Chapter 85: The Elites, Part 3

As the demon charged in, the Elites would take quick notice. Sacrum would throw himself forward to intervene, attempting to halt the child from approaching further, lunging with such claws forward, whilst having Maxillan's bones attempt to provide cover. Zazel, however, countered with a sigil of Sabnock, spawning a Shield to block the attack, letting it be penetrated at a specific angle to lock up the man's hands, before using the sigil again to spawn a chain and wrap around it, using the wedge made and the arm it is attached to in order to throw him away from the group. Talus would be sweating bullets as he'd see the speed, reaction, and focus the demon had. "Jesus christ.....It's like he's been through a war! We have to retreat! We ha-" Maxilla silenced Talus' complaints by covering his mouth once more, speaking calmly and rationally.

"We need to keep an eye on the lil' bugger. We don't need to run from anyone. I told you already: Calm yourself. Stay quiet. Do not lose yourself." Maxilla would state, with Talus taking her orders to heart and taking a deep breath, before he would ask another question.

"B-but...The Brat! He's clearly prepared! How are we gonna beat something like that?"

"It's really simple. We simply learn its weak point and exploit it. If there is no weak point, we make one. Pay attention, since you clearly are focusing on your compatriots. What is the kid's magic?" 

"i-i-I dunno. Something to do with the weird seals?"

"Exactly! And from what we have established, we learned it worked with your magic. Whether or not it's a spell that can overwhelm us is irrelevant. It is something we can touch. Therefore...." The realization came for Talus as he'd understood what is considered to be the weak point.

"Wait a minute.....Yeah, Yeah! He can't do anything if I-. . . I got a plan now. I won't mess it up this time! Promise!" The woman merely rolled her eyes at his words, yet she held them up high, allowing some bone to act as a staircase so he can vault over and get close to the demon. Ennio would take notice and try to land a shot, still somewhat incapacitated due to the cauterized wound, dulling his shooting. When he fired the bullets, Talus made quick work in taking it in through his hands, absorbing the bullets and transferring it to Sacrum. As Zazel would be forced to handle the two opponents, Ennio took this opportunity to take advantage yet again at the Goggle wearer's magic, having the minerals laced within the bullet to halt itself at the exit point from Sacrum's body, before spreading it like a web, stabbing the minerals directly across the bone and digging deep into its marrow. Zazel would catch it by the glint it shines across the sun, realizing what the Cowboy was planning, wanting to add on to the further damage.

While not flammable by any means, Zazel took this opportunity to have the minerals be blasted with hellfire in the form of Asmodeus, letting the minerals seep and spread out across Sacrum's armor. The Elite with Claws realized what was ensuing when he saw the sigil, struggling to escape due to the nature of the claws, as well as the chains that bound him down. "MAXILLA!! THEY'RE INFECTING THE BONES!! LITTLE HELP?!" He'd yell, signaling the woman to have the bones break itself apart, shattering as if it were glass, not only freeing Sacrum and showcasing his real hands, but also disarming the attempted assassination altogether, putting the demon on edge when he recognized they were more tuned than he thought.

"Sheesh, how are you guys so coordinated like that? What, you guys practiced this?" Zazel asked, preparing another sigil to target one of the others.

Talus merely snickered as he'd try to bark once more such boisterous words "HAH! As if we'd ever tell a Salvandian like yourself our skills! This is simply our strength! The synergy we share that NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY can reach! Better respect that strength, little runt-"

BAM!!

A strike in the form of a bone-like arm smacked atop of the man's head, causing a visceral reaction. "GYAAAOW!! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?" Talus demanded, looking back towards Maxilla

"Are you seriously trying to act confident after we were on the backfoot? Braggin' like that get's you killed, mate! Don't think because we're good, we're immortal." Maxilla would demand, carrying a cold tone across her voice, immediately putting Talus in his place. Zazel was still confused, before hearing out the woman's words once more. "As for your question, lil' fella....we simply know each other. Most of our life has been spent side-by-side, now that I think about it.."

"Seriously? What makes you so sure about that?"

"Well who else d'ya think raised him?" She'd point towards the leader, the giant, who was occupied against the likes of Stolas. This raised Zazel even further questions, yet before he asked it, Maxilla seemed to have already known about what he was gonna say. She nodded to serve as her answer. "He was a lil' kid too. Brings back a lot of memories it did."

Ennio would speak up afterwards, his focus still being keen, almost shocked that the Elites were not only related, but also the ones that handled the likes of such a tremendous person. "So how was it like? Acting as a parent for someone like him? I can kinda tell you're the more controlling type, but not in a way that harms others. If anything, it kind of reminds me of a stern mother than a nagging bystander."

Maxilla would hear this and laugh to herself, covering her face a bit. "Aw C'mon! Don't make me feel old ova'h here! I'm barely 30!" She'd quickly calm herself as she'd answer his question. "And yeah, I guess you can say it's kinda like that. It's moreso like...."

"Like what?"

".....Like the whole town wanted to take care of him, y'now...? I'll explain..."