Chapter 7
Lysaria touched the unfamiliar sword to the long thin staff held by her hooded opponent. The cloaked figure stepped from its pedestal and sauntered past her not bothering to attack until entering the center of the room.
The cloaked figure turned and ran at her, preparing her weapon Lysaria caught the descending weapon with her sword. Lysarias sword clanged and her arm shook stopping the strike, holding out her off hand she shot an orb of essence into the face of the cloaked figure turning it to dust, well that was unexpected.
Taking a deep breath Lysaria stared down at her open palm, the dust on the floor was a testament to how strong she was becoming. The sword Lysaria held felt much more awkward than expected feeling off-balance and unwieldy. She much preferred her long stick but a sharp weapon like this sword would be more effective.
The third cloaked figure from the right had a short sword, The figure was wearing leather armour covering certain places on its body with cloth covering the rest. After challenging the third figure the intimidating enemy strolled to the center.
The figure made the simple act of walking seem effortless swishing its sword through the air in a confident manner. Lysarias felt anxious her pulse rose and she readied her sword in her left hand preparing an orb of the essence in her right.
The essence felt soft and calm as she pushed her hand forward channelling her essence at the cloaked figure. Hitting the figure in the shoulder its eyes widened, the cloaked figure growled showing its teeth before running at her.
Her cloaked enemy held his weapon in an awkward grip as when her orb struck she must have wounded the arm holding its sword. When The creature struck at her she was able to block, the crash of steel on steel echoed through the room.
Lysaria channelled essence into her sword and slashed at the wincing creature The sharp piece of metal she was swinging dug into the creature's shoulder and cut across its chest. her essence easily digging the sword through the leather armour like through paper.
The third cloaked figure turned to ash, She was starting to feel more confident, her essence allowed the sword to easily cut through armour. Challenging the fourth and fifth enemies she was easily able to shoot her orb of essence through their chests.
The sixth opponent clanked as it walked from its pedestal, the metal armour was basic but appeared polished and reflective. Lysaria shot an essence orb, up until now the attack had passed through the leather armour therefore she was surprised when a metal clang reverberated through the room.
The long spear the tall figure was using darted in catching her off guard, stinging pain shot across her cheek. channelling her mana she slashed the wooden pole of the spear cutting the weapon in half disarming her opponent. Lysaria stabbed the figure in the shoulder, her essence powered weapon parting the steel armour with an effort to enter up to the hilt.
smiling at her victory she was rudely interrupted by a fist that slammed into her chest, She coughed and channelled essence, barely able to breathe Lysaria channelled her orb of essence point-blank into the face of the snarling enemy.
Leaking essence from her cheek staining the dirt ground Lysaria gasped for breath, unable to continue for the moment Lysaria found something to sit on and took gentle ragged breaths. Looking from her vessel to the fallen enemy she wondered yet again why killing an enemy had not given her any essence, the only reason could be that she wasn't finished fighting.
four opponents remained, after fighting the last opponent she was no longer certain of victory. If her sword hadn't cut his weapon off she would have certainly taken a lot more damage. Lysaria got her nerves under control she hefted the sword from the ground, Her left arm was beginning to ache and tire from holding the weapon.
She wasn't used to swinging around the hunk of metal for minutes at a time and was getting tired. Holding her weapon awkwardly in her right hand she felt silly, Her coordination was terrible as she feebly swung the sword for a few seconds, now feeling like an even worse fighter she returned the weapon to her main hand.
She channelled essence into her free right palm before shooting her essence forward targeting the next in line without letting it off of the pedestal. A deafening clang rose and the figure she attacked was crouched having dodged her attack. Only a moment of calm before the crouched figure calmly rose and charged in with its head down and two long daggers in each hand.
The figure didn't head for the center of the room, Its long cruel daggers dug into her thigh, she lept back crying out in pain and fright. Swinging her essence charged weapon wildly she desperately tried to strike her foe but each time hitting nothing but air. The agile dagger wielder evaded every strike and no matter what she tried nothing could keep the cloaked figure in front of her.
spinning around wildly and flailing her sword she tried to catch the dagger wielder. Getting flustered she channelled essence orbs as fast as she could and only managed to cause dust to rain down in every direction as her attacks struck the wall.
