“Ooohh, that’s so cool! I want tough skin!”
Tōga's eyes lit up with awe as he watched Tamás demonstrate his remarkable skin magic. "Incredible!" he exclaimed, showing reverence for Tamás' unique talent. In all his years as a Rune Knight, Tōga had never encountered anyone who could transform their flesh into living stone or steel, hardening their body into an impenetrable shield while still wielding the strength to crush rock with their bare hands. The possibilities of such magic sent Tōga's mind racing, igniting his warrior's spirit with excitement at the prospect of testing his own mettle against Tamás' unyielding power someday. But for now, he simply gazed upward with a smile, continuing to heap praise upon Tamás for his singular gift as a mage. Tōga knew true magic when he saw it, and Tamás' was like nothing he had ever witnessed before.
The narrow alleyway reeked of death as Tōga and Tamás made their way between the decrepit buildings. Blood and gore painted the walls in lurid splashes, while filth and residue crusted the ground underfoot. Tōga grimaced against the overpowering stench, pinching his nose closed to spare his heightened senses. "What the hell happened here?" he muttered, surveying the gruesome scene. Before Tamás could reply, an otherworldly presence stirred in the shadows. Tōga tensed, ready to strike, but stayed his hand as his companion began conversing with the demonic entity. Though unsettled by its sinister presence, Tōga knew this was not their quarry today. He held back, listening intently as Tamás parleyed with the creature about their next move. Duty required focus, not distraction. Whatever vile acts had soaked these alleys in blood, Tōga and Tamás hunted far more dangerous prey. The true threat still lurked somewhere ahead amidst the carnage.
“Hmmm,” Tōga surveyed the blood-splattered scene pensively, taking in every gruesome detail. His keen eyes soon fell upon a gaping hole torn into the earth, as if the ground had been ripped open violently from above. "Aha," he murmured, thoughts clicking into place as he recalled the daemon's words. Their elusive target had supposedly burrowed beneath the surface. This ravaged pit must surely mark where the creature had plunged into the ground to make its subterranean escape.
Tōga's eyes glinted as an idea struck him. "I know how to flush our prey out of hiding," he declared, striding towards the yawning pit. Taking a deep breath, he leaned over the hole's ragged mouth. His cheeks billowed outwards, and with a roar, Tōga unleashed a torrent of flames into the tunnel below. The blistering inferno surged and swirled, raging through the burrow's twists and turns. Wherever the creature cowered, it would find no refuge from the intense heat. Tōga kept the fires burning white-hot, scouring every inch of the tunnel system. The licking flames hungrily sought out the hidden beast, eager to char its flesh and boil its blood. He would give it no choice - either face incineration where it lay, or emerge and confront the hunters that harried it.
wc: 503 [1460/1600]