Receiving the two incoming attacks is not the most sane option available for the Apex.
He is standing in an unknown environment, and proceeding with caution, should be beneficial or even mandatory.
Tilting his body to his left, Marshack easily dodges the approaching projectiles. Seeing two bullets of dark yellow energy mixed with a black shade.
The Apex regrets his decision immediately, trying to intercept the bullets with his hands, but failing in the motion, as he is not totally used to his self recalibrated body, and he is a lot slower than he is used to.
{No!, It's Photonic Matter!}
Marshack panics, the mere thought that the beautiful snowy landscape will be evaporated and transformed into a barren infertile dump, is so preposterous, that the Apex becomes completely and utterly enraged.
The bullets of Photonic Matter impact the frosted reddened grass, perforating the earthy ground for one and a half feet before detonating in concentrated explosions that eliminates everything in a radius of five centimeters.
The somewhat positive result calms down the Apex's troubled mind, sighing in relief with the rollercoaster of emotions he is going through.
Yet, Marshack can't stop being furious about the crime he thought almost was committed by those who attacked him without prior provocation.
"The Barbarian is scared!. Surround him so he doesn't escape!".
The black and white riders obey the orders issued by the orange skinned man, making their mounts to gallop faster.
The Apex throws away his initial intent of moving with caution, growling with an intimidating savagery, as he is ready and eager to face his attackers.
Lifting his left hand, Marshack canalizes Red Pyro Plasma within his body, gathering it in his palm, but being unable to shoot it out.
{Strange. This shouldn't occur. Unless the environment is preventing my action. After all, everything is coated with Cryo Plasma, and if both interact, they explode violently}
Not sure if his estimation is accurate. The Apex disregards any ranged attack he should be capable of perform.
Instead, he opts for an upfront engage, sprinting at top speed towards the attackers, adapting himself to the shorter body he possess.
The unexpected behavior confuses the riders, but that surprise causes their demise.
Without the slightest hesitation, Marshack launches himself against one of the mounts, clapping unevenly his hands, and obliterating the animal's head.
As his motion goes on, the Apex reverts the uneven clapping, smacking with the back of his hands, the chest and belly of the white skinned rider, dividing him in three pieces.
Growing a feline tail with three terminations at the end of his back. Marshack pounce at the black rider, spinning vertically in the air, and using his tail like a whip, though it looks more like a saw, cutting the rider along his mount.
The sudden change in the tiles is evident in the face of the orange skinned man, which gets even worse as his mount throws him to the ground and runs away.
The orange skinned man wields his rifle and shots, missing even with his target being so close to him.
Marshack didn't move, he read and predict the trajectory of the incoming bullet, disregarding his need to evade the attack.
Terrified of the so called Barbarian. The orange skinned man wants to pray to his gods. And he is in luck. Seeing an arriving group of falcon riders that land around the Apex. Saying "I demand a Duel". Before he dies.
Abruptly, and for apparently no reason, Marshack's body is quantum locked, preventing him from executing the person who attacked him.
{Why, and how has my movement been restricted?}
The leading figure of the five newcomers is a green skinned man wearing a type of crown with a multicolored gem that is shining brightly. He seems to have a lost gaze and convulse awkwardly with sudden spasm.
Meanwhile, the other figures riding the falcons are waiting. The first is a two meter tall warrioress that has blonde short hair with the sides shaved.
Her enchanting glowing gold irises are full of confidence and hee plump maroon lips are highlighted thanks to her black skin that looks like coal, a feature that doesn't help to occult how muscular she is, especially on her sturdy naked thighs, as her armor covers mostly her upper body.
The second rider is a yellow skinned young man with brown hair and a hardened attitude.
The last two are twins with fair skin, they show a lot of arrogance in the piercing glare of their blue eyes, a feature less notorious thanks to how much they puff out their large breasts with pride, but demonstrating an even bigger ego.
The differences are their hairs. One with light silverish hair and a bob cut style, yet, the tips are an even shade of orange. The second has dark brown hair with the same hairstyle, but the tips are glowing with a fierce amber shade.
However, the most captivating features, are the feline ears, tail and slit pupils, giving to them a more wild, yet cute appearance.
The wait comes to an end, and with an unnatural eerie voice, the crowned man speaks up. "Your unfair request has been approved, be aware of the consequences".
The orange skinned man couldn't be more happy about the even, showing it with a smuggling smirk. "An energy Duel, Not physical attacks allowed".
"Proceed". Acknowledges the crowned man and the orange skinned man wastes no time, raising his right hand, and aiming it towards Marshack, pronouncing with confidence an incantation.
"Pryo Shû'Krüüm!".
From the man's orange palm is emitted a bolt of blazing bright orange energy, hitting Marshack's chest without causing the slightest damage to the Active Adarga of the Apex.
{Now I understand why I couldn't employ earlier the Pyro Plasma. I need to say the Original Name of what i want to employ. Why is that?. And how does the «Silence» that an Absolute Sovereign uses to shut the subjects works here?. Or is it that it can't be used at all?}
The result of the attack dismays the five Witnesses. Liyura, the busty with orange hair tips being the most affected of all, as she uses Pryo Plasma with more than decent mastery.
"How is he cheating?!". Exclaims Liyura with anger and panic, speaking before the man who failed could complain on his own.
To which the crowned man rises a hand, and shushes to the poor appalled Liyura.
*Shh*. "We are here to watch, learn, and recruit those who are worthy. So save your comments for the end of the Duel".
The firm but normal voice of the crowned man, causes Liyura to nod in compliance.
{This individual keps using orange Pryo Plasma, the most intelligent approach, would be to employ a direct counter of such Plasma}
With the initial glow on Marshack's right hand, Liyura and the yellow skinned young man, Burkhú, snorts mockingly, even the orange skinned man is more relaxed, as the apparently yellow energy keeps being canalized on the Hûrngöth's palm.
Unable to contain her laugh or her opinion, Liyura speaks disrespectfully towards Bverxkka. *Jha*, *Jha*. "Yöwöll Plasma?, How unrefined, Fitting of a Barbarian".
The comment goes too against the blonde black skinned young lady, Axerian, who is rapidly angered, but remains silent. As Barbarians like her, respects Battle Prowess and Status Earned over Titles Granted.
However, a penetrating glare from the crowned man, causes Liyura to immediately become coy.
Meanwhile, the Apex is doing the last check to his attack, as is the first time he uses Shû'Krüüm in more than eight decades of his almost 97 Hûrngöth Year's of life.
Ready to fire, he proceeds to say the incantation with a flat tone of voice.
"Amber Shû'Krüüm".
The energy bolt evidently is not yellow, if not amber, impacting on the opponent's chest, but pulverizing the entire upper body in a cloud of heated gas.
The damage output is so high, that everyone is speechless and confused, including the Apex.
{I am sure this attack shouldn't be so devastating. It is merely a Tier 2 ammunition}
{I suppose in this place, the counters are more effective and important of what i used to know}