As Alucard let loose with another storm of gunfire, Kratos raised his blades once more as the bullets pinged off the enchanted metal. They flew every which way often smashing into the cases that held the t-shirts and other assorted goods as the sound of shattering glass rang out through the gift shop. It was obvious that this creature was highly skilled in the use of those projectile-launchers. They were still unlike anything Kratos had ever seen before. They fired even faster than his Bow of Apollo. The deep crevice one of those aforementioned projectiles left in his right shoulder also stung like one wouldn't believe. But stopping to worry about pain wasn't on Kratos's agenda. He was sick of continually being put on the defensive by this abomination. He had conquered all those who stood before him! This creature would be no different! So with a mighty roar he parted the blades aside and rushed towards Alucard.
The vampire attempted to disrupt the Spartan's charge with some key gunshots here and there. But Kratos managed to either block or dodge the shots as he finally closed the distance between the two of them and raising the Blades of Exile above his head, he'd slam them down towards Alucard who grinned and smashed his hand guns against the blades. He could have easily absorbed the blow just as he had the earlier ones but then he wouldn't get a chance to look his opponent right in the eye and let him know how useless his efforts were.
"It's nice to see that you haven't completely limped out. But I grow tired of the foreplay you seem so insistent on continuing. Perhaps we should cut straight to the climax?"
Alucard suggested as he flashed another grin Kratos's way. The spartan only glared as he found that even with his superhuman strength it seemed the two were evenly matched in power, at the moment anyhow.
"Spare the words for the ones who'll greet you in Hell, creature!" He'd bellow as he sought to jump back and quickly wrap the left blade's chain around Alucard's waist. Not really seeming bothered by this development, Alucard grinned as Kratos pulled on the chain and by extension yanked Alucard off his feet and right into another glass display. This one had all sorts of decorative hats in it! Releasing the chain upon Alucard's landing, Kratos switched his main weapons around to one he deemed more fitting for this upcoming battle. The Nemean Cestus that he had gained from killing his brother, Hercules. If he not could not simply kill this creature with his blades then he'd pound him into the dirt until there was nothing left to revive.
As he made his way over to the pile of glass shards and hats, he failed to notice any sign of Alucard. He knew that something as weak as that wouldn't have been enough to keep Alucard down for the count but he had hoped it would at least disorient him but that simply didn't appear to be the case. It was then that the lights hanging above Kratos exploded as if shot by something. Leaving Kratos in the dark gift shop with some regenerating creature with two powerful weapons that he appeared to have quite the mastery of. He knew taking out Helios's head would be a risk but it was one that he couldn't afford at the moment. Not when this
thing may have still been lurking in the shadows. So reaching within his hefty arsenal he'd pull out the severed head of the Sun God as it opened it's eyes and let out a shriek of despair as the room was illuminated. It was one thing to be grateful to the Gods for, Kratos supposed. But no matter where he looked in the gift shop, he couldn't seem to find any sign of the creature.
"Show yourself, beast! If you'r as powerful as you boast, you should have no problems coming out of the shadows and facing me! Or do you fear that you'll finally meet your death at my hands?"
It was that a moment a genuine sounding laugh erupted from
somewhere in the gift shop. No matter where Kratos swung the head the source of the laughter could not be placed. But Kratos knew too well who it belonged to and it put him all the more on edge.
"You're asking if I'm afraid of death? Aren't you the same one whose been running and running from me this entire battle? You boast and put on a facade that suits a wolf but your actions have been more like that of a lamb running away from the slaughter. In a way I suppose that's wise of you to avoid a battle you know you cannot win. But then you continue coming back for more because your ego believes it can cash checks that your level of skill cannot check. Hehehehehe.." Kratos was beyond enraged that he was being talked down to from a coward who used the darkness to hide from him.
"If you truly wish to my skill, step out from the shadows and face me!"
The gift shop seemed to go dead silent at Kratos's request. No doubt the creature was planning something at his expense. But then Alucard's voice cut through the darkness once more.
"If that's truly what you desire I'll grant your request. Just so long as you can grant mine in return. I've long since waited for a human capable of taking my life and despite how unfit you appear to be for that role, perhaps you're not all just ego. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. So for right now you should keep your focus on me!"
