Village of Hansel, Outskirts, Present day.
Xeto's heart slammed against his armor. He panted loudly, as his wound throbbed from the pain. His injuries hadn't yet fully recovered but that didn't matter. Not now. He reached the end of the forest, sword in hand, the village came back into sight.
Rebecca's light steps rang behind him.
He continued through the thick grass. His breath was caught in his throat as he saw the culprit of the shadow.
A beast-sized hawk flew over the village. It could no doubt carry a horse in its talons.
"Rebecca, get to the tower!" His voice cracked as he attempted to yell over the screams.
"Aye, Sir!"
Townspeople scattered throughout the town, most of them frantically panicked to find a place to shelter.
He weaved through the sea of people. It seemed that they were all running away from something at the center of the village. His throat stung like needles as he swallowed.
The fountain had been crushed into hundreds of pieces, the once contained water now flooded the square.
A fully covered knight in cobalt armor, twofold the size of a man stood in the center of the rubble. His helmet resembled a lion and his face was fully hidden behind the darkness of his visor. Surprisingly, he was unarmed. He slowly arched his head all around, as if looking for something.
Xeto felt his blood boil as he saw the Zuland insignia branded on his chest. "Pig-bred bastard." He ignored the still throbbing wound as he closed in at full speed.
The knight now had his cold glare focused on him. He shot his arms out. Two silver pieces of steel swung out from each arm, unfolding into full length blades.
What in the duel realms are those… Blades that were welded into the armor? No matter, he would put down this loyal dog like he had done with Raikal. He slashed horizontally.
The knight raised his left arm.
Xeto's blade vibrated as it made contact with the solid cobalt.
The knight thrusted with his opposing arm.
Xeto spun to avoid the honed steel, in turn he landed another blow, this time on the knight's helm. His hand quivered as he loosened the grip on his sword. Once again it felt as if he had struck a boulder.
The knight stepped in closer and swung his blade.
Xeto blocked and backstepped in attempt to create distance.
The Lion knight lunged swung in a descending arc.
Shit! Xeto formed three large crystals in the shape of a shield. It shattered into pieces as the blade made contact. He rolled out of the way of another thrust. His forearm and hand ached, sore from simply blocking. How did he swing those blades so freely? Every strike had the weight of an axe behind it. Unlike his opponent, Xeto couldn't move with such agility…at least not long before the weight of his armor drained him. Warm sweat slid from his brow.
"Eliminate Loradel Commanders…" The knight's voice was shockingly deep. The way it echoed through his helm only served to make him twofold as frightening.
A sudden burst rang aloud as a bullet ricocheted off of his helm.
Alzac flanked behind the knight as he fired another two shots, failing to even leave a scratch.
A loud hum filled Xeto's ear as a stray bullet whizzed past him. "Stop! You may hit someone."
The knight didn't flinch, his gaze still locked on Xeto.
Alzac blurted out. "Doesn't matter, my bullets aren't even scratching him."
Kyone circled around his subordinate. "Alzac, get these people to safety. I'll remain here." He readied his poleaxe.
"Yes, Commander." He threw his magicarm to the ground and retreated. "Don't kill him before I get back."
"Commander…" Echoed the knight, as he slowly turned his gaze to Kyone. "Eliminate Loradel Commanders…"
"Come then!" Roared Kyone.
The knight burst into a full sprint toward his new target, showing his back to him. A cloud of dust filled the square with every step he took. He swung his blade. Steel met steel as Kyone parried the heavy blow then bashed the knight back. He roared and exposed his honed fangs.
To his surprise, the knight swayed back as if to lose his balance. But he quickly dug his boots into the dirt.
Kyone went for a low sweep but the knight dodged it with ease. Both titan-sized warriors engaged in a bout of heavy blows and dodges.
Xeto closed the gap. He gulped hard as he attempted to find an opening to strike in this dance of death. There!
The knight had overstepped while withdrawing.
Xeto swiped his sword diagonally, ankle to shoulder. His heart stopped as his sword was caught in the knight's grasp.
One arm he had blocked another of Kyone's strikes as he clenched Xeto's sword in his closed fist.
Xeto lost his balance as the knight pulled him in. A second later he was launched a dozen feet away as a heavy backhand met his midsection. The taste of bitter dirt filled his mouth as he rolled across the soil. His abdomen spasmed as he tried inhaling the air that had been knocked out of him. He retched out thick saliva, forming a pond of mud. He rolled to his side as the pain caused his gut tighten. Damn.
