The trickster and the glutton

Silence gripped the field as I stood ready. All ten Skulk slowly circled around me creating a barrier from all sides. Even with the colours flowing around me, I could not distinguish which was the real one. 

I hesitated to make the first move not wanting to be caught in the same situation as before. Time however was not on my side. It would only be so long before the goblins managed to get a force together to come and assist Skulk with my recapture. 

I could not let this battle drag. 

Letting a few more seconds of intense silence slip by I darted forwards towards the skulk closest to the forest. 

Responding to my movements all ten figures began closing in on me with incredible speed. I raced forward with my only goal being to escape off into the forest. 

My circle of flowing colours still only had a short range of a few metres around myself meaning that until they reached this circle my powers were largely useless. 

As I ran I saw 5 long sharp knife looking things shoot towards me. 

Shit. I would have to let at least one hit if was to dodge. Even though 4 are likely illusions just one hit could end this fight immediately.

Coming to an abrupt stop I began flowing between each passing projectile before focusing on the final 5th knife-like object that was already far too close to dodge. 

In a few split seconds, I willed the colours to move to my choosing intercepting the knife causing it to dissolve into the air.

I watched as the dark steel knife gently melted into a thick grey soup and joined the current. 

Thankfully I had devoured it or it might very well have ended this fight early. 

I kept running however this stop had cost me dearly. 

The three closest figures were already upon me bearing down on me each wielding two long blades in either fist. 

"Got you, little rat"

The voice rang out from all three as they dived towards me. 

Although far quicker than me controlling all ten figures at once most likely inhibited his brain functionality as I easily managed to dodge the first two strikes before plunging my hand deep into the third figure. 

His 'flesh' wrapped around my figures before popping into the air. An illusion. Sensing the other two preparing for two more strikes I dashed backwards towards the two. The more illusions I could take out quickly the better. 

One of the clones rushed forward to greet my charge seemingly trying to meet my claws however pulled out at the last second, instead trying to slash at my stomach with one of its long black blades.

As we neared each other I caught a subtle yet noticeable glimpse of deep blue shine in the clone's eyes. 

I pushed through not bothering to counter the attack hoping my eyes had not betrayed me. 

The attack passed seamlessly through me. 

Clone number two quickly dissipated behind me. Most likely dismissed in order to reduce the mental strain of controlling so many. 

The other 7 clones were not nearing at an alarming rate. This fight would be impossible once all seven had reached me.

As soon as Skulk no longer needed to surround me he could dismiss at least 4 of them and fight at full mental capacity with the three illusions. It's not dissimilar to how he fought on top of that godforsaken roof. 

I disregarded the aggressive motions the third clone was taking and instead chose to begin sprinting towards the forest. 

Although already over halfway the forest was still a long way away. I would not be able to run the whole way without the clones catching me. 

Shit. 

I theorized as I ran desperately trying to come up with a plan to fend off the illusions. 

My power was my biggest advantage but as of now I barely know what it does let alone how often I could use it. 

From behind me the stomping of 16 feet was getting louder and louder and I could feel disturbances in the blanket of colour surrounding me.

Running would no longer get me anywhere. I'll have to fight my way out. 

Digging my feet into the ground I turned on the 8 figures whose momentum carried them deeper into the ocean of colour. 

It seems I'll have to fight with no regard for my well-being. Regardless of the mental strain these powers may cause it does not matter if I'm dead anyway. 

Commitment to the plan I caused the waves to erupt towards the 8 figures washing over all 8 of them. It was a strange feeling. As all 8 of them rested in the palm of my hand, now all I had to do was clench that hand. 

I tried desperately to forcefully devour the remaining 8 clones however it seems it would not be that easy. Three of the furthest back clones managed to escape my ensnarement and began circling around behind me. The clones still stuck in the current were not going down without a fight each desperately thrashing in the endless flow. 

The mental strain it took to keep them down was far larger than I had expected. The other three clones slowly prowled into a radius and closer and closer towards me. Desperately trying to control the colours I attempted to trap the other three however nothing happened. 

I was barely holding onto the other 5 let alone three more. I weakened my grip on the other 5 in a desperate attempt to hold the 3 at bay. 

They stopped in their tracks now looking like they were waiting through thick mud rather than plodding through a small stream. 

I smiled at the successful prevention however now faced a new problem. 

All 5 of the clones had survived the devouring as the power was split evenly between them. Furthermore, none had been revealed as certain illusions. 

