Everyone who was present at the dining hall earlier finally had left the Balai. Eustadd and Minky had left earlier than Ishnaia and the party after giving their weapons for their journey as the party finishes the food that were served to them. Not only that, they waggled Reonne furiously to wake up from that spell Minky made unto him. One slap from Ishnaia did the trick, slamming him to the floor. Alister and Hardy were quite alarmed by what Ishnaia did, but she only said,
"See! He's awake! All is good!".
As they strolled out to the Town of Durakhal. Reonne still feels his head being grinded inside, given how people made him fall asleep at force. Reonne asks about what had happened, in which Hardy answered him that He was just too drunk for his own good. It is good enough also for the rest of them that Reonne didn't really remember how he passed out. It must be part of Minky's spell made to him. But he let it go after a while as he remembers how Bear had perished. It becomes clear to him that Hrefna must be stopped.
"That is what we're going to do." Hardy assured Reonne, "We will cook her if that is what it takes to save Gesneria!"
It was catastrophic outside. Homes were finally invaded by those Beastkin Lunatics from left to right. Doors were forcefully opened; breakage are obvious to the naked eyes of anyone who passes through. Even so, the free for all rages on, yet there were few Erons knights than it was before.
"Shit" Ishnaia cursed, "This is like a fucking zombietown now!"
"Zombie?" Alister tilts his head, "What is that?"
"Zombies!" Ishnaia explained it like everyone knows it, "You know, people being risen from dead and turns into monsters!"
"Ah! You mean undead!" Hardy exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Ishnaia pointed at him, "what? never heard of the word zombie?"
"Nope." Hardy replied in a deadpan.
"Sorry, No." Alister seconded.
"Yep, No." Reonne Third.
"oh…" Ishnaia murmured and went red and exclaimed, "Never mind then!" as she poutingly walk after them. All the boys look at each other with a wry expression plastered on their faces, and followed before her.
They continued to the blood-soaked streets while encountering beastkins who became just beasts with their red eyes. Without too much effort, they clashed and clanged with the claws and fangs with their sharp weapons. They fought and slained, fought and slained, fought and slained. The more they kill, twice came replacing them. Along the way, they've encountered also Beastkin and knight fighting side-by-side. Against Ishnaia's will, they all assisted those who fight. Some are thankful and proceeded to another battle, in which they've left them in their own selves. Alister wanted to help furthermore but Ishnaia protested,
"Hey prince charming! We're in a hurry remember?"
The more similar things happen as they thrust themselves towards the end of the town. Sometimes, Hardy also protested in Alister's whim of helping. Reonne, however, was not really in the mood to speak, but he followed them wherever they go and silently attacked anyone who opposes their way.
Not much interaction for the feathered knights of Erons. They neither speak or thank them when assisted. Neither any of them care anyway, so they still went on to the path that which they believe the less enemies towards the end of the town.
…But even then, they cannot avoid the lunatic beastkins and their victims screaming for help.
"Mommy!" A child screamed from afar that which was about to be killed by one of those beastkins. Upon seeing this, Ishnaia was about to summon her sword, but Alister had leapt into action to cut the said beastkin in two. It was a doglike beast. Hardy wondered how many doglike beastkins had they've killed along the way. They are too common to not notice.
"I guess Hrefna hates dogs?" Hardy wondered to himself.
Alister extended his hand to the child, who appears to be a little hume girl dressed in a closer inspection,
"Are you okay?" he asks.
However, the girl took two steps backward and ran away, screaming 'mommy'.
"Wait!"
Alister was about to run after her, but Ishnaia quickly stops him at shoulder.
"Be real Alister, we can't possibly bring her with us!"
"But!-"
"What do you mean But!? Didn't we have this conversation before!?"
Alister gave one last look to the fleeing child and clicks his tongue… before he murmured, "sorry." And shook off Ishnaia's grip and run towards the child
"Hey!"
But then, the said child bumped into someone, someone Hardy knew all too well now.
"…Vandaldor?"
But his appearance was a far cry from its usual vanity, his straight elvish hair is disheveled. His white armor turned into a shining red due to blood of various beings he slayed. Alister nor anyone in the party did not lower their defenses at his sight, and the former readied his rapier for a swift strike… However, Vandaldor kneeled and patted the child, consoling like a gentle father, he told the child,
"It's alright baby, just go straight from here and you will find a dependable plump female that will help you, got that?"
The child nodded and moved her feet after Vandaldor tapped her again, veering her to go.
Even then, the party never lowered their defenses.
"What was that Vandaldor?" Hardy opened his mouth, "Are you really that soft to children? Perhaps, you're a pedophile?"
"Shut up." Vandaldor shot Hardy down with his point-blank answer. Not once looking at him, yet Hardy never backed down and continued,
"How about Lady Pinta!? Where is she!?"
After a pause that seems like eternity, Vandaldor muttered just one word, "…Gone." Then his eyes went straight to glare Hardy and the rest of them.
Staring at him in disbelief, hardy muttered, "You-you don't mean-"
Vandaldor drew his longsword from his hip. That too is painted with blood. And pointed it at the speaker,
"Hardy!" Vandaldor shouted, "Let's finish this, just you and me!"
All of the party glances back at Hardy and the latter took hold of the axe holstered behind him.
"It's alright, I'll handle him." Hardy assures everyone present on this new scene. "Stay back lads and lassie, this is between him and me."
When Hardy finally shows his weapon to Vandaldor, the latter sneered, "So, are you going to run away just like the chicken you are last time?"
"What happened to Lady Pinta?"
"Don't ask questions with questions!" Vandaldor snapped.
