child. But it matters not. Death always follows those who run from it. I would know." Molten flesh splatters to the floor as Vaal Hazak approaches with an agility unnatural for its state. Evans leaps to the side as the rotten claws shred the rocks beneath him. The toxin trails from its maw, latching onto every fiber of Evans' being. He coughed, Black, vile blood escaping from his jaws. The chase continued as Evans weaved through the onslaught of claws, fangs, and deadly smog.
Evans could feel himself slowing down, yet he gnashed his fangs and continued forward. His efforts soon paid off as above him hung the ancient skull. Although he has no idea what creature that would come from, and is glad that such a creature was not alive to make more trouble, He still used it to his advantage. With a well-placed blast, the skull was freed from its rocky tomb. The large remains landed with a thud, directly over the Vaal Hazak as it was about to sever Evans' tail. The elder dragon clawed at the bones, to no avail, as it seemed that the creature was made of tougher material in life.
Though Evans wanted nothing more than to end this horrid thing's existence, he still has lives to save. Yet before it could leave, the Vaal Hazak left him with one. Haunting. message. "The anomaly carries within a strange soul, purposeless, wandering, without a strong goal. Due to fortune's folly, it was hurled, taken, and led astray from its world. We will meet again, O kindred one. For of the two of us, one shall remain." The elder dragon laughed a manic laugh, the fires in its eyes responding to its state. And for the briefest of moments, Evans felt cold in a place that should have otherwise been blistering hot.