The first swing connected, as Nayash had hoped, however the force of the blow was not enough to make Illurath fall out of the loop completely. He raised his sword just barely deflecting it into the tree which he had jumped down from before. Immediately she spun her hammer around to get back her balance, but by the time she swung from the top down, he had retreated to a branch of another tree not too far away. He was crouching, and it made her lips curl. The hit had done its damage, and if she was lucky it would slow down his movements enough for her to capture him.
She observed from the ground, preparing for the next move, were it to be a chase or an attack. So when he slowly rose up from the crouching position, her feet shifted in the ground mirroring his movements.
“Impressive Nayash.” He said, as he stood up. She could swear that he was stuttering a little due to the damaged ribs, and it made her more confident. “I’ve certainly underestimated you. However this…” he said as his aura changed. “is where our strength differs.”
Suddenly Illurath was surrounded by a strange reddish black light, and Nayash knew that something bad was about to happen. Every fiber in her body wanted her to run, but she had learned to overpower the urges and stood her ground. And as soon as the black and red light had disappeared, Illurath looked like a completely different… being. “Behold the power of a Dragoon!”
Almost instantly after the words left his mouth he darted towards Nayash with his sword aimed at her chest. Immediately she reacted with a deflection, however the sword graced her arm. She swung her hammer back and forth hoping to deflect as much damage as possible, but it proved to be difficult. His speed had increased and his power nearly knocked her off balance with each strike. She parried as much as she could, but her speed didn’t compete and she was struck again at her waist. The pain was agonizing but she had to continue, or else she would not make it. He was clearly out to kill, and she refused to be a necromancers puppet. Then it happened.
Out of nowhere his hand formed a fist and with devastating blow to her ribs right above the cut he sent her flying into a tree making her drop her weapon. The knockback hit her head and she was dizzy, gasping for air as she could feel that something was not right with her ribs anymore either. This was not good.
She heard him spoke, he was big talking and she wondered if this was it. If this was the end of her chase. Never had she seen the powers of a Dragoon. Weren’t they supposed to be legends told in childrens tales only? Was that why the council wanted him imprisoned so bad, because he had unlocked the secrets of the Dragoon stones? Was this the end of her?
She lifted her hand and placed it over her wounded side, feeling the energy running out of her, or being engulfed by the adrenaline running through her. She couldn’t tell. And then Illurath left once more, leaving her to her own fate. She had underestimated him.
She groaned and her arm went from the wound towards her hammer, the world spinning around her as she did. She couldn't reach it. She moved slightly, a shock wave of pain shooting through her and she bit back a cry of pain, then made the move to get her hammer back at her hands. If she was lucky, she’d be able to at least get out on the path while the adrenaline from the fight was still in her. If she could do that, perhaps someone.. Someone could find her and help. If she was lucky. However, as she reached her hammer the world was spinning so much that she couldn’t find the strength, even with the adrenaline, to pull it to her, and she gave in to the unconsciousness.