Zenkoh's Adventure

Chapter 17

As Maria and Onyx are staring each other down they slowly circle each other. As they were doing this Maria noticed a small drop of something fall from Onyx's dagger, venom! There was no way to know what kind of venom it was, and she didn't want to get cut and find out.

Suddenly Onyx lunged at her but Maria made sure to stay far away from the Onyx's blade.

Onyx: What's wrong? Scared of my little dagger here?

Maria: I remember your specialty from when I was in the guild. I'm not letting that blade near me!

Onyx: Ha! Guess it was wishful thinking that you would forget something like that.

Maria: Onyx we don't need to do this! You can just walk away.

Onyx: Au contraire! I was paid to get rid of any and all problems Kenzo might have. It isn't my fault you picked the opposing side.

Just then Onyx leapt forward making a horizontal slash with her dagger. Maria parried with her own and then kicked Onyx away from her, she then threw a throwing dagger at her. Onyx sidestepped the projectile and threw one of her own. Maria barely managed to duck under it before attempting to stab the viper. Onyx deflected the dagger with her own before flaring her hood and revealing her fangs, lunging forward to bite the catfolk. Right when the viper came within arms reach Maria punched Onyx in the throat, forcing her to back off while going into a coughing fit.

Onyx spoke while rubbing her throat: Well, can't say I'm surprised. Had just hoped your reflexes may have gotten worse.

Maria: That was a terrible gamble to be taking. I could have stabbed you in the throat instead, I didn't because I hoped that maybe I could still talk you out of this!

Onyx: That's not happening. I was paid to do a job. I can't be known as an assassin who backs out of contracts, if you want through you'll have to kill me!

Maria had hoped to talk her out of it but that clearly wasn't happening. If that's how it was going to be then so be it! She couldn't afford to just lay down and die, Zenkoh and Irya still needed her!

Maria: For what it is worth, I am sorry but I have to do this.

Onyx: Haha! The Crimson Blade, sorry? Now I have seen everything.

Onyx rushed forward making a horizontal swipe with her dagger. Maria parried the dagger with hers and proceeded to swipe her left claw catching the right side of Onyx's face.

Onyx: Ahh! My face!

Onyx then made a blind stab in Maria's direction. Maria sidestepped the thrust and wrapped her right arm around Onyx's forearm and applying pressure at the elbow, a snap could be heard as the viper's dagger clattered to the ground.

Onyx: AHHHHH! Damnit, my arm!

Onyx's hood was flared and her fangs were barred, practically daring Maria to come close again. If she wasn't careful then Maria would be finding out just how bad viper venom could be.

Onyx: That gnoll isn't here to save anyone this time! When I bite you it will be over.

Maria: I don't need Zenkoh to be here to beat you, although her folding you in half would definitely make things easier!

Hearing this Onyx simply hissed at the catfolk.

Onyx proceeded to leap at Maria who rolled out of the way as the viper slammed into one of the boxes, smashing it open revealing it was full of vials of some greenish substance.

Maria: What the hell? Is this what I think it is?

Onyx: If what you think it is would be venom, then yes you would be correct. Supplied by yours truly for Kenzo as a little extra on the side.

Maria: This is...how many have you helped kill by providing this to him?

Onyx: That's not my problem, an assassin letting morals get in the way just ends up dead!

As Onyx leapt at her again Maria threw a dagger at her once she got close, the viper tumbled to the ground past her revealing a dagger stuck in Onyx's left shoulder. The viper hissed as she pulled the dagger from her own shoulder.

While Onyx was distracted with removing her dagger Maria pulled a vial of venom she grabbed while she was avoiding her leap. She coated her dagger with it, knowing that vipers aren't immune to their own venom. As Onyx finally managed to get the dagger free from her shoulder Maria grit her teeth, she didn't want to kill a former guildmate but she wasn't being given a choice. She knows that if left alive she will just keep coming after them until she kills one of them, but it didn't make killing someone you used to work with, talk to, and share stories with any easier!

Maria: If you come at me again it will be the last thing you do! Please don't make me kill you!

Onyx: That isn't going to happen! I have my job and you have yours, so if you won't do yours I guess I'll have to do mine. I wonder how much that kobold will scream when I bite her?

Once the last word left Onyx's mouth Maria had already rushed her making a stab for her chest. Onyx jumped to the left to avoid the dagger and lunged forward to attempt to bite her. Maria punched Onyx in the throat and stomped on her right ankle as hard as she could.

Onyx: Goddammit!

As Onyx was distracted from the pain Maria Impaled her in between her ribs on the right side.

Onyx: AHHH! I'm going to—

The viper was cut off when Maria revealed an empty vial causing Onyx's pupils to shrink!

Onyx: That's, that's my venom...

Maria: Sure is! It was nice of you to leave it lying around for me to just use.

As the venom started to take effect Maria could see Onyx take on a pained, exhausted look before she fell to the ground.

While she was able to win Maria was disgusted with herself, she had promised herself that she would never use venom or poison again but she was backed into a corner and she needed to make sure that Onyx wouldn't be able to do anything like come up behind them. It wasn't important, she needed to hurry if they were going to catch Kenzo.

As Zenkoh entered the room in front of her she saw what she would believe to be some form of training area for soldiers. There were archery targets and what looked like a ring for sparring.

As Zenkoh was searching the room for anything useful a large bearfolk revealed themselves coming out from behind the archery targets.

Rosha: Looks like I'm the one that has to put the wandering beast down before it does anymore damage.

Zenkoh: I am no beast! I can think and feel just like you can!

Rosha: What you are is a gnoll and gnolls are known as savage monsters for a reason!

Zenkoh: Sorry to tell you this but that isn't what I am!

Rosha: You are Zenkoh Deadfang are you not?

Zenkoh: Why does that matter?

Rosha: Your mother raided my village, she killed my family so I am going to repay her by killing her daughter!

Zenkoh: What she did has nothing to do with me! You can't just treat me as some wild animal to put down just because my bitch of a mother attacked your village!

Rosha: I can and I will! I am going to put you down before you are able to start hurting innocents just like your mother!