CHAPTER 7: CHALLENGE *Continuation*
Neevog glimpsed the fended angst powering through Landon’s gaze, amused by the faint twitch in which they strived for resolution. It was an effort wasted, but Neevog would give him one all the same. Again, the Noghri directed his malice to the slumbering Seraphine, teetering his reddened blade atop her, knowing full well each sway was like maiming slashes to his exile prisoner. Though, perhaps he’d postponed the finale for too long for the sake of his amusement? Perhaps now was moment to end this? He agreed with both.
Neevog’s grip slid solidly around his hilt like a snake coiling its prey. His arms now arched above his head, preparing for the final dig. From there, all else pushed on slowly.
Landon’s thoughts screamed throughout the long corridors of his mind; terrible, wrenching cries of Seraphine’s name. A second from now, a mere instant, and his former love would be gone from him just as she was before. Though, there would be no reunion this time. The image of her lifeless body, her paled skin and soulless eyes, it was all too much. He promised, no, he swore this would not come to pass. Not this way.
Kinoda locked his sight. His breath drew low, and a familiar warmth enveloped his boy. He was open to the Force. Lanodn no longer tried to compel its aid, but rather asked of it. It was something he had not done in many years. The result was strangely gratifying.
The dark restraints that held him began to dissolve quicker than even Landon anticipated, as the feeling in his arms returned in full. The twittle of his fingers inadvertently alerted the Sith Warrior, calling for him to investigate. Neevog’s solid brown pupils then spread wide in hesitant disbelief. He had wasted too much time in his games. Seeking to quickly rectify his mistake before the freed exile could stop him, the Noghri bit hard and plunged his saber for the deathblow.
“NO!” Landon grunted a stifled shriek as his eyes shorn open. Kinoda then drove forth with all that he was into a Force accelerated sprint, purging any remaining binds of his previous dark prison. Just as Neevog’s blade was meant to burn through Seraphine’s upper chest, the Sith Warrior was snared into a collision with a blurred entity, tearing him off his feet with the unstoppable strength of an ion thruster. The foes sheared across the empty street at an impossible rate, unidentifiable by sight, nor ear, until erupting through the side of a nearby bounty office at a second’s privy. They exploded through the building’s wall with a blast that out roared any crash of thunder, battering past its clay and metal bearings as if they were tissue paper. Each met a more than harsh landing, toppling head over feet across the office floor before slamming flat on their faces.
Neither moved for minutes abound, stricken by a fatigue that would’ve claimed the lives of normal men. Though, both were far from anything normal. After some delay, Neevog was the first of the two to ease one of his limbs in motion, gingerly lifting his head only to be rewarded with a strained pop in his neck. Landon jerked next, following in a similar pattern. Gradually, the exile and Sith rose to their knees, doing their best to stave off the momentary wobbles of unbalance.
“I must say…exile…I underestimated your power.” Neevog complimented with a cough, posting an unsteady leg in preparation to stand.
“Yeah…well it’s amazing what a guy will do for a woman.” Landon replied back, exerting his extended arms as balance beams to try and rise, himself.
“Heh.” Neevog scoffed. “She’s very costly to you. You’d be better off slaying her and saving yourself the trouble.” He continued in conversation until rising unsteadily to his feet.
“Thanks for the tip, but it’s not gonna happen.” Landon shrugged, finally finding full stance as well. “Besides, I think I’ll reserve my slaying talents for you." Kinoda's expression suddenly grimmed. His tone darkened. "It was a mistake to try and hurt Seraphine.” The exile's faulty gaze then refocused on the enemy standing only feet from him. Determination peaked within it.
“Powerful words for one who abandoned her so easily and for so long.” Landon’s guilt became evident amongst Neevog’s words. “Yes, I’ve studied all about you exiles. I know all your strengths and your weaknessess, as does my master, who as we speak is no doubt close to defeating your compatriot in battle.”
“Zego?” Landon blurted humorously. “You’ve never actually seen Zego fight, have you, Sith?”
Neevog’s expression cringed, off put by his opponent’s reply. “Darth Caina is the apprentice to the Dark Lord of the Sith, himself. Her power is only succeeded by his.”
“Trust me. It won’t matter. But don’t worry too much about her. You’ve got problems of your own.” Landon called out to his hilt through the Force and it sprang to answer him. The hilt leapt upon his hand almost instantly, summoning its cyan blade immediately after.
“You don’t truly believe you can kill me, do you?” The Sith Warrior chuckled in confidence.
Landon couldn’t help but smirk. “You’ll know in a second.”
A spanning silence held strong between the opposing warriors, the serene calm before the violent storm. Neevog once more ignited his lightsaber and spun looping, red motions before halting his weapon at his side. The two stared upon the other like hungry beasts about to pounce, each sinking deep into their respective dueling forms. The calm was over. The storm was here.
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