It was then that Alucard rose up from behind Kratos with blood coating his face. It also appeared that the right side of his face was still partially engrossed in the darkness. But Kratos wasted no time and quickly whirled around to the face the vampire whose healing capabilities were already making quick work of the blood. As soon as the spartan turned to face him, Alucard's jaws snapped open and he lunged towards Kratos only for the Spartan to make a hasty maneuver and fling Helios's head into the vampire's gaping maw. If only to spare himself possibly missing a limb or so. Taken aback briefly by Kratos's quick thinking, Alucard let out a muffled laugh as his fangs crunched down on the head and as the crimson liquid flowed from the remains, he'd swallow it down without much fanfare as he then shot another gaze Kratos's way.
"You've certainly a fine assortment of equipment. Ranging from the simple swords to some kind of massive gauntlets and even a glowing head. But as I hoped my demonstration was enough to prove why I'm still wasting my time with you. I came here to be entertained, so warrior. ENTERTAIN ME!"
As Kratos slung on the Nemean Cestus once more, Alucard happily drew his guns and it appeared as if the battle would begin anew and who knew where their destructive battle would end? As the bullets flew and Kratos charged however, a small girl's words could have been heard chime in before either side connected with the other.
"Guard Skill:Distortion."
It was then that Alucard's bullets seemed to fly of course and Kratos's punches were knocked off course and the Spartan himself nearly sent for a loop. But regaining the footing both Spartan and Vampire looked down at the apparent source of their confusion. It appeared to be nothing more than a small silver-haired girl in what appeared to be some kind of school-girl outfit. Looking at Alucard and then at Kratos, the girl began to speak.
"It appears I have your attention. You are both being rather disruptive. From what I can gather this is a place of relaxation. Keep the noise level down as a result. That is all." With that the girl waited to see if Kratos and Alucard would heed her advice. Kratos didn't know how this girl had been capable of stopping him as she did but he also couldn't find it in his cold heart to push her out of the way and continue the battle. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that at one point life Kratos had been a father himself. With a small grunt, Kratos placed the gauntlets away before glancing at Alucard.
"I've not come here for relaxation but answers. I will get what I desire from you, cretin. But for now our battle is over." Leaving it hanging that would indeed be more battles between them, Kratos stomped off from the wrecked gift-shop as Alucard glanced down at Kanade and knelt down. While it didn't exactly look quite as graceful and courteous among the multiple piles of glass and assorted items laying around, Alucard did give off the air of a gentleman as he stared at the girl before him. "I do apologize for my behavior, young one. But while I will agree to keep the noise down as you've requested, I cannot guarntee how well I can enforce it once I run into that fellow with the chain blades again. But for now I'll do what I can. Tell me, what is your name?"
Outwardly the girl's expression didn't seem to change from the stoic robot-like stare she aimed at Alucard. "Back where I am from, I'm designated as Angel. What name do you go by?" Grinning at the revelation of this girl's name, Alucard threw back his head and let out a hearty chuckle causing Angel/Kanade to tilt her head to the side.
"Was something I said humorous?"
"Yes. But I'm afraid it may have been unintentionally so on your part. For you see with someone as rich a background as myself, angels and the like haven't necessarily had the best past with me. But it's been a long time since those days and while I still carry many titles and with them many faces, the one I go by nowadays is Alucard. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Angel." Giving a polite bow towards the girl, Alucard rose back up to his full height and began to make his way off. "If you wish to accompany me Angel, I'll be heading to the bar for some refreshments if they'll still indulge me after my fun." The vampire said as the girl slowly nodded and tagged along. Sticking close to this one would probably help her better deal with situations in case another fight were to break out.
As the two made their way inside, Alucard took a seat near the counter and noticing a woman who appeared to be sitting by her lonesome, Alucard smirked and waved towards her. All the while Angel sat next to the vampire and not really doing her own socializing. She was here to keep an eye on Alucard and that was all.
"Evening." The vampire said towards Julchen with all the smugness he could muster. The way she dressed and just the general aroma she gave off. It reminded Alucard of all the stuffy Prussian nobility who felt the need to tromp around his native land as if they owned it. He may have fed on a few of them every now and again but it had been quite some time since an encounter like that. Surely it wouldn't hurt to interact with one while he could and relive those memories. With or without the bloodsucking he wasn't sure.
@Akira Atsuhiko @Anyone else in the bar at the moment.