March grinned and summoned another sword into his hands and was barely able to parry the giant claw swiping down at him. His maximum summon was currently four so that made things a little more difficult.
But look, March wasn't a pushover okay? He was damned good with a sword and he was pretty darn handsome to boot. Maybe he wasn't December, so what? Did that automatically mean he wasn't worthy of some cool action sequences and kickass hero moments? Hell no!
The Nightmare was nothing more than an overgrown black lizard that stomped around in the middle of the street. The majority of the citizens had long fled, leaving only March and the poor surrounding buildings to take a beating. The Nightmare's giant body made March's 'Territory' ability a little more difficult to manage but he was intent on seeing things through.
The lizard reared up and screeched, standing up on its two hind legs it stood taller than the majority of the buildings. Its long lizard tail had enough force to topple the fountain in the middle of the square with little effort. It glared down at March with two vertical eyes before lunging downwards with terrifying speed.
March clenched his teeth and dodged out of the way with a roll. Pieces of debris flew at him and cut into the arm he raised to protect his face. Dammit! This giant, fat, cold-blooded lizard sure was fast!
But it was no time to be impressed. March stabbed his blade into the ground, between the paved stones that outlined the roads. A blue barrier surrounded it and March felt a portion of his mana drain. He summoned another sword in his hands, this time a random rapier- Argh!? What use was this thing against a giant lizard with a hide as thick as brick? Why was his ability so random!?
A giant tail swipe was aimed in his direction and he leaped over it as it reached him. March dashed towards the other side of the street and jammed his rapier into the broken trunk of a tree the Nightmare had knocked down earlier. A blue line of magic connected the rapier to the other blade he had wedged into the ground earlier.
He opened his palm and called forth another blade. He could really use a legendary weapon at any given moment now!
But such was March's luck and what dropped in his hand was…a katana! Okay…well, not the worst option but he was really hoping for something more magical. Wide nostrils flared at him and it bristled its spiny back. This time it was March who charged at it first with his blade pointed forward. A giant paw came his way and he sidestepped inwards before continuing his dash forward towards the ugly face.
Alarmed, the lizard reared up on its hind legs and unhinged its muzzle to hiss at him from above. But this was precisely what March was hoping for because, in this position, its softer underbelly was exposed. He smirked.
A sharp sound could be heard as March's katana sliced the air and wedged itself into the lizard's belly. The blood that spewed outwards was viscus and black. The lizard flailed wildly and shook its body before tumbling downwards. Cursing, March yanked his blade out and rolled out of the way but the large black body came crumbling down. He hopped over a splayed out leg and planted his katana in the ground, in the shambled ruins of the fountain that had once been there.
March was panting, sweat beading at his brow but a wild grin was pulling at his lips. He was having fun. Now if only the Princess was here as well! He'd even allow December to come join in on the fun if he could. Blue light surrounded the katana and joined up with the other two to form a glowing blue triangle. March's magic drained again. Whatever was inside the triangle now became his 'Territory'…but this ability too, like his summoning one, was completely random!
As magic festered in the area, March felt his eyesight sharpen…
What the heck? What was this useless buff!?
Well okay, it had its uses and allowed March to pinpoint the beast's movements and track its weak spots better. But March was really hoping for a boost in speed or strength or even defense!
The lizard was squirming and glaring at him with rage in its eyes and March could see how the thing's muscles were winding up and tensing.
His magic reserve was feeling thoroughly drained he took out a tiny piece of an Insomnium ore and held it in his mouth.
The lizard lunged forth, but March saw it coming and was able to jump out of the way. A wide claw swipe followed up, which he carefully sidestepped. Hah! Stupid overgrown lizard, try catching this fine piece of man now!
He circled behind the lizard and held out his empty palm with magic replenishing his veins. A blue glow shimmered and…A giant two-handed sword fell into his arms! But it was so heavy that his wrist strained and almost snapped as he caught it. An ominous red aura hovered around the edge and March knew that it was magical.
But he couldn't use this hunk of junk at all! This was no Legendary Sword! It was a cursed one!!
"Why!?!"
His cries echoed as the claw came at him again. March had no choice but to recall the sword, but it slowed him down enough that the claw caught on his arm as he tried to dash away. He hissed in pain but he'd gone through worse, March told himself.
The issue now was that he no more magic reserve to summon more. What now!? Was he doomed to dodge and wait for the Princess's rescue?!
"I can tell that you're worrying about something silly," the Princess's voice was like a soft bell that chimed in a spring breeze. She appeared above him like a wisp of a dream coming to life, her long red hair fluttering in the wind as she leaned over to look at him.
She smiled at him and for a moment, March was dazed. But he quickly snapped out of his stupor and shouted, "Princess, wait!"
But it was too late. For she had summoned a towering beast of her own! It was an eagle as big as the enormous lizard! Only Princess Ceci could think up and bring to life such absurdities.
The eagle cried and brandished its mighty talons and monstrous wings. March sighed and recalled all his blades, for his thunder had been stolen by one gigantic chicken.
Princess Ceci giggled as she hopped off her cloud and stood next to him on the streets, "Why are you sulking so much?" She asked as she snaked her arms around his waist, her chest flushed against his back.
March felt his heart race and he sighed as he closed his eyes. There was a gnawing pain in his heart that opened up what felt like a vast vacant unknown space. He couldn't quite understand its origins so he said, "You really didn't have to come to my rescue you know? I'm a man and no damsel in distress. I can take of myself."
The arms around him tightened. Before his eyes, the eagle was already tearing the lizard to shreds. Luckily all the children had fled and didn't have to bear witness to such a gruesome and gory scene.
"But March…" The Princess's voice came out in a whisper, "I never want to see you hurt again. I really want to protect you this time."
March wasn't sure what 'this time' meant but he could feel the Princess's attention of the deep gash in his arm. He looked over his shoulder and gave the best big brother smile he could muster. "This is nothing, Princess. Nothing for you to worry about."
But she wasn't convinced so easily, so March resigned to his fate and allowed him to be dragged back to the castle, where he allowed the Princess to fuss over his wounds.
He wasn't upset with her. How couldn't he? He loved her after all, like all the other citizens of Arcadia. Back at the castle the meek Royal Doctor, August, was wrapping his wounds and the Princess paced around them like a curious and worried mother hen.
"It's not really that bad… He'll probably be healed up in no time…" the Doctor reassured her for the twentieth time.
The castle's infirmary was dark even during the day and was lit only by a few dull lanterns. March sat there and laughed, "It's going to take more than an overgrown lizard to best me!" He even dared to rotated his injured arm and did his best to ignore the flaring pain. When he looked up at the Princess's dazzling red eyes, March pretended that his smile wasn't strained.
Luckily, he was a good actor.