The nose-dive of Tony's fighting spirit was swiftly replaced by the raw power swelling through him.
Legion
Level 10 Dreadblade (Enhanced, Enchanted)
Form: Bastard Sword - Heritage: Italian (Roman) - Tier: Rare
Bonuses: Derived - Phylactery: Advanced - Summon: Dynamic
Speed: 19 - Accuracy: 22 - Defense: 24 - Capacity: 36
Damage: 32 (57.6 2H) - Discharge: 40 - Range: 24
Enhancements - Honed Edge, Efficient Construction, Blade Balancing, Enhanced Physics, Essence-Tethered Phylactery, Astral Core
Enchantments - Intelligent, Elemental Burst (Fire), Spectral Anchoring, Bane (Divine), Defending, Elemental (Earth), Kinetic Momentum, Ranged, Doubling
As much as he wanted to, Tony didn't have the time to sort through the new Enhancements and Enchantments that Legion had selected for itself. Jak was still powering up and if the fight so far told him anything, it seemed like it would come down to a single moment. Tony rode the assumption train for another train of thought; he knew that a phylactery was what housed the souls he and Legion had claimed, processed, and turned into the various improvements to his weapon. The Essence Tether had to allow him access to at least the runoff power from that process, or whatever had been left over and converted to Essence for his use.
Tony followed that trail of Essence that connected him to Legion and called, "VAE VICTIS!"
Legion flew from his back, spiraled through the air, and landed firmly in Tony's outstretched hands. The normally pitted blade was smoothed over and coated in burning blackened metal, the hilt was warm in his hands, and seemed to hum softly from within.
Without a second thought, Tony activated every single buff talent and gear talent he could think of: Indomitable Self for the temporary HP, "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ" was shouted for the shield, Dread Knight's Shroud from his ring for damage reduction and bonus damage, and Bloody Haste. He didn't think that Jak would be coming at him with a ranged attack, but that just meant the shield wouldn't absorb as much damage before breaking.
Jak's screaming started to advance rapidly as he charged and Tony rushed to meet him, dumping all but ten percent of his base HP into an overcharged Adamant Slash. His vision darkened and blurred around the edges before the heat from Jak's flame coupled with the charge in the air brought him back to full awareness. Each stack of overcharge that he applied to Legion caused the indigo aura to swell out until it was like the trail of a comet behind him... the Doubling Enchantment at work, if he had to guess.
Tony knew that he was going to have to hit second, he was going to need the boost in damage provided by his shield being broken to end this fight... to win... he just had to hope that the shield and his temporary HP would be enough and that his attack would be enough to take Jak down, one way or another. Uncertainty flooded his mind in the moment before The Champion reached him.
Was going all-in the right choice?
Is it too late to dodge?
Should I have just dodged and counter-attacked?
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I don't want to end up in Serketzi's chamber...
I don't want to lose...
I want to WIN
His resolve steeled in the instant of the exchange. Jak roared with his strike "Wrath of the Burning Core!" and his sledgehammer-fist slammed directly into Tony's chest plate, taking the shield, all of his temporary HP, and seven percent of his HP in one fell strike. All of the Essence and energy that had coalesced around him seemed to be blasted away in a devastating cone of white flame, red lightning, and roiling magma. For a moment, Tony's form completely vanished from view.
Pact of Spite has Activated
Rancor has Activated
Tony's reply was immediate... a blood-flecked roar that pulled all of the smoke and ash from the shattered glass floor into a maelstrom of baleful essence and wrath swirling around Tony's barely standing frame that crashed down on Jak, carving deep into the champion before slamming him into the fractured ground and shaking the entirety of the structure.
Silence fell over the whole of the arena, save for Tony's ragged breathing and the soft patting of blood falling onto the glass dust of the arena.
"WINNER!" the announcer shouted after what felt like an eternity, "ANTONIOUS KING!"
Tony stood over Jak, whose chest continued to rise and fall, despite the lethal looking gash across his chest. His own wounds would have been pretty terrible to behold, if they weren't mostly gone. Between his Life-Biting Essence talent and enhanced Healing Factor, Tony wasn't in the worst shape he'd been in after a fight. The Doomed King's Helm retracted almost in response to his longing for fresh air. Tony took a deep breath through his nose in an attempt to steady his breathing, but was met with the smells of charred ozone. He was glad that he'd his his sheet from Jak the first time they entered the bazaar.
The sound of fireworks exploding interrupted the quiet that Tony had missed more than he realized.
"Congratulations, Champion..." Serketzi's voice came from right next to his ear.
He hated that she was able to get so close to him unnoticed.
"Uh-huh..." Tony rasped.
"Oh come on..." Serketzi cooed.
"No," Tony answered.
"What?" she said, indignant at his refusal.
"You're going to say something like 'come on, give me some affection' or some shit... all that's going to do is make all of your subjects think that the match was rigged, and I won't have that."
Serketzi's mouth hung slightly open before it clamped shut and her jaw set. She couldn't deny his logic and because of that, she couldn't order what she wanted out of him.
"As the Champion, you have special privileges, access to the high end shops of the bazaar, and your choice of both Medicus and Doctore attendants, both of which will be sent to your Ludus chamber, which my guards will now escort you to. Who would you like, my Champion?"
Tony thought quickly. If he couldn't get out right away, the next best thing would be to stack his lineup for an escape attempt.
"I want Vixie as Medicus and Jak here as Doctore," he declared.
Serketzi's eyes narrowed, "Fine, it shall be as you say. We shall celebrate your victory, in private, soon... Tony."
The Queen waved her hand dismissively and Tony was nudged by one of the six guards toward a set of stairs that led out of the arena... another two hefted Jak up and out of the floor, and a fourth marched with intention toward the Red Room, looking for Vixie, no doubt.
Your Fatal Resolve talent has been restored
Liberate yourself from Serketzi's control to restore your Dread Knight Class fully!
Tony turned to follow the guard with a smirk on his lips. He'd be out of this collar and out of this place before the next day's end... as long as Jak was willing to cooperate and Vixie was willing to attempt escape anyway...
