From the moment that he had detected the strange invisible person in the corner, everything happened rapidly. Hugo had just finished drawing his Brand-based blade when from that same exact source an inky black substance headed towards him. He saw it and yet he did not have the time to dodge out of the way as he breathed in the foulest smell he had ever experienced. Fouler than some of the open-pit sewers that were scattered around the poorer sections of Genteven. This foul sensation then began to spread around his body, putting its grasp on him as he felt everywhere the taint touched grow weaker. Hugo was knocked prone and just focused on breathing, with even that simple action being difficult.
Even as he was knocked prone though, Hugo could see a female figure appearing out of the edge of his vision. He could not make out much due to his viewpoint being partially to the ground but he could make out that her clothes were of fine make and that she was probably an Entente. It seemed that he had got put into some kind of power play by the overly dramatic Rene. At least it seemed that some kind of salvation was near as he felt the taint that had brought him to its knees was suddenly withdrawn. A new voice and presence made it's presence aware, as Hugo took a panicked gasp of air and stood up. Then as he began to regain his breath it seemed that two of the female figures, apparently sisters, had drawn into a conversation of sorts. Which was fine by him as it allowed Hugo time to regain his bearings and gain an understanding of his surroundings. Then just as he had done that, the fight was on.
Several followers of this other figure, (Dahlia ?) made their presence known. Coming out of the shadows just as their leader made their presence known. The most prominent and attention-drawing of this figure was a somewhat lithe female figure who seemed to transform INTO A FUCKING BEAR !!!! Hugo had heard of malformity mages before, but to hear of them and to see them change was something completely different. As he saw how this female person had their mass increased due to magic. Then to make the situation even worse, the bear figure was now eying Hugo with a look that all beings recognized on a primal level. The look of a predator seeing its prey, (specifically with the intent to eat it).
Hugo rapidly assessed his options and life decisions as he saw the bear, then began to back up. Even as the area surrounding him began to shift into some other kind of environment. Sure that was something important that had to be kept in mind but it was very much a secondary concern to the massive bulk in front of him. Though he did notice how all the surfaces in the room began to grow reflective and how the very walls began to shift in order to make it more labyrinthine. But the bear was still in front of him, it was just beginning to charge when it was delayed by something. He could not make out what it was but he did see how a shadowy substance of sorts gave him several seconds of time to create some distance between him and the bear, who afterwards also seemed quite intent on destroying this mirror realm. Which was fine by him as Hugo began eying the bear, and began to take a deep breath before pulling raw ether towards him. Feeling the raw sensation as the burning sensation went through his core and then towards his hands. Where the ether began to spark and fizzle as it formed into a sort of viscous substance. Seeming almost reminiscent of clay or slime, but it was something far more dangerous than that.
Making account of the distance between him and the bear, Hugo began to throw these bolts/balls of Galvanized Ether towards the head of the bear. Specifically aiming for the area around the eyes. Because whilst he could not take out the bear in a straight-up fight, he could push the conditions of the fight in his favour.
Assuming that this succeeds, Hugo would try to be mostly quiet and keep out of the claw range of the mostly blinded bear. Dancing around the edge of its range.
Even as he did so Hugo began to take more control of his conjured magical shortsword, as instead of being in Hugo's hands it began floating in front of him. Eventually reaching about 10-15 feet ahead of Hugo's form. From this distance, it began to attack the form of the bear. Maneuvring around the (hopefully) mostly blinded being and slowly creating several cuts across the bear's body by slashing at its side or acting as a tool for the bear to impale itself upon if it charged in any particular direction. Whilst the sword was trying to cause death by several dozen cuts (it would probably not be a thousand) Hugo would directly begin tossing more galvanized ether at the bear. Trying to focus around the head area, hopefully causing further damage to the bear and frying its brains out whilst it is distracted by the floating sword.