Pain lanced across her calf, liquid essence blooming on her clothes and in shimmering light across the floor, another burning pain across her back. Stumbling to one knee her injured leg unable to properly hold her anymore she pulled a desperate measure and channelled all of her essences at once.
Her body glowed brightly with essence and she pushed all of her gathered essences away from her in a burst of power. Her ears were ringing and she blinked to clear the spots in her eyes, she opened and closed her mouth trying to return her sense back to normal. The figure with the daggers lay crumpled to ash on the floor.
Lysaria couldn't believe her eyes, her ears were still giving her the same high-pitched ringing soo she looked around at the scorched ground. Her unleash of inner essence had destroyed everything around her. The only thing in the room unscarred was the three cloaked figures who were standing on their pedestals.
something glinted as she stood pain shooting through her leg, She walked over and picked up a coin, the coin was made of simple rough steel emblazoned in the middle of the coin was engraved a sword. What in the name of the arbitrator was the coin for, looking around she couldn't decide where it might go.
She felt a nudge on her mind as if someone was whispering to her, she followed the mental prodding to the door she had entered from. She felt foolish, why shouldn't the way she came in to be the way she left, she had assumed that leaving would be out of a new door.
Stopping her train of thought Lysaria looked over the plain coin and back to the cloaked figure in glowing plate armour, the figure next to that one was wearing an identical set of armour but the armour was not glowing with essence. Lysaria was unsure if she could beat the second to the last cloaked figure let alone the last one, judging by the last one's strength she might only be able to beat one more opponent.
Her cuts were leaking essence and she had difficulty standing, If she was guessing correctly the coin would be the level of reward she received. holding her sword in front of her she gazed into the reflective metal, examining herself in the sword. her long black hair sure was in a mess and her bleeding face looked bruised around her cuts. Turning her head side examining her sharp nose and well-defined jaw making sure nothing else looked out of place.
Her skin was covered in dirt which looked like she had been rolling around on the floor for fun. With a tiny cut on her left cheek that was leaking bright liquid essence and multiple cuts covering her body even clothes were spoiled, covered in her lifeblood. Lysaria was unimpressed with her outfit, her brown cotton clothing was torn in places and had at least 4 tears. light take her the dagger wielder had made her clothes look like beggars.
holding the short sword in front of her she decided she could take one more, The power she had just experienced from channelling all of her essences was enthralling and she wanted more. Limping over to the heavily armoured figure she gazed into its faceplate, a mortal would have no hope of cutting through the figure's armour, with essence she had no such limitations.
Lysaria felt her essence returning to her full 250, her body was still damaged but her essence she sat in front of the figure staring for what felt like hours until her essence was full again. Taking a deep breath and standing before she challenged the cloaked figure with the battle-axe in the glowing armour. The cloaked figure saluted and the figure on the tenth pedestal walked with a cool cat-like grace to the center of the room.
The figure's cloak glowed from underneath and fell from the shoulders of the massive figure, Lysarias heart beat rapidly in her chest she couldn't make her feet move forward. The presence of the figure in glowing armour was a physical thing, The figure's axe glowed shimmering with essence. The figure encased in steel and magic swung its axe in her direction, she jumped and rolled to the side.
A line of essence cut a path along with the dirt and crashed behind her, glancing to her rear she noticed a thin gash into the stone that even cut the roof. Heart skipping a beat, gesturing with her right hand and shot an orb of essence at the metal warrior. With contemptuous ease the daunting figure deflected her orb of the essence, the figure stood still and let her next to essence orbs crash into its armour harmlessly.
The tall intimidating enemy's plate armour clanked as it raised its battle axe into the air and charged the blade with essence. Covering her sword with essence her arms vibrated with the strain. she imitated the figure in the centre of the room and slashed in unison with the warrior watching the enemy's glowing crescent of essence flashing her way.