As Belrick ascended the steps towards me, I descended towards him.
"|Enchant Poison|." [Belrick]
Tracing his hand across his black blade, its edge gained a green hue.
"|Enchant Flame|." [Solace]
To match him, I wrapped my arms with flaming tongues. Once close enough, our clash began.
"|Fade Slash|." [Belrick]
This was a move I was familiar with. I easily deflected the first slash, but as the second transparent slash came in; Belrick struck at the same time.
("|Revolving Shell Arts|.") [Solace]
Belrick went for a stab as the second slash honed in, so I redirected his sword to clash with his skill. Once that process was over, I tried to strike his face before he could react. However, the stairs made it difficult for me to reach, resulting in a narrow miss.
("The height advantage is becoming a disadvantage. I need to switch to something else.") [Solace]
"|Thunderbolt Lance|!" [Solace]
I blocked another slash with the lance and moved up a step to control distance. From here, I was able to continuously stab at Belrick without worry of being in reach of his sword.
("I've got him on the defensive.") [Solace]
After a quick touch of our blades, Belrick aimed a finger gun at me.
"|Aero Bullet|." [Belrick]
Out of instinct, I dodged it by leaning sideways.
"|Break-Step|." [Belrick]
He moved to steps closer in an instant, giving his sword more of an advantage than my spear.
"|Earthen Shield|." [Solace]
I pushed up one of the steps under him to throw him off balance, giving me a little time to adjust.
("Gotta make more distance.") [Solace]
As I stepped back, Belrick recovered and grabbed my spear.
"|Critical Stab|." [Belrick]
Belrick yanked me towards him as he thrusted with his sword. In such an event, I released my spear before catching his blade between my hands.
"|Explosion Arts|." [Solace]
Belrick's sword shattered under my |Skill|, causing sharp fragments to pellet us indiscriminately. Fortunately, I was unscathed thanks to |Temperance|. I can't say the same for Belrick though.
"Ugh…!" [Belrick]
Though there were shards sticking out of his face and neck, Belrick seemed to be only annoyed rather than injured.
"Give up, Belrick. You can't win. This is just the beginning." [Solace]
To tell the truth, I was only seventy percent sure I was going to win. I was just bluffing.
"Alt, if that even is your real name… Don't think for a second that I will admit defeat. This won't end until either one of us falls." [Belrick]
That was one of the lines I was hoping not to hear.
("Ah, there it is…") [Solace]
With Belrick's resolve now solidified, his eyes shone gold. This was probably the worst outcome.
"|Accel|." [Belrick]
He suddenly sped up, tossing aside his broken sword and switching to fists.
"|Heavy Knuckle|." [Belrick]
It was a simple punch. One straight and true. It was also very easy to block. Except that it was fast as hell and it made my arms numb as I barely managed to block it.
"Urgh!" [Solace]
My arms trembled as I tried to ward off the pain. Within a moment of trying to recollect myself, Belrick continued his offensive.
"|Living Spear|." [Belrick]
He stuck out a finger as if trying to point at something, then jammed it into my leg.
"Ack!" [Solace]
Only the tip of his finger managed to get in. Any deeper and it might've affected my mobility. I tried to backhand him in retaliation, which resulted in Belrick ducking under to evade it.
"|Living Sword|." [Belrick]
He then formed his hand into that of a blade, slashing at my torso without hesitation.
"|Piercing Blow|." [Solace]
I struck his arm mid-swing, causing the force of my skill to pass through and directly hitting his left shoulder on the other side. Although I would've liked to angle it better to hit his chest or head, I didn't have the luxury to do so.
"Ngh!" [Belrick]
I could see his arm go limp for a second, enabling me to push harder.
"|Vortex Arts|." [Solace]
As my hands moved in a strange motion, I saw Belrick's functional arm set itself ablaze. It was a beautiful blue fire, fit to be admired. However, I ignored it.
"|Demonic Smolder|." [Belrick]
Belrick chose to trade blows with me. My |Vortex Arts| cut his arm up as it pushed through and struck my chest burning blue brilliance.
"Urgh!" [Belrick]
"Agh!" [Solace]
The formal Royal Guard armor we both wore were in tatters. My chest plate was in pieces, revealing the blackened burnt skin of my chest. On the other hand, Belrick's left shoulder plate was crushed into his shoulder, and the entire sleeve for the other arm was completely gone; revealing open gashes. The only damage we had in common was black shards of Belrick's sword embedded into the random locations of our armor.
"Belrick. Both of your arms are unusable. You don't need to do this." [Solace]
Belrick raised his shredded arm to his crushed shoulder plate with great difficulty, gripping it with his bloodied hand. With a pained grunt, he tore it off so his left arm was no longer restricted by it.
"I still have one arm." [Belrick]
I couldn't tell if he was being funny or serious. Either way, my eyes were drawn to the puddle of blood being formed from how much of it was leaking out of his right arm.
"...You're going to bleed out if you keep this up." [Solace]
"Can you wrap this for me, Loquen?" [Belrick]
Once he spoke, a small green humanoid creature appeared by his side. It conjured up several long leaves and wrapped Belrick's injured arm with it, causing the bleeding to stop without issue.
"...Is that a spirit?" [Solace]
I couldn't even sense it. Normally the Spirit Guide would say something or I would be able to hear its thoughts. However, neither of them happened.
"It is. You must be surprised that a demon managed to raise a spirit to middle grade." [Belrick]
I pretended to understand what he was talking about.
"It can't fight like a |Great Spirit|, but support is more than enough. Let's continue." [Belrick]
("Is this guy serious?") [Solace]
His patched up arm was now limp, and the arm that used to be limp was now functional. It was like he did a role reversal.