All 8 closed in on me as I used as much of my power as possible to hold them in place. A searing headache broke out and my muscles slowly weakened at the overuse of my power. 

I would not be able to hold them for long. 

"Trick"

The word was repeated 8 times by all of the clones before all bar one disappeared into the wind. 

The one that still remained now pushed strongly through the waves having freed his whole mental capacity. 

The headache was only getting worse as I pushed against the now sole figure marching adamantly toward me. 

Any attempts at forcefully devouring him fell flat as he struggled and fought them off. Fatigue now dug deep into my muscles making it harder and harder to keep up the waves of colour. I struggled trying to back away as using the sea of colours to such a degree made it harder and harder to move. 

On closer inspection of Skulk, I saw blue whisps of light gently flowing in him contacting with the sea of colours causing it to back away. It seems his characteristic protects him to some degree. 

Although still marching towards me Skulk had gone eerily quiet. I had not known him long yet it seemed like he rarely was quiet. Despite his confident appearance, this was clearly harder for him than he had expected. 

He had closed in considerably now almost close enough to dig his sword into me. 

Finally, he came just within reach and began his swing. This was my last chance. I dismissed the colours causing them to surge back into me. The mental strain reduced vastly as my muscles finally regained some of their strength. I slipped backwards and watched as Skulk strike dug through nothing but air. 

Using his momentum I struck my claw out towards him managing to dig out some of the flesh in his shoulder. 

He like me, seemed heavily fatigued. I assume the mixture of searching for me using ten clones and then desperately fighting being devoured while still moving had caused an equal level of fatigue. 

He slashed upwards back at me as I tried to slink backwards in time. The blade caught along my chest slicing a clear red line across my chest and through my weak cloth clothes.

Thankfully it was just about not deep enough to cause considerable damage. 

I debated attempting to escape however despite his fatigue Skulk still held a considerable degree of speed and strength. 

My best opportunity now is to hold my ground and try to make it not worth it to continue the fight. 

I dove back in and unleashed a flurry of scratches in his direction. Only two landed causing only surface-level wounds. 

We crossed sword to claw many times both thirsting for a fatal shot at the other. 

Blood dribbled out from the many wounds I sustained however the pain was easily manageable compared to the torture I endured in that cell. 

The fatigue in my muscles became more and more noticeable as the fight continued. 

Skulk dived in with a decisive and strong downward slash. I would not be able to dodge in time instinctively raising my claws to counter the blade. 

His momentum carved cleanly through my defence slicing a long deep gash through my chest. It transected the previous strike causing deep crimson blood to gently ooze out the wound. I skittered backwards holding back the urge to faint. Blood loss and fatigue were quickly catching up. There was only so long this fight could go on. 

Using the last of my energy yelled and screeched at the top of my lungs. 

If I was to go out I would not go weakly. 

I staggered to my feet before tripping and falling back to my knees. 

Skulk now much more eager to finish the fight slowly strut towards me. 

"You are a weak little rat. If you had stayed in your cell I would have let you live to see me become glorious. We would have been playmates forever.

But instead, you chose death. Admirable in a sense. Too weak to even stand. Your pitiful little creature"

He cackled as he brought his blade close to my throat. 

It was at this moment I launched my final attack. I released the remaining shreds of power still flowing through my blood. The colours exploded in his direction however this time in a much more controlled manner. Rather than flooding in all directions, they aimed for one specific place. 

His eye. 

I judged it the easier place to attack. His heart and organs were hidden behind bones. His eyes however were not. 

A look of shock disrupted his giggles as he attempted to shift out of the way of the now-rushing tsunami. My head exploded with pain however I bit deep into my lip drawing blood as I pushed harder and harder. 

The colours seeped into his eye socket burning one away before his characteristic could attempt to stop it. 

The other I was not so lucky with reaching it too late to devour it. 

Skulk reeled back now with only one eye inlaid into his face. 

He said no more words as he held one hand to his now eyeless socket while the other swung down with his sword. 

I untensed my neck muscles. There was no point in a slow death. 

However, the strike never landed. Instead, the familiar sound of steel on steel erupted from above me. 

"Sleep young one, It is a general's job to protect his soldiers".

With my final shreds of strength, I looked up to see the familiar visage of Itch now standing beside me sword raised in competition with Skulks razer. 

I finally allowed my instincts to take over as my head hit the floor.