Lucas didn't know how he got into this situation.
The loud bangs of guns unloading into mannequins sounded like shellshock to his ears.
Currently he was fighting a thin bastard as the thirteen mannequins fought with forty or so gang members armed with small shanks, a rare gun, brass knuckles and the occasional metal pipe.
He was a bit light headed. Turns out getting pummeled in the head with a metal pipe hurt a lot.
Maybe he should recap how he got here. Yeah. that would probably get him some clarity.
30 minutes prior.
"I recommend you two leave out the back door" advised Misia as she adorned the mannequins with various clothings.
"No. I will stay, unfortunately as much as you annoy me we are business partners. Lucas, will you be leaving?" Asked Oz, Lucas shook his head. He didn't really have a reason to stay. But there wasn't much to do if he left, so he would stay.
"Since the both of you are very idiotic. I may as well arm you. Do you two prefer weapons?" Oz shook his head and put the vials around their waist. Lucas peaked up. "I think I'll just use my hands. Unless you got something for hands?"
Misia replied by beckoning a mannequin. It walked towards Lucas and held out black wood knuckles.
They looked too small for Lucas. But when he held them, they grew. Fitting to his size. He went to put them on when runes popped into view.
[Ashen Knuckles]
Black thorns were all that's left after the stubborn stone trees fell. Thorns that raged and attacked. Hundreds of millions fell to the black thorns before the bright one burnt them to ash.
Lucas looked at his new weapons confused. "Can…can objects have tales?" Misia paid the question no mind while Oz answered.
"Yes. There are a myriad of ways too
But I don't know the specifics"explained Oz as they adorned a white gas mask.
"Also. Could you use your tale in the fight?" Asked Oz. Lucas shook his head and answered "I need Coin for me to use it. Unfortunately he's a bit tired and a whiles walk away"
All of them seemed to have finished their preparations.
Luca and the others followed the army of mannequins out into the street.
About sixty or so hoodlums stood outside, among the figures two stood out to Lucas. A large brutish bald man with a long scar over his left eye. Missing a few teeth as he held a ugly smirk. Wearing simple clothes
The other man was a thin one, long black hair slipping out of his hood with bandages covering most of his face, spiteful red eyes stood out as well as a pack of throwing knives strapped to his chest, he eyed up Misia with a particular hate.
Wonder what's his gig? Probably a psychopath or something close. Maybe he's just obsessed with Misia, she's pretty enough to warrant that. At least I think she is.
The rest of them were more or so just thuggish looking men and women, even a black haired kid with red eyes was there, though the kid did stay near the back of the line holding a gun. Wait, who gave that kid a gun?
The bald man spoke in a rough voice "My men went missing around here when collecting our protection fee, would you happen to know about that?" Despite the question, the man looked as if he already knew the answer.
"I have not a clue. Seems like your lackeys are particularly incompetent around these parts" spoke Misia with venom clear in her voice.
The man simply smiled, then side eyed Lucas "you bring a boy into our business? How cruel. Demons truly are ruthless. Well…since you refuse to talk, we may as well get to base" the bald man held up his fist. Bronze gauntlet materialising around his hands. And banged them together in a loud war cry.
The thugs ran at the mannequins roaring with rage.
The mannequins held up their small shields and whatever else Misia could arm them with, and took the charge head on.
A loud crash came from the impact which ended with the mannequins standing strong. Though some had been piled on by the thugs with their superior numbers. Leaving gaps in the mannequin wall.
A particularly bloodlusted thug ran at Lucas. Waving her dagger around savagely, she went for a vertical slash. Aiming to slash him down the middle.
Dodging to the right, he delivered a left hook swift to her ribs before following up with a strong right hook at her face, which landed, sending her packing as he pursued.
Sending more punches at her face till she fell, knocked out. Her blood splattered on his knuckles, which seemed to absorb the blood into itself before tiny thorns grew out of its impact points. Neat.
Another thug came running, metal pipe in hand, taking advantage of his momentary distractedness. He swung, hitting Lucas in the leg, causing him to buckle to his knees.
The man went for another swing, aiming for his head. Lucas responded by diving down, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Grabbing the man's leg and pulling him down, Lucas took advantage and pummeled the man's head with his spiked knuckles, gathering more blood on his weapon as the spikes grew longer and the ashen wood hardened.
Getting up and observing the battlefield. He saw various groups of thugs teaming to take down the now fractured wall of mannequins. Oz seemed busy with the bald man, keeping distance as he threw various vials at him, while the man blocked most of them with his gauntlets.
Misia seemed busy with commanding her small army, the only unknown factor was the thin man, who seemed to have disappeared.
Lucas figured he should watch out for him, looking around. He still had no sight of the thin man.
Lucas had to cut his thoughts short since another thug came running. This one however didn't look as enraged as his fallen companions. Maybe he knew not to underestimate Lucas.
Lucas looked at the man who was holding a knife with a posture that suggests he didn't how to use it.
Lucas started the fight by throwing a purposely slow left jab which the man dodged, using the opening. The man went to stab Lucas.
However Lucas predicted he would, and moved to the left. Letting the knife graze his side as he used his right hand to grab the extended arm.
Lucas reared his left for a wide hook. Swinging for the man's head. The target used his free arm to block before trying and failing to free his dagger arm.
Lucas upon finding that both of his arms were busy, kicked the man in the gut, and kept on the kicks till the man dropped his knife, he dropped the disarmed man who smirked as if he had wanted this outcome.
His smirk pissed Lucas off. So he spat on him. Before pulling his leg up
to stomp the man. Kicking the downed man. He simply smiled some more.
"What are you smiling at" Spat Lucas. Frustration bubbling up.
The downed man smirked one last time. So Lucas aimed his next kick at the man's groin. Noticing the intent. He immediately dropped his smirk and pleaded.
