[ There'd been no hint in Ross's mind that the fallback plan was a sniper, let alone where the sniper was coming from. Ross's blight had been clouding the forefront of his thoughts enough that it was consuming him and Schuldig himself was so affected by his own blight that he could only concentrate on superficial thoughts.
But that was the only way they were able to succeed in killing him - he didn't see it coming. He had a split second for the first bullet to shatter his facade of confidence and superiority over handling the situation before the second bullet came and really wracked him with pain. Instead of a gut instinct to teleport away - a new power that he didn't have nearly enough practice using for it to be second nature - he turns to face his attacker like maybe he'll be able to stop them from this distance. Of course that's not what happens, and soon enough he crumples to the ground under the impact, spray, and sound of his own imminent death. He can't muster the mental strength to scream at his deceptive shinki, nor can he speak well enough to do the same out loud. He's been thoroughly silenced, which is as much a punishment as any death that - hypothetically - a god can recover from.
As the light from Schuldig's eyes fades, the first thing to happen is indeed Ross changing back out of his vessel form. When he breathes his last, a more drastic change takes place. The snowy cavern behind them starts to melt, the rocks underneath them crumbling. This was all his temple, after all - his hideaway starting at the very entrance. They'll not be able to see the inner sanctum likewise distorting into naught but dust, but that's why the mountain heaves and groans like Schuldig couldn't, threatening an avalanche that won't come. Instead, the whole thing collapses in on itself like a sinkhole pulling the place into a vortex of grainy sand that less resembles a beautiful beach and more a shore at the base of a European cliff.
Finally, there's silence. The temple of Loki is no more and, in the chaos of it all, Schuldig's body disappears too.]
Wrap for me
But that was the only way they were able to succeed in killing him - he didn't see it coming. He had a split second for the first bullet to shatter his facade of confidence and superiority over handling the situation before the second bullet came and really wracked him with pain. Instead of a gut instinct to teleport away - a new power that he didn't have nearly enough practice using for it to be second nature - he turns to face his attacker like maybe he'll be able to stop them from this distance. Of course that's not what happens, and soon enough he crumples to the ground under the impact, spray, and sound of his own imminent death. He can't muster the mental strength to scream at his deceptive shinki, nor can he speak well enough to do the same out loud. He's been thoroughly silenced, which is as much a punishment as any death that - hypothetically - a god can recover from.
As the light from Schuldig's eyes fades, the first thing to happen is indeed Ross changing back out of his vessel form. When he breathes his last, a more drastic change takes place. The snowy cavern behind them starts to melt, the rocks underneath them crumbling. This was all his temple, after all - his hideaway starting at the very entrance. They'll not be able to see the inner sanctum likewise distorting into naught but dust, but that's why the mountain heaves and groans like Schuldig couldn't, threatening an avalanche that won't come. Instead, the whole thing collapses in on itself like a sinkhole pulling the place into a vortex of grainy sand that less resembles a beautiful beach and more a shore at the base of a European cliff.
Finally, there's silence. The temple of Loki is no more and, in the chaos of it all, Schuldig's body disappears too.]