"Then," Hardy readied his axe and made a stance. "There's no need for question answering, eh?"
Ishnaia, Alister, and Reonne backed away. This duel is between them and them alone. The rest had a slight idea of what had transpired, but that's all about it. They are all just spectators. And they will see to it on how Hardy will end this. The two warriors locked their gazes unto each other, circling around in the middle of the empty road. The rest watched. And watched…
"Hraaaagh!"
*Clang*
as anyone had expected, Vandaldor is the first to make a move. He rushed forward almost blindly as anyone could see, But Hardy knew better that this was his technique. This guy wants him to think him an easy target. Doesn't he know he did that before? So, Hardy decided to do whatever works before. He dodged to the right,
"Whoah!"
But that was almost a close call. Vandaldor's sword clashed to the tiled floor of the streets which resounds its metal surrounds him. The blow seemingly cracked the tile. Hardy can only imagine if it strikes his head, but he could not have respite, Vandaldor is full of vigor.
*Swoosh*
The sword was swung above in a 45-degree angle towards Hardy's position. The sudden attack made Hardy almost lose his balance in his attempt of another evasion. Thankfully, he swung his axe in a backward pirouette-like slash, using its momentum it created to help him dodge that another strike.
*Slash!*
*huff…puff…*
Hardy knew then that prolonging this battle won't do any good. He must find a way to disable him as soon as possible!...disable?
*clang*
Good thing perhaps is that the handle is made by some kind of alloy, even if it was your generic two-handed two-edged axe, it withstood the blow of Vandaldor's sword with a force Hardy applied similar to what his enemy had. But is it a good choice he wondered? He doesn't trust this weapon to survive Vandaldor's assaults. Furthermore, it appears that this battle should be decided quickly!
"Gh!"
Another strike from Vandaldor. In miraculous luck, Hardy evaded it by an inch. One thing then he is certain now, the more this fight prolongs, the more Vandaldor's speed increases. A berserker type warrior? He might be easily ranked gamma. All in all, Hardy found himself harder and harder to evade. His audience saw this undoubtedly. He is panting harder than ever due to coping up with Vandaldor's nimbleness in each of his strikes. Either way, he must find an opening.
*clang*
This time, Hardy Parried Vandaldor's blow with dexterity, Blade to blade. Evading the blow would be fatal now. Then, another parry, and another. There, Hardy realize that the only time Vandaldor's defenses are open is when parrying his strike. It is the only time he could strike, a counterattack in a short period of time!
*clang, clang*
parry after parry, Hardy uses his head carefully as to not take the fatal blow. He thought what he could do with this weapon, then,
*clang*
His sight winded up to the axe's handle. Then he knew what to do.
*clang*
Hardy shifted his hands to use the axe's handle to counter the blow, then he slid it to Vandaldor's blade to gain distance towards him, afterwards, he pushes away Vandaldor's sword and
*slash*
…finally chopped him to his side.
"Guah!"
However,
"Guh!"
The bloodied armor got in the way and the axe was strucked at Vandaldor's side, then he kicked Hardy away from him, making him release his arms from his weapon. The latter gave all his strength at that last blow, so he found himself making an effort just to rise up. By that time, Vandaldor gripped his weapon to deal the final blow at Hardy.
"You lost Hardy!" Vandaldor bellowed, "Any final words?"
"None," Hardy replied, "I'm not dying now!"
"Then die!"
"!"
Just when Vandaldor was about to strike the final blow,
"Glrpu…"
Blood came gushing from Vandaldor's lips. Hardy was vexed at the sudden situation as he saw a sword protruding from Vandaldor's chest. Who…
"Fuck man, this is getting boring." someone pulls the sword behind and kicked him. It was Ishnaia.
"Hey dwarf, let's go, time's wasting." She said while getting his hand. Hardy became appalled and could only stare at her in silence. Right, she was there, along with Alister and Reonne. But then, she did not expect her to interrupt their fight, the gall to even not care about the one versus one fight!
"Ghhh! YOU!" Vandaldor could only curse on what Ishnaia had done.
"Gay." Ishnaia muttered as she glances at Vandaldor, then she faces Alister and Reonne,
"Damn it guys, what the fuck? You did just stood there while this poor fellow's in a pinch right?"
"N-no!" Alister was unsure before he went with a furious tone, "It was a battle mano-a-mano! I believe Hardy will win the fight!"
"Yeah lassie!" Hardy growled at her furiously, "I did not seek for yer help! I'll seek it when I need to!"
Ishnaia shugs, "Whatever. Here I am wanting to help and you all fucking diss me. Fine," she pulled the axe from Vandaldor's side and threw it to Hardy, in which the latter catches it, "I'm done, have it your way!"
Hardy stared at the weapon at hand, then to Vandaldor. This was a mess. The fight was done, The victor is none other than Ishnaia, who assassinated his opponent from behind. He doesn't know what should he feel about this situation. At any rate, he came closer and crouched beside the lying and groaning Vandaldor at the ground and asks him,
"Lady Pinta, where is she?"
"…My sister's dead."
Hardy squinted his eyes, "…did I hear yer right? Pinta's your sister?"
"…Poooh" Vandaldor spat blood to Hardy's face in which by reflex, Hardy wiped it using his hand, and stood up.
"You know," Hardy said, "It really doesn't matter to me if she's yer sister or not. But perhaps would you tell me what happened?"
"…" Vandaldor stayed silent as his eyes wandered away from Hardy. The latter sighed as he could not get any more information about him. He turned towards Alister and company and said,
"Let's go."
"You're done paying your respects?" Ishnaia asks.
"Aye lassie." Hardy replied.
"Alright," Alister nodded, "Let's go."