"W-wait on! I'm just doing as I'm told!"
"What are you on about?" Asked Lucas. Caution clear in his voice as the downed man answered.
"T-to distract you! That's all I know I swear!" Yelled the man, fear evident in his voice. "Who told you too?" Questioned Lucas as he held his foot higher over the man's groin. "Mast! R-red eyes!"
Hearing the red eyes man name made a thought spike in his mind. Lucas stomped on the man two times. One on his groin and another aimed at his teeth. Upon knocking out a few of his teeth, Lucas left the man and ran towards Misia.
Unfortunately he was too late. Misia was laid on the ground. A dagger sticking out of her stomach as Mast stood over her with a devilish smile.
Lucas ran into him at full force. Causing Mast to tumble over as Lucas looked at the bandaged man.
He was heaving, chest puffing in and out. Eying Lucas with the same hate he looked at Misia with. yelled in a surprisingly deep voice. "Jace that rat! Couldn't even handle a brat like you! No matter. I'll gut you then I'll gut him!"
Looking down on the man. Lucas turned his attention to Misia who seemed to be mostly fine aside from the dagger sticking out of her stomach.
Her face was ripe with annoyance. "Why do I bother? A mutt will always be a mutt no matter your actions. Words of warning. Death will come when the zealot prays" Lamented Misia before she ripped the knife out and stood up.
"The favor will be returned. I swear on my true name" Said Misia with fervor he didn't know the laid back demon could have.
The warning part didn't quite reach Lucas due to the whole true name stick. Should probably ask.
"You have a tru-" A knife aimed at his face cut him off, thankfully Misia shoved him out of the way in time.
Getting his bearings Lucas looked back at Mast to find the man gritting his teeth.
"Rancid thing! You're as evil as that whore! Y-" Mast rant went on for a while longer. But Lucas had stopped listening, looking for any openings or weak spots he could take advantage of. Sadly Mast always kept his eyes focused on Lucas. Seemingly trying to do the same thing.
"And I wil-...Oh for spirit's sake you're not even listening! Heretic!" screamed Mast. Throwing a knife at him. Only for Lucas to weave and run after him.
Lucas rolled to avoid another knife, jumping over another and continued running after him. Closing the distance Lucas put his hands up. Getting into a boxing pose.
Mast on the other hand pulled out a bronze pair of knives. Holding both in reverse grip, the two fighters sized each other up.
Let's see If I can make him slip up, but what's gonna work? Maybe making him pissed? Worked for the drunks…hmm let's give it a shot. Now what's gonna piss him off?
"Why are you attacking an innocent girl? Are you stupid?" Said Lucas. Mustering as much 'annoying brat' as he could. The mere idea of Misia being 'innocent' nearly caused him to burst a blood vessel.
"YOU! Youyouyou…oh spirits give me strength" Mast seemed nearly over the edge. But he still had focused on Lucas despite his anger.
Pssh. This'll be a breeze. Thought Lucas.
"You boy are ignorant. Let me enlighten you. Demons are the elves' gravest sins! They are the product of elves believing themselves equal to the spirits. And for their pride should be-" before Mast could finish. Lucas interrupted.
"Pssh. You worship that parasite? Stupid" Said Lucas. Thanks Oz. Wouldn't have thought of that without you.
Mast looked at Lucas like he had murdered the man's family and made him watch. Mast burst into a flurry of curses and words Lucas didn't even know could be used that way. But the important thing was that he was now off his guard.
Throwing a quick jab at the man's throat. But despite his guard being off he still managed to dodge…though dodge was a compliment compared to what actually happened.
Mast saved his neck. In exchange for his face taking a hard wooden spike to the jaw. Causing him to tumble before he caught his footing.
I know I said it would be a breeze but still. This is…weird. He should be fighting back better? This just started. Don't get cocky, just win
Ignoring his gut he kept wailing at the man who only had a singular bronze dagger gript tight in his left hand. Looking for his lost knife but finding nothing. Lucas kept up his assault.
Mast eventually got his senses back and changed his footing. He took on a defensive stance, weaving some of Lucas's punches but some still made contact, although Mast had gotten in some cuts of his own on Lucas.
Despite the man's beaten body he still seemed focused. As if a golden moment would come any second.
He dodged Lucas's punch and stabbed his knife into his shoulder. Earning a wince from Lucas as he tried another. Before Mast could retreat his hand. Lucas grabbed him and smirked. A smirk that soon turned uneasy when Mast returned the smile.
"What's in that parasite worshipping head of yours? Fear?" Tried Lucas, attempting to enrage Mast again but his taunts fell on deaf ears when Mast answered.
"Judgement comes from above" Muttered the bandaged man, as if saying a prayer.
Lucas almost ignored the words if not for the hint of light particles flowing off of Mast's hands.
Lucas looked up to find a missing bronze knife aimed ten inches away from his head.
Fuckfuckfuck. Move! Pleaded his mind. But his body was slow, the knife would spear his head. But time seemed to stop. What little life he remembered flashing before him in his final moments.
He had only one thing to do. So he closed his eyes. Lucas was very scared of dying so he'd rather not see his end.
But the golden moment didn't just shine on Mast. A mannequin pushed Lucas out of the way.
Lady luck truly had a favorite in that moment. Still dazed from accepting death. He got up slowly to find the mannequin impaled in his stead. Mast ripped out the knife. Glaring at Misia before turning his attention back to target.
The two had entered a back alley. Wide enough for two men to fight and long enough for nobody to see it.
Lucas had long gained his bearings. He got lucky. And he wouldn't waste it.
"Round two you zealot" Declared Lucas. His own blood from the cuts falling onto his knuckles. Empowering them even further.
The zealot would fall by his hands. And his hands alone.