"Xeto!" Kyone voice was distorted. The sound of clashing steel came again as the two warriors continued their battle.
Xeto pushed himself to his knees even though his body urged him to remain still. He took short breaths in attempt to calm his breathing. With an outreached arm he picked up his sword from the ground and pushed himself to his feet with a heavy groan.
Kyone was now the defense. He panted aloud and he was more hunched in his stance.
Though difficult, Xeto ignored the pain as he dashed back into the fray. He summoned his aura, encasing his sword in sharpened crystal that sparked with violet energy. He distanced himself, waiting for an opening in this dance of death. There!
The knight had overstepped while avoiding an incoming swipe.
Xeto dashed in, ready for the lion to retaliate same as before. He ducked under a heavy swing from him as he sliced through the knight's ankle.
The knight lost his footing as his arm flailed about.
Xeto readied himself at the knight's flank.
Kyone's roar echoed though the village as he drove forward with a thrust.
The knight managed to sidestep the attack and cut the head of the pole axe and followed up with a double thrust.
Kyone's shock was short lived as he dropped the now wooden staff to the ground and hugged the knight, locking his arms in place. He followed with three heavy knees to his chest. He forced the knight out of his stance as he landed one more blow before kicking him back.
Xeto's heart raced as he eyed every part of the knight's body, looking for a weakness to exploit. He rushed in and drove his sword though the knight's back. It emerged from his chest. The sudden weight of the fallen soldier pulled his sword from his grasp.
The knight fell to his knees as his head slumped over.
Kyone sighed in relief. "It seems Zuland chose…They chose to avenge the man you killed." He walked towards the defeated foe.
Is it over? The knight was on his knees though nothing about him seemed right. No man, no matter the strength, was impervious to pain. Yet…the man had taken a sword with no flinch of pain.
"He fought with strength…" Kyone leaned down and reached for his axe head. "I will admit—"
The knight suddenly took hold of Kyone's shoulders and pulled himself up. He slammed his chest against the Kasaber, stabbing him with the very sword that protruded from his body.
Kyone let out a blood-curdling growl as he broke away from the sword. A large gash ripped through his black tunic at his chest. His silver fur dyed crimson as fresh blood dripped from the wound.
Xeto took hold of his sword and attempted to twist it.
"Eliminate Loradel Commanders." The voice came again. He swung his arm around.
Xeto dodged the sword only to be caught by another backhand. He felt his chest vibrate as he used the momentum to retreat. Impossible! How is he alive! There was no way… It was like the demon from the inn, no reaction to pain, stuck to one goal. So this was the doing of Zuland from the beginning.
The knight turned the rest of his body, now face to face with him. Kyone's blood dripped from the sword tip. The violet sparks from Xeto's crystalized sword coiled around the demon's body as dark particles surrounded it. It shot its arms forward, conjuring dark aura shards that flew at arrow speed.
Xeto quickly used his own aura to form another shield. The high pitch of shattering crystals rang in his ears. It can conjure aura? He unshielded himself, his breath caught in his throat as he saw it.
The monster of a knight before him was now covered in energy, reminiscent of blue flames. The void of its visor was now lit with frightening blue glow.
Xeto's eye twitched as sweat slid over a scrape on his brow.
"Lad, are you ok?" Roy had emerged from an alley between the homes at his right. Bow in hand he aimed it at the azure knight.
No no no no no… "Roy, get out of here."
The demon began towards Xeto.
"Sorry, I can't do that." Roy let loose an arrow, hitting the knight's helm.
Two more arrows came in, though they simply bounced of his armor, his gazed locked on his target as he raised clouds of dust with every step.
"I…can still fight," uttered Kyone between labored breaths. He clutched at the wound.
It only wants us… Xeto gulped hard. "Roy, you get him to Anaria. I'll buy you time."
"That's not—"
"I wasn't asking!" His ears grew warm, as he gritted his teeth. "Abominations like this is why I became Demon-Hunt. This thing dies today." He focused his aura around his arm, creating his new weapon, a crystal claw.
Roy wrapped Kyone's arm around him and pulled him to his feet. "Stubborn bastard, aren't you?" He shook his head with a smile on his lips. "I won't be long. Be careful." Those were his final words as he dispersed back into the alleyway.
Xeto held his shield in front and his claw at the ready. "I'm ready, Demon…"