Emily's mind nearly short-circuited as she watched Martin being sliced in half. She froze, unsure of what was happening and what would happen to her. The man in red cloth moved swiftly towards her, his sword poised to strike. Just as the blade neared her neck, another sword of equal power and speed intercepted and deflected it.
The clash of swords jolted Emily back to reality, and she stumbled back in shock.
.....
William was on his way back to Emily after speaking with his mother when he arrived at the walls that separated the inner and outer city. It was then that he witnessed the horrific sight of Martin being sliced in half and a little girl being attacked by an assailant.
Although William was too far away to save Martin, he was close enough to the little girl to intervene. With quick reflexes, he leapt forward and used his sword to deflect the attacker's blade. Without wasting a moment, he followed up with another sword strike, leaving no opportunity for the assailant to strike back.
As William pushed the assailant back, he turned slightly to check on the little girl, who he was shocked to realize was Emily. He kept his focus on both assailants, ready to defend himself and protect Emily if needed. Emily looked frozen with shock and fear, and William wanted to tell her to run away, but before he could do so, the assailant in blue clothed had closed in on him, launching an attack.
.....
Lucifer observed as William valiantly fought against both the red and blue clothed killers. The frustration and helplessness almost overwhelmed him when he had witnessed the red assailant target Emily, putting her life at risk. However, his mood quickly shifted to relief and happiness upon seeing William arrive to defend her. Still, he couldn't ignore the fact that William was facing a challenging situation with two opponents.
Lost in his thoughts, Lucifer suddenly heard Emily's voice calling out to him.
"You! why aren't you helping Big Brother William" she questioned
"I can't!" Lucifer nearly shouted in response, his frustration and helplessness evident in his voice.
But just as he was about to lament his uselessness, he quickly realized a dangerous pattern in the attackers' movements. The red clothed man seemed intent on targeting Emily, while the blue clothed assailant would exploit William's vulnerable side. With a sense of urgency, Lucifer turned towards Emily and urgently advised her, "Emily, run towards the inner city. Find safety."
"But... Big Brother William is in danger," Emily replied, her voice trembling with fear.
"You can help him by removing yourself from this situation. Staying here will only increase his burden," Lucifer explained, trying to reason with her.
"And go towards William's house. Find someone who can help. Now, go!" he added firmly, urging her to take action.
After a moment of hesitation, Emily finally relented, realizing the logic in Lucifer's words. She ran towards the inner city, determined to seek aid while trusting that William would handle himself as best he could.
.....
William watched as Emily ran toward the inner city. The pressure on him decreased slightly as he overheard the attackers whispering.
The man in red alerted his companion, "Hey, she's running away."
The blue-clad man replied, "Let's attack him together. We'll defeat him first and then quickly catch up to the girl and kill her."
The man in red was hesitant, "But will we be able to defeat him and catch up to the girl before she gets help?"
Confidently, the blue man answered, "He's just at the Heart Tempering stage. It won't take much time to defeat him."
Curious and alarmed by their intentions, William asked, "Who are you people and why are you attacking Emily? Where did you come from? I know all the powerful martial artists from White Lotus City."
"Boy, if you think you know all the powerful people in the city, then let me tell you, you don't know shit about White Lotus City," the red-clothed man spat out angrily.
"We'll tell you why we're attacking that girl after we kill you," the blue-clothed man said, laughing in a mocking tone.
After listening to their tone of speaking, he immediately understood their intentions. They were trying to provoke him. Understanding this, he decided to stop talking or listening to them altogether. He knew he was not the best at keeping his anger in check when people said things to rile him up.
.....
The dimly lit night set the stage for an intense confrontation between William and his two formidable adversaries. The red-clothed man and the blue-clothed man wielded their swords with deadly precision, their blades gleaming ominously in the moonlight.
With a primal roar, the red-clothed man lunged forward, his blade slashing through the air. William's reflexes kicked in, and he parried the attack with a swift motion, his sword clashing against his opponent's with a resounding clang.
The blue-clothed man seized the opportunity, launching a rapid flurry of strikes from the side. William skillfully deflected each blow, his movements a graceful dance of steel. With each clash, sparks erupted, illuminating the intensity of their duel.
As the fight escalated, William tapped into his battle IQ and sword skills. He anticipated their moves, skillfully weaving between their attacks with nimble footwork. He countered with calculated precision, striking vulnerable spots when the opportunity presented itself.
Yet, his adversaries were cunning. They constantly changed their tactics, attempting to exploit William's weaker stamina and defense. They aimed to wear him down, to inflict an injury that would allow them to continue their pursuit of Emily.
The blue-clothed man feigned an opening, a sly grin on his face, hoping to lure William into a trap. But William saw through the ruse, sidestepping the attack just in time and retaliating with a swift slice across his opponent's arm, drawing blood.
The red-clothed man, frustrated by William's resilience, unleashed a barrage of powerful strikes, aiming to overwhelm him. William's defenses strained under the assault, his body absorbing blow after blow. Blood trickled from various wounds, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to yield.
Driven by an unwavering determination, William summoned his remaining strength. With a surge of adrenaline, he launched a relentless counterattack, his sword becoming an extension of his will. Every strike was fueled by a fierce desire to protect Emily.
The attackers grew increasingly desperate, their frustration fueling reckless aggression. They swung their swords wildly, but William, despite his exhaustion, remained focused and precise. His movements became more fluid and deliberate as he danced with death, blocking and parrying with masterful skill.
Finally, a moment of respite arrived. William's opponents, battered and bruised, hesitated. Their confidence wavered as they saw the unwavering resolve etched upon his bloodied face.
Summoning his last reserves of strength, William surged forward, his blade an arc of determination. In a flurry of strikes, he incapacitated both attackers, disarming them with well-placed blows.
Breathing heavily, William stood amidst the aftermath of the fierce battle. Blood dripped from his wounds, his body a testament to his unwavering determination despite his dwindling stamina. His vision blurred, and darkness encroached upon his consciousness.
But even in the depths of his fatigue, he refused to falter. He stood tall, a silent guardian, ensuring that no one would follow Emily. With sheer willpower, he continued to stand, his unconscious form a formidable obstacle that defied any who dared to approach.
In that moment, William's spirit burned bright, a testament to his unyielding determination and his willingness to sacrifice everything for the ones he held dear.
.....
After some time, William's mother rushed to the scene with an astonishing speed that seemed beyond mortal capability. As she took in the sight before her, she was overcome with shock. There stood William, his body covered in blood, yet somehow still standing tall despite being unconscious. She examined him more closely, her disbelief growing as she realized the extent of his injuries. His body was broken, yet he was miraculously alive.
Glancing around, she saw two figures - one lying near William, draped in blue cloth with both hands and legs severed, while the rest of his body was mangled with deep sword cuts. The other, dressed in red cloth, had his wrists cut off and had fallen unconscious, yet was still breathing. At that moment, a thought crossed her mind: "Did William spare him to extract information despite such a ferocious battle?"
As she continued to observe, she couldn't help but feel a mix of anger towards the attackers and immense pride in her son. It was clear that William's determination to save Emily's life went beyond his battle talents or powers.
Amidst the chaos, she stumbled upon Martin's body, his wounds deep and lifeless. After taking a moment to absorb the events that unfolded, she decided to take all the bodies back home for various purposes. As she left the scene, she couldn't shake off the image of her son, standing tall and resolute in the face of danger, his spirit unbroken despite the odds.