The Doe called upon boulders of earth that thinned out and wrapped around it's body before solidifying into an armor that gleamed beneath the low forest light.
Fire and wind danced above it like a crown of elements as water churned around it in a spiral like an offensive barrier.
' Fuck is this thing really a prey, what's with all these safeguards?' Kaleb questioned stupified, he than stared at his twin blades sighing audibly " will they even make it?"
He shook his head clearing himself of the disheartening thoughts before fixing his stance.
He closed his eyes before exhaling deeply as his eyes opened resolved, he gripped his blades and dashed forward already having a detailed map of the area within a five metre radius of himself.
The Doe became aggressive shooting out slashes of wind, balls of flame and jets of water, it's mana churned affecting the surroundings around it as the forest vines sprang to life shooting towards Kaleb who nimbly twisted and turned his body.
His coordination being anything unlike what it was as he maneuvered past the elemental attacks, his dexterity flourished as he tensed his muscles slashing forward meeting the snaking vines.
He landed on one foot, his toes deeply planting itself into the ground as he spun around missing the two snaking vines the were aimed at his shoulder.
He placed his second foot down ad leapt forward, but instantly paused and stepped to his side as the slash of flame shimmered past his nose.
He ducked instinctively as a cold sweat chilled down his back as a gale of wind past right where his head was.
He rolled forward missing another jet of water.His blades slashing around as he dealt with the vines before jumping to his side as a spike of earth protruded forward.
He stood still catching his breath as his eyes locked into the Does.
Kaleb could have sworn seeing it grin slightly as if mocking him.
He let his eyes wander around and noticed he was only a meter closer than he had been and yet the Doe had never taken a single step.
' I can't use a Great Sword in this forested environment, it'll hinder my movements and speed while also dampening my precision and lethality...that means I'll have to be more swifter and versatile in the way I use my blades' Kaleb thought s trait he was slowly picking up from his sister and Ivan who for the past weeks had drilled into him to always take a step and analyze his situation.
' But this thing has elemental rulership of sorts, it's attacks are relentless and it can only give nature life?' his brain burned as thoughts run through.
' Huh! This is so hard well fuck it! I'll just fight till I can't, the Grey thingy never said we could die in here!' Kaleb dismissed before shooting forward.
A ball of flame shot towards him as he picked up pace ' Always remember nothing is perfect, they will always bare weak spots wether miniscule or grand, in a battle such weaknesses are key factors to victory, be it in magic or Arts nothing is perfect.
If you can't cut it with your blade, then redirect it or meet it head on and reduce it's lethality, there's always a way, never encroach futility when in battle else...You walk closer to death'
Ivan's words ringed within his mind as he remembered one of the lessons he had taught them within the weeks together.
He stared at the raging ball of flames, his eyes scanned it for a while before gaining some clarity as he brandished his blades and swatted the ball of flame to his side.
The flame hit the large tall trees as it burst into minor flames raining down.
Kaleb never paused his steps still pressing forward as the distance between h I'm m and the Doe grew shorter.
From three meters it shrunk into two as the torrents of attacks never seized and grew far more dangerous.
His blade swung either slashing the balls of flame or bracing against the gales of wind that left cuts and tears on his skin.
He pressed until he was within a meter of the Doe before he noticed ' It hasn't used it's water for a while...why?'
His question answered when an Icicle shot towards his barely missing his collarbone while slashing the side of his shoulder.
Kaleb grimaced from the pain as his hand shook and trembled from the pain, it took all his will not to scream and shout in pain as it was the first time for him to ever feel such pain.
His eyes reddened as his hair swayed in the wind, his muscles tensed further worsening the bleeding on his shoulder as he cursed internally while also vowing ' I'll kill you bastard!'
He looked at his blade which had now adopted a fiery red glow from all the flaming balls he slashed or redirected.
He raised it up and grit his teeth as he pressed it against his bleeding shoulder his eyes locked on the Doe which was manifesting more and more Icicles.
Kaleb felt his flesh burn and simmer as steam of cooling flesh rose up, his wound closed up from the heat as his bleeding stopped, he flexed his hand before his maddened eyes locked into the Doe.
He stepped forward adopting a different form, as his body vanished.
He shot forward his silhouette flickering in and out of sight as he utilized one of the three movement techniques Ivan had given both he and his sister.
Ghost walk
A technique derived by a master marial artist who had an epiphany while observing the cold and distant Nether winds.
He described their existence as one existing but not at the same time. Being present but absent. Sensed but not perceived.
He created the technique for one to vanish within the light and sight as they marched the death of their targets closer to them.
And that Kaleb did as his speed picked up, his blade moving faster and faster as the icicles clashed against it numbing his hand against the sheer pressure.
' Before my hand fails, or my blood stops flowing, before my bones shatter or my resolve falls, I will kill you.'