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Chapter 9 - Fight back

Reine only gave Galberth's remains a glance, no time to think on what just happened and closed the distance between us. Adalla on the other hand couldn't process what had just happened. She was frozen in place. Reine though looked like she understood hesitating would lead to the same thing that just happened to Galberth even though I had no clue what I just did.

I slid back off the rock platform they had me on, barely avoiding Reine's blade. She leapt over the platform herself swinging with precision at me, I could tell she was aiming for the vitals and even my dodging didn't do much but let me escape with cuts and grazes. I held out my hand again, remembering that feeling from before as energy gathered on my palm once more and blasting at Reine. It didn't hit her though, she rolled to the side as the blast drove through the cave blasting all the way to the other side.

The cave didn't look like it could handle anymore though. I could hear the cracks spreading around it, pieces of rock slowly coming down but tis wasn't the time to focus on that. Reine was still on the offensive, trying her best to stick close to me so I couldn't try blasting her again.

I couldn't keep up with her, she was picking up her speed the more we went on and soon I felt her sword pierce through my shoulder sticking through to the other side. Honestly it was painful but it wasn't one I couldn't handle. Before she could pull it out I had my other hand swinging out in a back hand. She jumped back avoiding it completely but not what happened next when I pulled out her sword and chucked it at her. She was fast enough to avoid a fatal blow but the sword did graze her left arm enough to draw blood.

For a moment the only sound that was alive was the cave trying to hold up to all the damage, the two of us sized each other up waiting for the other to make the first move. Unfortunately the cave would decide for us, giving way as the rocky walls crumbled and its roof threatening to collapse on top of us. Maybe I could take advantage of the situation.

"Seems we're at an impasse. Here's the deal, we could keep on fighting and get buried in tones of rock... or maybe, just maybe you could walk away and I could walk away and we could all come out of here with the most important thing... our lives," though as I said that last part and my eyes happened to glance at the remaining part of our departed friend Galberth, "...well most of us anyway."

You know maybe I didn't need to mention that last part now that the fiery rage in Reine's eyes burned even more, her feet slowly shuffling towards where her sword had landed. I couldn't help but sigh internally, looks like they still wanted to fight, even Roy was drawing his blade with his other arm looking like a snapped twig. I had to hand it to them, they were a determined bunch, but if ending up in multiple near death situations has taught me anything is that I was just as determined to live. And so live I shall.

I raised my arm and raised at the cave's roof right on top of and shot another blast of energy. Part of it came crashing down forcing Roy to jump out of the way and right on to his messed up arm and the scream that came from his mouth was unlike any I'd ever heard. Personally I would never like to hear it again so I was quite relieved when he suddenly fainted.

Reine must have been relieved too, now she can focus on chopping off my head as her sword was now back in her arm and the blade tracing a path straight to my neck. I had to jump back to ensure my head was still a part of my body but she wasn't agreeing with that, following up with another slash and in successive motions a flurry of strikes which I had to dodge. 

I avoided getting down right gutted but couldn't escape a couple of slashes and stabs and by the time I got a chance to fire of another energy blast which she easily dodged I was a bloody mess.

"Ok, that's it. If your gonna turn me into sushi how about I make this your grave," With that I let loose. Amassing a great amount of energy and firing randomly. The cave rattled and shook in the midst of loud booms while dust filled every inch of the air. Soon enough chunks of rock were raining down and I guess Reine finally took the hint that I was serious, running towards her friends and throwing the hulking bear of a man Roy over her shoulders and dragging Adalla by the other hand straight out of the cave.

I wasn't just out of trouble yet. If I myself didn't move this place would my grave and so with the remaining energy I had I bolted right after them. A couple of rocks hit me and with all the dust I was inhaling it was quite hard to maneuver around. Finally I could see the exit but just as I was about to reach it boulder sized rocks covered my path to freedom, and now it was just me and the darkness and the cold touch of looming death by self-stoning.

"Alright, one last time," I took a deep breath in, and cupped the ends of my palms together.

"Kameham-" before I could finish however the cave wasn't having it. The cracking, grinding and sound of rock crushing against rock told me my time was up so I gathered up whatever energy I could draw from my battered body and shot it at the boulders. Lucky for me it was enough to blow them a few feet away just for me to slip out as the rest of the cavern gave in and crumbled.

I threw myself to the ground and turned to face the clouds of dust and witness the destruction I had caused. I have to say I had done a good job, straight up defaced the side of whatever hill I happened to be on. Anyway, what's done is done. I was still alive, most important goal achieved and I could now take a breather... or not. If this place has taught me anything is to be vigilant always, trouble creeps up from any corner, especially now that it was deep in the night.

The only solace I could find was the light radiating of the moon which lit up the forest. After a minute of lying around I finally rose up, scanning my surroundings. Nothing but trees, bushes and a few critters to be seen. It seemed Reine and her lackeys chose to retreat for the night, and I should do the same and so I hobbled away from the scene and with the way I was dripping blood just praying no predators were around the area.

For the next hour or so it was just me dragging myself through the woods, no clue where I was going and on the brink of collapse, but I was smiling through it all. You wanna know why? It's cause I'm not a quitter, I wasn't going to let mere hours of exhaustion and blood loss get me down. I was going to continue till I reached a village of some sort and get some much needed help.

Thinking about the first time a stumbled into a settlement though it didn't go to well. They didn't quite appreciate my appearance, looks like even in this world people have standards. So I took a look at myself and lo and behold I was in the same fricking position as last time or maybe worse. The blue streaks, they were still there. If people didn't like me for looking like a bum what about now that I looked like an alien. 

I can't lie I panicked quite a bit but a few second slater that would be rendered all unnecessary when the streaks began to fade away and I was left with the multitude of slashes, cuts and stabs. I breathed a sigh of relief...then my vision started getting all blurry and my thoughts jumbled. I should have realized that with all that my body had been through this mysterious new power was the only thing keeping me conscious.

Try as I might there was no fighting the drowsiness and complete lack of energy I was experiencing and after two or so steps I felt myself hit the ground as everything else faded to black.