Kailen watched on cautiously as Crowley scratched his head with the dagger ruffling his long black hair, the next instance he exploded forward with tremendous momentum. Kailen took a half step back as he slashed downward with both hands aiming to intercept Crowley's charge. Kailen had observed the man's incredible reflexes but tried to intercept with a quick and powerful slash regardless.
The result was similar to Eli's clash, as Crowley twisted his body while placing two quick slashes to the incoming saber successfully diverting the blade off its course. Crowley entered into close range preparing to land successive blows with his daggers before he was blasted backward with a powerful blow to the stomach.
Crowley took a few steps back as he saw Kailen lowering his back leg back into position. Kailen used the brief exchange to gauge Crowley's reactions first hand while testing his speed with the sword, he knew there was a possibility of Crowley dodging his blow so he planned accordingly. Instead of getting angry, Crowley laughed as he pointed the dagger at him.
"Good! Now let us continue!"
The battlefield continued around them but neither Kailen nor Crowley paid them any heed. Crowley was once again the one to initiate the engagement as he blasted forward and struck with successive slashes with his daggers. Kailen was constantly on the back foot as he struggled to contain the sudden onslaught, blood splashed around as more and more slashes connected on Kailen's body.
Their battle was halted after a few moments as Crowley disengaged and looked at the ragged man before him.
"Haha, look at you now! It's ten years too early for you to fight me brat!"
Kailen's grim expression seemed to agree, the speed and flexibility that he fought with was something Kailen couldn't match at the present moment.
"Crowley is really too strong! It seems the rumors were true..."
"It was said that he hunted down of the Elders in the Sacred Sword Sect!"
The onlookers watched the battle excitedly, the same couldn't be said for William and Kenneth.
"Father, this is helpless! He can't defeat him!"
William didn't reply as he watched closely with a grim expression, his inside man had never informed him of Steve hiring Crowley. His entire plan had seemingly come undone at the hands of this rabid man before him, he thought about bribing him but from Crowley's reputation, he'd never break faith with a client.
Kailen's thoughts were running rampant as he considered different possibilities to ensure victory but the situation seemed bleak. His only chance would be to take an enormous risk, he vowed to increase his flexibility in the future if he lived to have the chance. It was an eye-opening experience for Kailen as he saw first hand how Crowley could change his attack direction at any point while introducing multiple fakes.
The battle around them seemed to be swaying in favor of William's mercenaries as their numbers advantaged seemed to whittle down the opposing forces.
"Now, don't disappoint me, boy!"
Crowley once again exploded forward preparing his daggers for an onslaught of quick slashes, Kailen took a low stance preparing his saber. As the distance closed, Kailen thrust forward with the point of his saber aiming to pierce through Crowley's chest. As expected, Crowley twisted his upper body while deflecting the thrust with a few extremely quick successive blows from his daggers.
Now in close range, Crowley stabbed at Kailen's ribs with his left hand while the other aimed to slash across his neck. Kailen knew he couldn't avoid both the blows, this was a situation in which he'd created to give himself a chance at victory. Kailen dropped the saber while using his arm to hook around the right arm aiming to slash his neck while ignoring the blade headed towards his ribs.
The dagger effortlessly slid upward and under his ribs, the pain had yet to kick him as Kailen used his right shoulder to smash Crowley to the floor all while still holding onto his other arm. They both fell the floor as Kailen ended up on top he instinctively bit towards his neck.
"What the fuck!"
Crowley was momentarily disorientated, but quickly noticed Kailen's intention as he managed to headbutt him away from his neck. Kailen's teeth had already lengthened as they pierced through Crowley's shoulder, his blood flowing into his mouth which turned his eyes red.
Crowley's face twisted in pain, he twisted the knife still inserted in Kailen's ribs that had the effect of loosening the bite. His other arm was still trapped in Kailen's so he decided to sacrifice it as he recklessly escaped the hold which resulted in his forearm breaking and the flesh on his shoulder being torn off.
"Ah, you fuck! That hurt!"
Crowley spat as he struggled to regain his footing a few yards away, Kailen struggled to get up to his knees as the wound in his ribs poured with blood. The pain had arrived as it almost paralyzed his entire body, he raised his head to glare at Crowley blood delicately dripped from his mouth onto the floor.
Crowley's facial expression changed instantly as he saw the red eyes before him, first to fear which then transformed into interest. He cradled his broken arm as he stood and observed Kailen intently, there was no movement between the two for a few moments. Watching impatiently from the side was Steve who screamed at Crowley anxiously.
"Crowley! What are you waiting for? Kill him!"
There was something about the way Crowley watched Kailen that made Steve incredibly nervous, he had a pretty clear picture of his character by now. Crowley by Steve's impression was incredibly unpredictable, while he did usually uphold his end of the bargain his actions could never be anticipated.
"Such a waste. I can't, not yet. Such a waste..."
Kailen could hear Crowley repeatedly mutter while he shook his head, Kailen wished he'd hurry it up. Kenneth and William watched on terrified as blood continued to pool around Kailen, staining the ground red.
Steve continued to shout at Crowley, and after a few moments of incoherent muttering, he raised his head and smiled brightly.
"Sorry Steve, I can't kill this boy. I'm afraid our cooperation has come to a natural end."