The Swiftly Turning Tides[TacheonBlack]

Hoch both doubled over and was thrown back by the force of Vylanos's punch. There was a thud when his back hit a person behing him, in turn knocking people beside that person down. Anger filled Hoch and it seemed to be coming from the sore in his belly. Or was that what internal bleeding felt like? Hoch shook the thoughts from his head and slid his sword out of its sheath. Several people screamed at the sight if the glittering metal. Vylanos then drew his larger blade and there was a sevreal second stand-off as Vylanos glanced around the area.

"You know you could just leave this place and there would be no more trouble?" Hoch asked, doing his best to conceal the anger that pounded throughout his body. Every cell in his body demanded Hoch shove his sword through the man's part. Well, every cell except those in his brain, which knew diplomacy would work far better.

"You think that I could leave this place, and the trouble would cease here?" Vylanos cackled. It made sense, he figured, that the person hiring Hoch would only tell him the bare necessities of what was happening-- he was sure that Hoch was filling in the rest as he went along. Vylanos charged with his katana raised high, and swept it down. Adler easily parried it, but Vylanos was really simply using it as a way to get closer to him. "You don't understand, Mr. Adler," he said, grinding his blade deeper into Hoch's, feeling it snick away at the inferior steel, "you're the one throwing off the balance here."

Vylanos riposted and, fencing style, went it for a series of quick jabs, ending with what was intended to be a full-circle slash-- one which ended badly when Hoch recovered stringere more quickly than Vylanos had planned; Vylanos yelped with pleasure as he felt the cold steel delve into his flesh. He dropped to the ground and turned his head toward Hoch, grinning. Hoch raised his blade next to his ear and prepared to behead Vylanos when a flash went off-- Vylanos had wasted enough time to be able to find magnesium deposits in the ground, and ignite them.

When Hochgender Adler's vision returned, Vylanos was nowhere to be seen.

OoC: No. Hoch would not do that. Edit out the parts where he talked. :/

OoC: Goddommot, sorry. I thought it sounded cheesy enough for him to say it :[

OoC: You calling Hoch cheesy? *stern face*

BiC: Hoch blinked several times to remove the flashing lights from his eyes. Once they were gone he looked around and saw where several people had been pushed down. He slid his blade a little more than halfway in its sheath and began sprinting after Vylanos who soon came into his line of sight. He removed his blade and held it in a reverse grip as he ran. He ran behind Vylanos as silently as possible and whipped his hand up, the slice intended to cut off the man's right arm.

Vylanos had grown quite fond of his right arm, and was most displeased to have found it cut off, lying useless on the ground next to him like an old ham. He was about to pick it up when Hoch went in for another slash. Vylanos ducked under him and proceeded to push Hoch forward, which wouldn't have done anything save for the fact that the ground was slick with the pints of blood that was pouring out of Vylanos. Vylanos was almost crying with laughter. Again, someone noticed that they were being sprayed with something that normally stays inside the body, and they started to scream. The entire thing reminded Vylanos of chickens, scared but not knowing how to manifest their fear.

Vylanos pulled out his revolver and began to fire at Hoch, who had dived out of the way the second he saw Vylanos cross his arm over his body (for Vylanos was usually a righty when it comes to shooting). Hoch proceeded to run into a tavern. The same one, in fact, where Vylanos had caused the commotion that started all this ruckus. He turned around to pick up his arm, but discovered that a dog was already munching on it. He decided to leave it be, let every dog have its day. Still though, regrowing his arm would be a pain. He reloaded and prepared to head into the bar.

OoC:

BiC: Hoch ducked into the bar quickly but he made it slow enough that Vylanos would see him. He loaded his crossbow and pointed it at the door, waiting for Vylanos.

"What's this about?" the barkeep said in a gruff tone.

"Shut up," Hoch said as he threw the man a handful of Euros.

"Whatever," he replied as he pocketed the money.

Vylanos staggered into the bar, dizzy from blood loss and a combat high. He let loose several shots from his revolver-- all intended to hit Hoch and none actually making contact. Bottles exploded, and the bartender dived for cover, yelping as one of the shots hit his arm. Hoch was prepared, however, and Vylanos was knocked back, slightly, by the force of the crossbow bold embedding itself into his right leg. He holstered his revolver and limped forward, drawing Emilia as he did so.

Hoch had readied another bolt by the time that Vylanos was anywhere near him, and was stepping back at a pace much quicker than any Vylanos could muster in his current condition. The next shot hit Vylanos right square in the chest, and Vylanos toppled backwards.