Eckerz, in his tattered apprentice robe, groggily stood up, still unclear about his surroundings when he heard someone say they wanted to kill him. What arrogance, he thought, forcing himself to focus on the approaching figures.
Ivan jogged closer, fully taking in Eckerz's current appearance.
His body had become bloated, his neck and arms were partially fused with emerging snake scales, and the python head on his shoulder had grown by a third. This head had shielded him in the recent crisis and now emitted a weak hissing sound.
Ivan held a sword in one hand and clasped magic-casting materials he had dug out from medicinal herbs in the other, without a second word, he decided to take immediate action.
'Vine Entanglement'
With the final half of the spell uttered, he flung the materials to an appropriate spot ahead of him.
A black vine rapidly extended, wrapping around Eckerz like a chain.