What the actual fuck.
Shin jumped back as Ezra swung her axe down at him. Shin ran off. Ezra followed with nimble and elegant swiftness, despite carrying a weapon larger than herself.
Shin weaved through the sparsely wooded area in an attempt to confuse his chaser.
Ezra tried her best to follow Shin, but his sharp turns and sporadic movements began to irritate her.
This is getting annoying.
Ezra stopped and held her axe above her shoulder. Shin saw this and hid behind a tree far away from her.
Goddamnit, I'm not battle-ready right now.
Shin peeked through the trees and looked at Ezra. His eyes opened wide with fear as he dropped to the ground.
"Dark magic: Tier 5: Dark Wave: Dismantle," Ezra swung her axe.
Every tree in front of her flew into the air as it shattered into countless pieces.
Now's my chance.
Shin swiftly got up and charged through the falling trees, using them as temporary cover. He managed to get close enough to her.
"You really think I can't see," a cold voice said as Shin dodged an axe to the face.
Shin stumbled back as the glass mask appeared on his face.
Shit.
Before Shin could get up, Ezra leaped in front of him. Shin raised his hand at her.
"Dark magic: Tier 3: Void Strike," a small ball of darkness formed in his hand.
"Sever." Just before it could grow bigger, Ezra swung her axe, and the sphere dissipated.
Shin's eyes went wide. "You've got to be kidding me," he said as he raised his sword.
Ezra swung again, sending Shin flying back. Shin hit a tree stump, halting his momentum. He got up and dusted himself off.
"Okay, I've got enough information. Can't keep Miss Satel waiting," Shin said as he charged at Ezra once more.
Ezra stood ready as she leaped at him. Shin threw his sword at her, but she tilted herself and avoided it.
She used the twist to try and swing, but Shin had his hand aimed at her.
"Void Strike."
As soon as Ezra saw the sphere form, she swung again.
"Sever."
The sphere disappeared. Shin smiled. Ezra felt a tingling sensation of mana fly toward her from behind.
She used the momentum of her swing to spin around and deflect the sword speeding at her.
Very big mistake—turning your back on me.
Shin grabbed Ezra by her cloak and tried slamming her to the ground, but she removed the cloak in time.
She landed gracefully a few feet away from Shin.
"Nice try, Shin'en, but I won't let you stop me from achieving my goal," Ezra said in a lifeless voice.
"Sorry to burst your bubble then," Shin said, pointing down.
An uneasy feeling filled Ezra as she looked down. Her body was tied up by a black tentacle from her own shadow.
She saw a black thread and followed it to Shin's feet.
"Now that you're all nice and tied up, you're going to tell me why she sent you," Shin said with steady coldness.
Ezra's face remained blank and lifeless, as though she were unbothered by the situation.
"Nice try. Sever." The binds restraining her vanished.
Just as she tried lifting her axe, Shin used his shadow to hold it in place.
Ezra tried pulling it free but ultimately failed. She sighed and charged at Shin with incredible speed, hitting him in the gut.
Shin spat out blood and grabbed onto Ezra.
"If you won't speak now, I'll just have to ask you later," Shin said as he tried to slam her again.
Annoying.
Ezra easily wiggled out of Shin's grip but paused. She looked into the face of the now-smiling Shin.
Her lifeless expression filled with rage as she raised her hand at him.
I've waited too damn long.