The Ishvalans choked and gasped for fresh air as the scalding steam robbed them of their senses, replaced by the agony of burning faces. They scrambled for cover, leaving the monks alone to deal with the Amestrians.
The two remaining monks had yet to choose targets when their companion was struck down by the Stone Alchemist. The pair seemed almost identical, brothers even. One was clearly the other's senior by at least ten years, his lined and stubbled face showing only a twinge of pain at the loss. It was easy for Victor to spot another veteran of the war, even on the other side. The younger brother, though, was clearly new to the concept of death. His eyes went wide, his teeth gritted, and his fists were clenched as tightly as they could be. "Monster... you'll pay!"
The young monk took off at a sprint. "Brother, no!" the older one shouted, but it was too late. He attempted to move after him, but a rifle shot grazing his robes caught his attention.
Victor attempted to reload his rifle, but it was too late. The Ishvalan was already charging him. The young soldier leaped to his left, dodging a kick from the monk and was met instead by a brown-skinned right elbow smashing into the side of his face. Victor rolled backwards from the sheer force, blood leaking out of the gash as he drew a knife from his belt. Sweat gathered on his temples as his body trembled, waiting for the next assault. The monk threw swiveled on his heel and threw another punch, which Victor deftly avoided with a strange twist of his abdomen. Another punch caught the young soldier directly on his left shoulder, but was responded to in kind by a knife lodged in the older man's gut.
The Ishvalan's face gnarled in pain, and he threw an upward kick that knocked Victor flat on his back almost eight feet away. He dropped to his knees in agony, left vulnerable in that moment as he gathered his strength. Even so, he did not look ready to die yet; he stared down Lt. Colonel James and clenched his fists. A challenge.
[hr]
The younger brother, during this time, had launched his assault on Kallu. Despite his rage, he seemed to know not to bother striking the stone, and instead stuck to grappling maneuvers. As soon as he got in range the young Ishvalan ducked under the Stone Alchemist's strikes and grabbed him under his arm and around the back of his neck, leaving him leverage to flip the Amestrian flat on his back. He delivered a kick to Kallu's head, drawing blood before lifting him up and throwing him headfirst toward the wall that he had created.
[hr]
During the confusion, the Deep Blue Alchemist noticed a figure up on the wall, the eldest of the monks finally climbing to the top. The Ishvalan stared him down, an almost sagelike disapproval in his eyes; like a teacher scolding a disobedient student. In a flash, he jumped down from his vantage point to directly behind Marlin, extending a kick directly out from his side with all the speed and power that 30 years' practice can provide.