"|Demonic Force Arts|." [Belrick]
He took a peculiar stance on the stairs, as if he was preparing to lunge at me.
"|Damage Counter Strike|." [Belrick]
With speed and strength I've never seen him perform, Belrick closed the distance and struck me using a palm thrust. It amassed so much power, or rather pain in a single point that I keeled over when I got hit.
"Augh!" [Solace]
There were a few factors that made the skill so terrible. First of all, I was hit straight in the solar plexus. Second, I think it transferred the pain Belrick was feeling into me. Third, it made me want to vomit so I started making unpleasant gagging sounds.
"Warning: You are now |Disoriented| for three seconds." [Spirit Guide]
As Belrick began to make another move, the Spirit Guide continued.
"Alert: |Temperance| has nullified the |Disoriented| state." [Spirit Guide]
"|Crushing Claw|!" [Belrick]
I caught Belrick's arm before he could reach me and held him in place.
"What?!" [Belrick]
"|Earthen Shield|!" [Solace]
I summoned a chunk of earth between us, more specifically right under his elbow. It was too fast for him to think of a counter, leading to his arm bending in the opposite direction with an unsettling snap and crunch.
"Argh!" [Belrick]
"|Piercing Blow|!" [Solace]
I punched the chunk of earth I summoned, striking Belrick through the force sent through. This sent him tumbling down the stairs with his limp arms flailing in the air. Once he came to a stop at the bottom, Belrick remained motionless.
("...There's nothing else to see here.") [Solace]
With that, I turned to join my allies.
"Wait!" [Belrick]
"Huh?" [Solace]
I looked over my shoulder to see Belrick attempting to pick himself up using his head. He stuck his horn into the ground, an attempt to use the friction to at least get on his knees.
"Belrick. Please. Stay down." [Solace]
"Shut it, traitor!" [Belrick]
After a few grueling seconds, Belrick managed to get back on his feet. His breathing was heavy, his body tattered, but his eyes were still golden.
("He's determined.") [Solace]
I knew that as long as those eyes shone gold, he wouldn't fall.
"Belrick, I am warning you. I will pluck out your eyes if you decide to ascend these stairs." [Solace]
After I uttered those words, Belrick smiled. It was like his anger and frustration vanished in that instant. It was almost like he had forgiven me.
"...You look like shit." [Belrick]
"What?" [Solace]
Without elaboration, he took a step up.
"I feel like I've learned more about you these few minutes than when you were still considered one of us." [Belrick]
("What is he talking about?") [Solace]
"Do you feel bad? Betraying us?" [Belrick]
He must be trying to do some kind of psychological warfare.
"Stop trying to get into my head. Just turn around and leave." [Solace]
"Still acting? Why haven't you plucked my eyes out yet? I'm ascending the stairs." [Belrick]
He took another step forward.
"I'm waiting for you to get in range. Why would I spend energy descending the stairs when I'm going to have to get up here anyways?" [Solace]
"Bullshit." [Belrick]
He took another step.
"You used to be all calm and collected. Usually with a smile on your face." [Belrick]
Another step.
"Where are you going with this?" [Solace]
"You felt unreachable to me. Both in terms of strength and emotion. Like nothing could harm you or get under your skin." [Belrick]
Another step.
"Now… Now I can see it." [Belrick]
He approached me with a smug look. It was only until moments later that I realized he was a few steps away.
"In terms of strength, I've left my mark." [Belrick]
I didn't even need to look. I knew he was referring to the burn mark on my chest.
"And now, I've left a mark emotionally." [Belrick]
We were now face to face, giving me a full view of his elated expression.
"What the hell are you even talking about?" [Solace]
"Have you not realized? Take a look at my chestplate." [Belrick]
My gaze wandered downwards, reflecting my face in his armor.
"This…?" [Solace]
It was a strained expression of conflict. Anyone who saw it could tell my thoughts and feelings were in turmoil.
"You talk as if us demons, the ones who you've been hanging out with these few weeks, are nothing to you. But you care, don't you, Alt?" [Belrick]
My mouth opened like I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find the words I wanted.
"I considered you a friend, Alt. It seems you did for me too. So I ask of you, put a stop to this madness." [Belrick]
I shook my head.
"That is something I can't do. …I'm sorry." [Solace]
I raised a fist to knock him back down. However, it looked like Belrick had other plans.
"...As expected." [Belrick]
Suddenly, it felt like time had stopped. All my movements were restrained and a ray of light beamed down on Belrick.
("What is this…?") [Solace]
"Alert: A |Divine| being has been detected." [Spirit Guide]
Some sort of person descended from the sky. Well, that's what I assumed. I couldn't grasp their appearance even remotely. It was like my brain was trying not to comprehend what I was seeing, so I couldn't recognize it.
"Belrick Bloodteller… My child… In you time of need, I grant you the title of |Feerae| and give you my blessing." [???]
A voice mixed between female, male, old, and young boomed across the skies. It was my main focus until I saw Belrick's body begin to heal. His wounds closed at a rapid pace and his strength bolstered. In fact, I think I even saw his spirit evolve into a |Great| Spirit.
("...You're shitting me.") [Solace]
Once that bit was over, the |Divine| being vanished along with the beam of light. It wasn't until then that my movements were unsealed. Even so, I immediately ate a punch from Belrick.
"Ugh!" [Solace]
I took a step up as the recoil from the punch hit me.
("That… hurt?") [Solace]
A punch that wasn't infused with a spell or skill managed to hurt me. The last time Belrick did such a thing left him in pain, not me. I righted myself preparing for another incoming attack, but I only saw Belrick just staring at me, just as shocked as I was.
"...I've finally caught up." [Belrick]