The fire from the torches flickered as the light breeze passed by. The tension inside the cave was so thick it can restrict ones breathing.
With the quick beating of his heart, Darius could feel his blood rushing inside of him. The cold sweat formed in his nape and palms as he anticipated the next attack.
A little deeper into the cave, he once again spotted the shadow hiding in the corner.
The witch waiting for them to drop their guard, patiently standing by for the perfect chance to attack.
Pretending not to notice, Darius turned his head left to right as if he was searching to lure the witch into a trap. Enticing Black Annis to take the initiative.
And expected the witch did not waste the 'perfect' opportunity to cut his throat.
Dashing forward at the speed of a panther, the witch aimed its sharp iron claws at Darius.
The purple-eyed man quickly turned to the witch, his sword making a swift cut from the ground up.
CLINK
The sound of clashing metals once again echoed inside the cave.
Darius clicked his tongue, 'This damned witch is quick.' He thought, his brows crossing together as his frustration grow.
Upon seeing the witch Brennan quickly raised the bow and arrow that he already prepared. Taking an aim, he pulled the string back.
But the moment the witch was revealed, it quickly jumped away to once again conceal itself. But this time… she was just standing right in from of the young man.
"You knew," she said distastefully.
Darius smirked mockingly, "What can I say, I'm quite observant."
The witch only let out a sort of growling noise from her throat.
"A shadow…" Brennan mumbled under his breath, finally realizing what the others meant.
His companion nodded, "If you want to defeat her… you only need to watch her shadow."
"Hah!" Black Annis scoffed.
"As if that will be enough to defeat me." The spell concealing her unraveled as the witch decided to show herself.
Her long pointed nose and terribly wrinkled face flashed inform of the young men. Her hooded figure is slightly slouching and her long black hair looks as if it was soaking in the water the whole time.
But the most notable part of her appearance is that…
"She has blue skin," Brennan muttered while staring at the witch.
"Rude," the witch spat bitterly.
"Ek Ek" Black Annis laughed. "I guess I will get to you first," she said before everything turned black.
Without a warning the torches went out, all the light from their fire disappeared in an instant.
Making the young men completely blind.
"Brennan! Stay close!" Darius shouted. His stomach curled just by the thought of his companion's death. The witch was now after Brennan and it was up to Darius to protect him.
"Use the dagger," he added.
Listening to his friend, Brennan quickly put away his bow and pulled out the dagger. Raising it in front of his chest, ready to strike in a moment's notice.
Darius on the other hand focused his magic into the sword, a controlled portion of magic power traveling towards its length.
As the electricity started appearing around the double edge sword, the crackling energy provided a small amount of light. Just enough to see what was in front of him.
A breeze passes him by, causing his breath to hitch.
"Ack!" Brennan exclaimed as he felt a stabbing pain in the back of his neck and the side of his torso. Everything happened so quickly he couldn't even counterattack.
Holding the back of his neck, Brennan felt the slippery fluid between his fingers. The thick crimson substance, sipping through the wound.
"Are you alright?" Darius asked as he approached Brennan.
"Y-yeah… it was a shallow cut," Brennan replied.
"Stay behind me," Darius ordered, his free hand pulling Brennan to safety.
'Darius remove the magic from the stored and step away from Brennan.' Ravana commanded.
'I can't do that, he will die…' his voice was stern.
'No, because it's time to take the offensive. You will achieve nothing if you just wait for her to take the initiative.' Ravana explained.
'Then what do you suggest? You know that I can't see her nor can I hear her movements.'
'Lure her further from Brennan, it would appear that she got offended by his little comment. If you insult her she will direct her attention to you, once she did run deeper into the cave… stay and listen.'
'What?' Darius knitted his brows.
'Listen to the sound of her blood. Earlier, when Brennan shoot her the arrow was embedded in the palm. But because she just roughly pulled the arrow. The bleeding intensified, it has been dripping to the cave floor like honey.'
'But what if the water droplets from the cave ceiling get in the way?'
'No, the sound of water droplets is much sharper. The blood is thick and its sound will be more subtle, you will learn the difference once you listen.'
Darius clenched his teeth, it's not like he has a plan at this point.
