Malak grimaced when he smelled smoke, indeed, the dragon had scorched an area of the forest, which did far more than irritate the warlock<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#004000">"Stupid beast"</span>he hissed, turning around and scowling, he would need to hurry.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0000ff">"Whatever it was it came from over here" </span><br/><br/>Malak glanced to his side, watching as two elves appeared from the foliage, freezing in their tracks when the taint of his power hit him. There was a male and a female. The elves released a gasp at the same time, their eyes wide and locked on Malak's form, his dark power washing over them, filling their bodies and souls with an icy dread. The male quickly pulled an arrow from his quiver, preparing it and aiming at Malak, who stayed his distance<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0000ff">"Halt creature, state your business in this sacred wood"</span>The little elf strained to avoid stuttering, he had never run into a warlock before, then again, Malak was unique, the last true warlock to curse the lands was his teacher, and that was well over two hundred years before Malak even found his most prized medallion.<br/><br/>Malak smirked, letting his aura wash over the two elves, the male was armed with a bow, the female a slim blade, they were hunters from their appearance, Malak's spell must have not reached the city, which was a good thing, in the destruction caused by the dragon's little romp, Malak's signature would go well ignored to many elves in their homes. The elves were young, perhaps having never seen a being like the one who stood before them, if their wide eyes. The boy released the arrow he had nocked, the projectile flying true through the air, though missing by only inches thanks to the trembling hand of the archer in question. Malak moved quickly enough to ensure the arrow missed, his hands leaving his robe, weaving an intricate symbol through the air<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#004000">"..... ....... ..... ....... ..."</span>He whispered dark and baleful words, gathering taint from the air around him before stretching his hand out to face the elves as they turned to flee.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#004000">"Neemah" </span><br/><br/>The final word of the incantation was uttered, and dark energy gathered around Malak's hand, seven tendrils bursting forth, thick ropes of black energy that spiraled through the air, terminating in the heads of demonic serpents, which latched onto the elven archer, several-inch long fangs piercing his form and pumping venom into his veins, the creature died more or less instantly, slumping to the ground<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0080ff">"W-what *are* you?!" </span><br/><br/>The elven girl, having witnessed her companion simply die in a shock of black magic was unable to move, her muscles locked in horror as the warlock finished the boy off, the serpents extending from his sleeve locking onto his neck and tearing his throat out before ripping his frail body to pieces, splashing her with his blood. The serpents core into the boy, their fanged maws cutting him apart and spreading him in large pieces across the clearing. Malak grinned and took another step towards the girl<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#004000">"Such a beautiful little creature, aren't you, so fresh and young"</span><br/><br/>The girl finally managed to stumble backwards, falling down as the warlock approached her, her brain screaming at her to scramble and run, she was overtaken with his aura, the ungodly cold that she felt numbing her mind. Malak smiled, noticing that the frail creature was trembling like one of the many leaves in the trees above as he approached her, his steps slowing in pace as he loomed over the pathetic creature, a fanged grin appearing on his lips from under the dark hood, the evil green eyes focusing on his new prey.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#004000"> "Don't worry my dear... it will be all over soon..."</span>Malak loomed over the girl, who by then had lost all color to her face, looking up at the nearly demonic smile before her. Malak leaned down, the gloved fingers of his left hand wrapping around her slender throat before he lifted her into the air, giving her a good view of the warlock's face as he licked his lips like an animal would before a feast. Malak showed her the back of his right hand, letting her watch as the artifact he wore awakened, the piercing eye opening and the red lines coursing through the gauntlet.  With a final smile Malak went in for the kill, plunging the fingers of the gauntlet into her chest, watching the dark power coursing through her body as she withered in his arms, her veins turning black as the life was sucked from her form before Malak was finally done.<br/><br/>Malak dropped the lifeless body of the female elf, smiling to himself cheerfully as the energy from her life-force coursed through him, giving him a much needed boost of energy. He even looked rejuvenated, the pure life force having restored any strength he lost. The male smiled, licking his lips and sighing in an unpleasantly satisfied manner "Delicious" he cooed, turning again towards where he felt his "Comrades" had gone.<br/><br/>Once his business was concluded Malak absorbed his aura, erasing his magical footprints for the time being, more elves were likely to appear soon, he would lay low until he was needed, avoid future conflict.