"You should be dead!" Valdor hisses. His body tensed, waiting for the attack that he knows will surely come. "You... I killed you."

"What's, thiss?" the Oskari points to the gnarled scar running from ear to jaw. The worm-like tissue popping out, marking him from others of his kind. "Yous tried hard, but yous could nots kill me. No, no, no. Yous could nots kill me."

Valdor concentrates, his mind fortifying itself from attack as he takes in the situation. He twists the blade of his sword, catching the light of the orbs. The edge gleams in the gloom. "You remember this, yes?" he spits. "Yes you do, I can see it in those dead, white eyes." His top lip lifts in a grimace as the Oskari just stands, unmoving in front of him.

He watches for the tiniest movement, the tiniest spark of life but the Oskari just stands stock-still, its face unblinking even in its stance, frozen in time as if a statue. Valdor blinks and the daemon in front of him now smiles, a grin that almost reaches its eyes, barring the crude anomaly of the scar that pulls at its skin. It laughs aloud without moving a muscle, the noise coming from within slowly turning into a high pitched chitter. Then the bladed fingers twitch.

Valdor lifts his sword in anticipation, catching the sharp fingers with the flat of his blade. He twists his wrist, moves back into a defensive stance and swipes in an arc all in a single move. The Oskari dances backwards with another ear-splitting chitter and an enormous smirk.

"Yous still have skills then? Thiss will be... funs."

Valdor just stares, unblinking once more as the black-skinned daemon chitters in front of him. He watches its finger blades twitch as it twists its head uncomfortably to one side. He can taste the iron-tinged air thick with death. But the only sounds that reach him are the steady rhythm of his heart and the occasional chittering coming from the smirking mouth across from him.

"This time, you will die, Daemon," he spits. "I will drive M'olnar through your shrivelled heart, if you still have one. Then I will take your head just to be sure."

"Ha! Big words. Yes, big words, monk. We wills see." It says the last word smugly as if it knew something Valdor did not. Its mouth turns up at the edges showing its small, sharp teeth glinting in the light. Its head twists slowly to one side as if mocking his very existence. It takes a deliberate step forward, its movement slow all the while with a smirk across its face.

I must kill it this time, there is no other way. You will die for what you did. I made a promise and thought I had fulfilled it. Ah! Do not get distracted! That is what it wants.

Valdor steels himself, doing his utmost not to even blink. He squares his body and lowers his sword ever so slightly, inviting the attack. And it comes. The Oskari leaps forward, claws glinting as they surge toward his throat. The attack is quick and fierce but Valdor twists to the side and parries the blades then flicks his wrist slamming his blade down, aiming for the now exposed neck. He puts all of his strength into it and almost topples forward as it whistles through thin air. He looks up as the Oskari skips out of reach by no more than a hair's breadth. Valdor jumps, regaining his balance and swings for the daemon's back. He is met with a clash of steel as it spins at the last moment and blocks.

They go back and forth, sparks flying as they attack and defend one another. Valdor slips a slashing swipe and connects, slicing a gash across the Oskari's ribs. The daemon screams out, skips a step and pivots to face him, one of his clawed hands already pressed to his side.

"Halotta ouvata imania! Julava intendee groviss aranta!" the Oskari curses, spittle flying.

"Hold your tongue, Oskari," breaks in Valdor. "Your cursing will not help you here." He readies into a stance again, the edge of M'olnar marked with a deep blue liquid that runs along the flat of the blade, then a single drop falls before he flicks the rest away. "You will not leave this chamber. That, I promise." He levels his sword, lifting into a form high above his head, his hands clasped firmly on the hilt ready for the next attack.

"You wills pay, monk. I wills feast on your entrails and drags yous through these dusty halls likes a hogs for the slaughters. Mmm," it licks its lips, a red crimson tongue protrudes from his mouth like a worm then slithers back in. "Mmm, yes. Sounds tastys."

The Oskari twirls the blade-like fingers then shifts to the side awkwardly. The movements jerky as if it pained itself with every step it takes. Its head twists violently to stare at him now, the pure white eyes seething with hatred for his very being. It releases the hand still at its side revealing an open gash raking up its rib cage, no longer flowing but oozing blood to form a long blue-like worm that moves with its every breath.

"Come, Daemon. Let me send you to Valour where you will burn eternally."

Valdor smiles now, his confidence showing through the fear that grips him. He can sense a change, the very air is thick with it. He stares, his eyes burning from the effort, watching the things every move. You will die this day.

But the silence is broken from a long and haughty laugh. The sound reverberates through the chamber as it bounces from wall to wall. It invades his head trying to worm inside like a parasite.

NO! I will not let you get inside my head!

Valdor grits his teeth as beads of sweat begin to form at his temples. The Oskari smirks ahead of him, goading Valdor to give in. The beads of sweat run into his eyes and he fights everything in him not to wipe at them, forcing himself to be frozen in time. He grips his hilt tighter with a renewed effort.

"Sees, yous will be mines, monk."

"No!" he bellows.

Then he charges.

Valdor cries out as he charges towards the Oskari, his grip tight and sure, his mind on the task of killing alone, of sending this daemon down to the depths of valour. He moves within distance and swings M'olnar. It hits air. He spins around, kicking out behind him. The attack is met with resistance and a grunt so he slashes backwards, then spins once more releasing his dagger in the same movement, jabbing it forward with all the force he can muster. The slash gets a reaction but only a little. He keeps his balance but the dagger thrust jars his elbow and he shouts out in pain as he nearly drops it. He jumps back just in time as a raking hand misses him by an inch.

He smiles as the Oskari chitters in frustration. It jumps toward him now, bladed fingers slashing at his face. He parries the first, then the second but a third breaks through causing a gash across his cheek then a fourth scrapes down his leg. He stumbles, almost dropping his sword, his eyes blurring momentarily as he tries to focus. He cries out as he is given another slash that opens up his back. He swings blindly feeling something as he rolls to the side. He pops up in a stance ready for the killing blow he is sure will come.

He blinks rapidly, clearing his vision and sees an empty room. He searches left and right, scrutinising every dark corner and space.

"Where are you daemon?" he shouts aloud, the sound of his voice echoes around the chamber hollowly. "By all the Gods, show yourself!" he growls, then the chamber falls silent, the only sound that can be heard is his own shallow breathing.

He continues to hold out his sword his vision beginning to blur but it grows heavier with every passing securn until he can no longer hold it aloft. It falls tip first, sparking on the stone floor. The sensation of illumination suddenly bringing himself back to the present. M'olnar flicks up to chest level as Valdor scans the area around him then it falls once more as he cries out. He let's the sword clatter this time as he reaches around to feel a wet slickness at his back. He pulls his hand away to show a deep red smear in front of his eyes. He falls to one knee as his body begins to give up on him.

"Damn daemon Oskari!" he seethes through bloodied teeth. He grimaces as he pulls himself to his feet. "Where has it gone?" he asks.

"It..."

Valdor spins around at the uttered words, his eyes searching the gloom.

"It... fled," comes another whisper.

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