The Savage Brawl [Round 5: Battletopia]

Originally posted on MSPA by Ixcalibur.

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SpoilerI went back and edited the last post. I was under some bizarre misapprehension that Ekelhaft's madness was a gradual thing that took a while to occur (like with Anarchy and Hand of Silver in round 1). Don't worry the edited post doesn't change anything more than Ziirphael's own internal monologue to incorporate the effect of Ekelhaft.

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SpoilerZiirphael was supposed to be using a section of criss-crossed poles for the reason that a single pole would only split Ekelhaft in half or just go through him, while a section of poles like that would be more effective. But I didn't make myself very clear so whatever. I imagine it would probably have had the same effect anyway.

Ziirphael sprinted through the trees, panicstricken. Sure he hadn't been expecting his attack to decimate Ekelhaft but he had been expecting slightly more than what did happen, the blob simply reforming around the obstruction. For a moment he had just stood there and gawped until Konka had yelled at him. Panic had seized hold of his heart and here he was running through the trees, his heart beating, his head pounding, not even looking where he is going, just running for his life. The higher functions of his mind, those that would be ashamed that he had been reduced to this had been swept away as Ekelhaft rendered his attack futile. All he could think of for the moment was getting the hell away from there.

He emerged from the trees at the edge of a cluster of buildings and drew to a halt. For a moment he stood there, doubled over and gasping for air. The world seemed to spin uncontrollably around him and he felt faint. There was a rustling in the trees behind him and another wave of panic washed over him. He spun around, too fast and collapsed onto his back, wincing as pain shot through his battered wings. Ziirphael scrabbled backwards towards the buildings without taking his eyes off the treeline. He came to a stop as he hit the wall of the building, without seeing anything emerging from the trees. He sat there for a minute, tensely, unwilling to stand up. Finally part of his brain started to flicker into life reminding him he had just been in the vicinity of Ekelhaft, whose very presence can cause madness. He breathes a sigh of relief, which is cut short as a bloody roar comes from the spot he is watching. Panicking, once again he climbs to his feet and runs around the side of the building, leaping into it at the very first door he spots. As he slams the door behind him there is a loud thud as something slams into it from the other side. His hands shaking he slides the heavy bolt closed and collapses, breathless against the wall.