'Fine, I will trust you.'
"Hey! You ugly witch that looks like a moldy prune!" he shouted before running deeper into the cave.
"Hey you look so ugly I almost run away earlier!"
'Seriously Darius you need to learn how to insult people,' Ravana said as she shook her head.
'Well I'm not like you so there's nothing I can do…' he complained.
'Hmmm… not yet.'
A shrieked took Darius's attention.
'Maybe it did work,' Ravana sighed.
'Get ready.' She ordered.
Once again Ravana was right because Darius could hear the sound of blood dropping on the cold floor.
She was charging straight ahead.
Taking the defensive, Darius blocked the attack with the sword facing flat. His left hand pressed on the other side of the flat surface to provide support.
"I will kill you!" the witch threatened as she grabbed the sword's blade with her claws.
But as soon as her hold tightened, electricity started flaring out the sword's blade.
Electrocuting the witch.
"Ah!" Darius exclaimed as he felt his hand burn with the same magic power that affected the witch. Surprised he pulled out, allowing the witch to once again getaway.
"W-what?!" his mind couldn't figure it out.
Did he lose control?
'Now is not the time, you have an enemy in front of you. FOCUS!' Ravana barked.
Having no choice, Darius just clenched his burned hand while in the other he held his sword.
'Listen to the sound of blood,' he reminded himself.
PLINK
It sounded from his left.
'If only I could point out where exactly.' He bit the insides of his cheeks.
'There it was!' the alarms inside his head started blaring as the sound got a little louder.
'A long-tail guard is the best stance to counter a charging enemy,' he remembered Oraculi telling him.
'A full swing from the ground up. Place the sword on the opposite side of the arm holding the sword, then swiftly swing it up. Simple.'
"A full swing from the ground up," Darius mumbled.
When Darius swung his sword, he made sure to apply some magic to it.
The spark of electricity created a sharp glowing line as the sword moved.
CLINK
Darius clicked his tongue out of frustration, 'Not again. If I could just touch the skin, it will be over.'
Once again the two of them are in a locking position.
Suddenly, an explosion was heard from the entrance. Red flames burst out lighting the entire cave up.
Finally, Darius had the chance to see his opponent once again.
Not wasting any more time, Darius pressed on. Using all of the force he could muster to push the witch away to throw her off her balance.
Darius did not give the witch any chance to collect herself.
Swing his sword over and over, right to left – forcing Black Annis into defense. Both of her arms are placed in front of her blocking each attack.
CLINK! CLINK!
'The hell?! Is she wearing vambraces?' Darius asked.
'Well with her style of fight, arm armors will be undoubtedly useful.' Ravana retorted.
As Darius kept hammering the witch, she eventually fell to the ground.
A subtle thud echoed as her back hit the ground.
Black Annis scrambled to the corner her back pressed against the cave wall, like a trapped mouse her body trembled as she stared at her hunter.
"This is where it ends," Darius told her as he raised his sword, cold eyes staring into the witch's soul.
The witch pushed her back deeper into the cave wall as if it will open up and allow her to escape.
Darius held the sword with both of his hands, the tip pointed to the witch.
A quick stab in the chest. That was what he wanted, even if she didn't deserve a quick death.
Before Darius could bring the sword down, Black Annis took a fist full of sand from the corner of the cave.
She threw it at Darius, creating an opportunity to retaliate.
She quickly stood up, ready to rip the man's throat.
"Fuck!" Darius cursed as he tried his best to regain his vision by blinking his eyes over and over.
Annis charges in her claws ready to kill.
"Not so fast!" Brennan shouted an arrow whistled through the air, embedding itself into the witch's neck.
Black Annis stopped in her track as she choke in her own blood.
Both hands held the end arrow in her neck.
Without thinking properly, she pulled the arrow from her neck. Causing the blood to flow out of her neck and mouth.
"Ack! Ack!" she choked as she tried her best to cover the wound with her hand. The crimson liquid traveled from her neck to her cloak, soaking the black cloth in her thick blood.
Once Darius focused her vision again, he watched the gruesome scene in front of him.
Out of sheer pity, he raised his sword and cut the witch's head off.