Chapter 3: My Dying Rage.
For a moment I couldn't comprehend what happened. Then all at once as I looked up hearing the Queen's familiar speech my eyes locked on to Ronalt's back. Bastard! I'd kill him if it were the last thing I ever did. My body reacted and before I knew it a guard had placed his spear baring my way.
"Stand down," he blocked my path.
"Get out of my way!" I tried to push him aside but he grabbed my arm. "I said move!" My fist flew out and punched his armoured helm. Blood dripped as it cut my hand but I ignored it and marched forwards towards Ronalt. Pain burst from my chest and as I looked down a spear head protruded out of me. I coughed blood and died.
Again I looked up to see the Queen make her speech. There still standing was Ronalt. The memory of pain from dying still fresh in my mind. No matter how many times it would take, I'd get my revenge. I grit my teeth and charged forwards.
The guard turned to me surprised, "Stand dow-." I punched him before he could finish and knocked the spear from his hands. He recoiled back and drew his sword. I threw the spear at Ronalt's back but it was a poor throw landing instead at Marley's feet. They turned to me in shock.
"Bastard!" the guard swore at me and in the next moment my head rolled. I died.
The Queen's voice broke me awake. I screamed in frustration and jumped at the guard. He couldn't say a word as I knocked him from his spear. He drew his sword but too late as I stabbed his lost spear into his leg. A howl of pain attracted everyone's attention. Ronalt turned to look at me with wide eyes. My anger flared. The way he looked at me confused as if how could an insect like me be attacking them. Distracted I didn't notice the other guard plunge his spear into my side. I died.
My eyes opened. The Queen spoke. My legs leapt forward. The guard flinched as he fell and I took his spear. I swung it wildly at his companion who had killed me before. It glanced off his armour. The guard I knocked over drew his sword and slashed at my waist. It dug in deep and as I fell back I threw the spear forwards. It didn't even make it two meters. Then his sword stabbed into my chest. I died.
I couldn't think straight anymore. The only thought I could make out was the urge to kill those around me. To make them suffer just as much as I had. To die and die and die and die! I had nothing to do with their Goddess be damned quest. I just wanted to live at home peacefully but now… now I'd break them.
The guard couldn't react in time as I took his spear and knocked him over. To him it was so sudden and in the next moment its tip had gutted his neck. I felt no remorse for the man who had already killed me and as his companion jumped at me screaming bloody murder I stepped back only to feel his spear to still cut my side. I thrust my own forward. He easily blocked my meagre attack and with a swift flick stabbed my heart. As expected of the Kingdom's guard. I died.
Again I killed the first guard and as the second tried to jump me I moved my spear in his path. He faltered as he landed and I tried to kill him. My aim was off and barely missed his unarmoured neck. In the next instant I had died again.
My actions repeated. I took the spear and killed the guard. His partner jumped at me but this time my aim was true. I stepped over him as he gurgled a dying breath. The bloodied spear still dripping as I pointed it loftily at Ronalt. My own clothes smeared with the spray. Two more guards rushed at me. I didn't stand a chance as their heavy swords cleaved away the spear I held in defence and broke my body like a twig. I died.
With practised movements I killed the first two guards and continued forward. The next two came and I dodged back. Their blades missed their mark and as my spear glanced across their armour they countered my blow and once more laid me down to death. Again I stood and moved forward. Two men died by my hand and as the next two came I dodged the first blow and thrust my spear. It dug into the closer one's armour and he collapsed but the spear stuck as the other cut me apart. I died.
Step by step my movements mimicked the last with frightening accuracy. My mind felt oddly calm as a subtle hate pushed me forwards. The spear had already killed three and now as the fourth man swung at me I abandoned it as his blade missed. I crashed against his guard with my full weight somehow managing to topple him. From his waist I drew his dagger and plunged it into his neck. His body fell limp and I stood up taking his fallen sword as my own.
Ronalt and the others looked at me unable to contain their astonishment. The bloodied butler that was meant to serve them now pointed a sword intent to kill. I smiled crazed and mad. Death after death, it was all the same to me. Earnest took a step towards me and I frowned as a challenging grin lit up his face.
