Rounders - Part 1

As the ashes block Gabriel's view, he brings the two khopeshes near his upper body and faces to prepare for a counterattack.

[Clang!]

As expected, a hand trailed with finger-claws and the tip of a spear is thrust at his face. The impact is powerful, knocking him backwards and causing him to slide down the room while trying to maintain his balance.

Lucifer catches up to him before he can catch his breath and slashes Gabriel with both hands. With only an inch to spare, Gabriel manages to dodge by quickly stepping back.

But relief doesn't await him as he retreats. Michael is already prepared with the spear, ready to pierce anyone who crosses his path. This time, he assumes a different stance, famously known as the "shoulder stance."

While Gabriel stops his movement just before entering Michael's strike zone, it proves futile as Michael starts advancing towards him. In an instant, the spear shoots in Gabriel's direction, grazing his right cheek.

The dangerous thing about this tactic is that Gabriel can't predict when the attack will come. Michael has full control of the speed and timing, making it difficult to disarm him with the spear held close to his body.

However, when the spear extends to force an attack, it creates a chance for Gabriel to attempt to snap it in two using his khopesh. Yet, his attempt fails as the blades clash against each other.

After the unsuccessful try, Gabriel acknowledges the uselessness of his strategy. He ceases his attempts and focuses on the situation he's trapped in. Michael is more focused on a defensive manoeuvre, while Gabriel has to worry about the attacker behind him.

Suddenly, Gabriel delivers a swift kick to Michael, thrusting with full force to create distance between them and gain extra time to face Lucifer. As the spear spins around Michael's neck, Gabriel lands a kick on his abdomen.

[Cling!]

The claws strike again, brushing against the blade. The impact nearly makes Gabriel lose his grip on the handle. The combined force of five fingers rivals that of a full-fledged sword. Securing the khopesh, Gabriel raises it in anticipation of another slash from Lucifer.

[Screech!]

As expected, the side of the blade scrapes against the claws, leaving a battle scar. Against the odds, Gabriel ambushes Lucifer, aiming his other hand at Lucifer's neck. However, Lucifer is prepared and raises his right hand to block.

Gabriel puts power into his slash, causing Lucifer's claw to scratch his helmet as the force pushes it over his head. During this ordeal, Lucifer goes for a stab with his free hand, grazing Gabriel's gut and his copied body armour.

Gabriel starts to feel overwhelmed and anxious without Michael's presence. The longer the fight drags on, the more the odds tilt against him, considering stamina consumption and numbers.

Concealing one of his khopeshes, Gabriel tightly grips the hand that attempted to disembowel him and throws the whole person with all his might, driving Lucifer into the ceiling. Carefully avoiding the other claw aimed at him, Gabriel dashes upward, maximizing the impact.

[Thump!]

To give it everything he can, Gabriel slips away from the falling person, smashing himself into the rupturing ceiling, causing more rock pieces to fall.

[Boom!]

As the foundation breaks apart, more lights escape into the chamber, burying Lucifer underneath. Gabriel glides down gently, rubbing his sore shoulder from the wall smashing. At least, he has one less person to worry about for now.

[Fwoosh!]

Almost taking his head off, Michael's spear flies across the room and lands on the wall where Gabriel's head was seconds ago. Before he can attempt to take the spear away or destroy it, the weapon returns to its owner's hand.

"Your fate awaits, just like these," Gabriel taunts Michael as they approach each other.

"I know your plan, Gabriel," Michael replies. "You buried Lucifer to buy some time to try and finish me off. I'm not an idiot, and Lucifer isn't that weak."

"So what? You alone can't stop me," Gabriel jests. "You're nothing more than a second-rate Archangel created after me."

"Then I'll just keep running until the timer's over," Michael leers, annoying Gabriel. "It's the simplest thing I can do."

"Why, you little...!" Michael wins the provocation game as Gabriel launches his assault without a second thought. "I'm going to rip that big fucking mouth off you!"

[Clatter!]

Once again, they clash. Michael easily deflects each attack while Gabriel's rage drives him to multiply his hits. However, his strikes are weak and imprecise, rendering them ineffective.

While the number of strikes against Michael is concerning, none of them poses a threat. Calmly assessing the situation, Michael takes his chance by slipping his spear around Gabriel's flailing attack and using the back of the spear to strike Gabriel's chest.

It was a blunder caused by Gabriel's move set, which allows him to be attacked only when the back of his spear is vulnerable. Still, Michael strikes back as Gabriel slowly gets cornered at the edge of the room.

Although it doesn't seem problematic for Michael, this oversight becomes a crucial turning point for Gabriel. He realizes that his haste could be his downfall. He ceases the chain of attacks and needs to adjust his plan.

It doesn't take him long to adapt to a new tactic. The weapons in both of his hands suddenly disappear. With his palm in a grapple-like setting, Gabriel leaps onto Michael, latching his hand onto the body of the spear.

Moreover, Gabriel hooks both of his feet onto Michael, causing him to lose balance and tilt sideways, forcing them into a roll closer to the pile of wreckage. The spear continues to hit one of them as they spin.

Whenever Michael tries to conceal it, Gabriel's hold makes the process backfire. Consequently, the spear remains intact. Now, the two are a fight of will and sheer strength. The one who holds the spear, in the end, will undoubtedly determine the winner of their brawl.

Disappointingly, Gabriel manages to stick his foot out, finding footing to stand up. With Michael lying beneath his feet, Gabriel quickly places one foot on his chest to hold him down while snatching the spear away.

As soon as he secures the spear in his hand, Gabriel's first instinct is to break it apart. But seeing that he has Michael within his grasp, Gabriel spins the spear around, attempting to impale Michael directly in the chest.

[Slam!]

However, Gabriel completely misses as Michael manages to knock the back of Gabriel's knee, causing his aim to swing away. When the spear lands next to him, Michael seizes the opportunity and reclaims it.

No longer willing to tolerate this situation, Gabriel draws the blade on his right hand and goes for a strike. But his attack halts as five claws pierce through his forearm, causing him to instantly let go of the sword, which falls to the ground and disappears.

[Schluuk!]

Just in time, Lucifer is back in action, brutally disabling Gabriel's hand. Gabriel didn't realize his awakening, thanks to the sound of the spear slamming to the ground and the subsequent sound of breaking bones.

Blood drips from the five points where the armour around his forearm was pierced. When Gabriel tries to pull his hand free, the nervous system shuts down like a broken-down car, rendering his elbow to palm immobile at his command. The disrespectful smirk beneath Lucifer's mask ignites Gabriel's emotions.