Three trails of light tore through the trees and swirled around Cube's spear, bathing it in a brilliant white glow. Meanwhile, another fiery globe barreled its way towards him. Cube thrust his spear against it, disintegrating the attack in a heavy shock wave that carved the earth and splintered the trees in its path.
When the dust cleared, the «PUMPKIN JACK» was nowhere in sight. A slight rustle behind Cube caused him to dash forward, twisting his torso to meet the enemy.
«BLAZING VINES»! A rough voice echoed through the woods
Thin ropes of flame shot out from the ground and wrapped themselves around Cube's wrists and ankles. They strained and pulled, yanking the avatar from its leap and trapping it in mid-air.
Cube glimpsed the glowing pumpkin soaring towards him, the point of its scepter headed for his chest.
«WARP»!
In a flash, Cube was behind the «PUMPKIN JACK», leaving the vines to disintegrate. Still aloft, he slashed at his opponent, the spear-tip trailing white light as it dug against fabric and metal. A substantial chunk tore off from the HP Bar on the upper-right of Cube's vision. AGI types, he thought. Catch them and you kill them.
Jerry tumbled and fell on the ground on all fours, but not before blindly lashing out with another furious firebolt. As the Dealer dodged, the Viceroy sprang to his feet and charged with a roar.
Cube twirled his spear expertly, and parried the scepter now wielded like a rapier. The two avatars locked in a deadly dance for several seconds. Each attack blurred against each other and leveled the forest around.
«HELL-FIRE TRELLIS»!
The «PUMPKIN JACK» jumped back several meters, fire spouting from his eyes and mouth. The flowing flame formed a lattice-like armor around his body.
«BLAZING VINES»!
Another set of restraints sprouted from the charred ground, this time thicker than before. As they found their way around Cube's torso, Jerry rushed in at full speed. The forest burned brightly around him, thick black smoke obscuring his figure amidst the flames.
«INFERNAL DRIVE»!
Cube glanced at his skill bar, and saw that there was a full second left before «WARP» cooled down. Not enough, he decided as hell-fire hurled itself against him.
«PARALLAX»!
For a moment, the world rocked back and forth for the two avatars. Jerry's vision blurred, his weapon tip suddenly splitting into two. The confusion bought Cube enough time to free an arm from his bindings.
The point of the scepter glanced off his right gauntlet, embedding itself against his shoulder. That same instant, his spear's shaft slammed against his adversary's head. A strong vibrational feedback jarred his tall frame. It was not a pleasant sensation, and even less was the red gap that now appeared at the end of his HP Bar.
Dammit, Cube slashed blindly amidst the blinding fumes.
«WARP»!
He reappeared a short distance away from the mess, surveying the field around him. He can see a vague figure emerging from the smoke. He checked the HP Bars again. If I could time this move just right...
He took a step and froze, as something clicked underfoot. A split-second later, an explosion lifted him off the ground, sending him sprawling a few feet away. A raspy sneer reached his ears as he sprang back up.
"Disappointing. I really thought you'd be much more of a challenge." As the Viceroy approached, his hand moved swiftly in mid-air.
What... is he equipping something? Cube stood up to see his opponent pointing a finger at him. Oh, sh—
«PYRE PATCH»!
Before Cube could react, the ground burst into flames. It enveloped his armor, spreading rapidly from his boots, to his greaves, all the way to his breastplate. But what caught Cube off-guard wasn't the fact that the skill didn't seem to do anything to his HP Bar. Instead, he was seized with fear at the debilitating, searing sensation that spread around his body as the blaze consumed him.
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