"Well isn't this interesting," he took a step and drew his sword in a wide arc. I raised my own to block. For a moment nothing happened then my head fell from my shoulders. I died.
How frightening was Earnest's skill that I couldn't even understand what happened. A single strike that was instant death. As I faced him again with the guard's sword he smiled and swung. I jumped back only to feel my legs leave my body and soon after it my chest as well. I died.
Again I faced him. This time my eyes widened in focus. Earnest swung his sword and I died. I returned, killing the four before him seemed so easy now, yet I couldn't grasp just how Earnest was able to kill me. He swung I held my sword in the way. I died. Again I stepped forwards, again I died. I died. I died. I died. I died. I died. Each life lasting no more than several seconds. My heart felt no weight from the repeated sensation anymore. My mind blank, intent to move past Earnest to the goal beyond him. I died.
"Well isn't this interesting," Earnest grinned. He clicked his blade from his scabbard and swung. At the same moment I was able to comprehend the difference between us. A single stroke that acted like three. A skill that transcended physical ability but did not require the use of magic. Truly frightening. A monster, that's what he was. My sword swung in response and a heavy sensation flared into my arm as one stroke was blocked but the others took my life. I died.
"Well isn't this interesting," Earnest grinned. Before he could make his move I already began mine. I leapt forwards as he swung. The three strikes shattered my sword before they could split apart forcing shrapnel to spray through the air. I still lived. Disbelief marred his face and in that slight distraction I smacked my head against his with all my might. The pain threatened to cause me to black out. Earnest fell backwards. I turned towards Ronalt and jumped at him with my arms outstretched. His hand collided with my head and in a single powerful sweep crushed my skull into the ground. I died.
Again I managed to block Earnest's swing. I knocked him back and turned to Ronalt. This time I ran and as his hands launched towards my head I nimbly turned aside. What I didn't expect was his leg that caught me in the gut and then the arrow shot from afar to puncture my lungs. I died.
Charge forward, kill the guards, deal with Earnest and reach Ronalt. His hands passed over me harmlessly, his leg missed its mark and I crept beside him. A dagger was clipped to his waist. I reached for it only to fumble as he pulled away with surprising speed. There was a flash of light and I was blown back. Ardent had his staff pointed towards me and before I could rise a rain of arrows punctured through my skin. I died.
Ronalt tried to back away but I stepped forward in time. The dagger reached my hand. A blast of light flashed past me as I quickly dodged Ardent's magic. The blade I held glistened as Ronalt began to draw his sword. I stabbed him with it once quickly and he groaned. An arrow pierced into my back but I was so close now. Just a little more. I climbed his bear like body and rose above him with the dagger held high. His neck was open. Another arrow caught my side. The pain barely caused me to react now. My hand descended.
But I hesitated. At that moment I could see it all. From on top Ronalt's shoulder I could see the chaos I had caused. Ardent preparing another spell. Marley gasping and unsure. Earnest stunned by my act. Taylor who stood surprised at the back but doing nothing. There was noise all around me. Noise I had blanked out. The queen had her arm extended towards us through the cracks of the guards who held her back. She was screaming words I couldn't hear as I aimed to kill her son. The range of weapons trained upon me ready to take my life and the desperation in their holder's eyes.
Finally there was the Hero was looking up at me as I held a dagger intent to kill. I would kill everyone. No matter how many times it would take. I'd repeat as many times as I needed and eventually even the Hero would fall. Or so I thought. Her eyes were wide in a mixture of fear and shock. She didn't know what to do or what was happening. Of course she was confused. Everything that happened was so sudden and not even a quarter of a minute had passed. To her I had no reason to do this. Through her pure green eyes I could see my reflection. My face and body marred with blood. Even now I felt my anger had already faded, instead it had become a primeval desire to keep moving, to force the path, to end it all. The question came like a dull ache, why was I doing this?
A third arrow pierced my neck and I fell from Ronalt's back. My life began to fade and the Hero stared at me. There was no hate in her eyes. It wasn't pity either. Merciful and pure, the eyes of someone far too caring for this world. She regretted my death. Really… why was I doing this? And then… I died.