𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 24: The Demon's Hidden Trap
Anthony lunged for Ayami sword raised high. Before he could land his attack an ice fist rose from the river digging itself into his gut.
"Tsk!" The fist whisked him away several feet into the air before crashing on his back.
Anthony grunted rising to his feet slowly, he coughed up blood climbing to his knees. All of a sudden as his cloth above his gut froze to ice, "why can't I... Retain my energy," Anthony turned to his hand which held his sword firmly, "I need to win this battle no matter what... But why does my body refuse to move? Is it because of the ice?"
"Haaaahh!" Anthony raised his gaze to see Dwinko flying towards him feet first.
"Ahhh!" Dwinko's feet connected with Anthony's face giving a cracking noise and sending him rolling several feet away.
Dwinko landed on his feet a smile playing across his face "idiot, you're going to die!"
"Not..." Anthony coughed out as he still forced himself to his feet ignoring the pain, he created heat around his gut to melt the ice. Ayami attack froze his blood cell and decreased his agility, if he was to win he needed to keep circulating his heat around his body at all times.
'what strong will,' Ayami frowned. 'even when there is no chance of winning you still struggle to win, is this what being human really...'
"Not... Not yet!" Anthony was already on his feet clenching tightly to his sword.
"Shut the fuck up!" Dwinko came from behind planting a strong kick on Anthony's side. "Ahhh!" before Anthony could recover, Dwinko attacks again throwing an elbow at his chest.
The hit connects with Anthony's chest sending him crashing into the river with a big splash.
"Tsk!" Anthony grunted in pain, he needed to gather energy to fight back, he needed to win... "Arrggh," Anthony rose to his feet his body shaking violently. The attacks that had inflicted on him were fatal. They attacked below his arms, his ribs to prevent him from swinging his sword easily. That was their tactics, to make his arms feel rigid and heavy. The pain in his ribs and his gut also spreaded to his waist and torso weakening his stance.
Anthony narrowed his eyes knowing pretty well he needed to separate this two. Dwinko was more of a threat considering his speed and agility with his long ranged ability, but his weakness was lack of endurance. If Anthony could enrage him again, he would leave a wide enough space to strike a decisive blow maybe even decapitate him this time. "Hey goat face!" He yelled out to Dwinko who stood in front of Ayami. "Come at me."
"Sure!" Dwinko bent his knees and launched into the air for Anthony like a rocket.
Anthony increased his clench on his hilt bracing himself for impact. He took in a deep breath and exhaled, his sword kindling a dark flame. 'To do this I have to use one of my strongest move'.
"Technique 5!" If Dwinko entered range, there would be no escaping this... Anthony smiled 'my winning chance!'
Crack!
"Ugh!" Anthony felt a cool sensation on his leg, the glimpse of the white glare immediately caught his attention. The water below him had froze around his legs tightly. "What the!" He growled struggling to break free by pulling up his legs, but it wouldn't bulge... Could it have been a trap all along?
"Hahahaha!" Dwinko manuevered himself in the air aiming foot first to Anthony's face.
Anthony instinctively raised his sword to block.
Boom!
Dwinko's leg connects with the sword letting a violent explosion of wind
The wind knocked Anthony's sword from his grip letting it fall to the ice with a loud clatter skidding a few feet away on the ice.
Anthony lunged for his sword, streching to be a foot far from it "Tsk!" He groaned unable to reach. He stood up straight, to see Dwinko laughing uncontrollably.
"You thought you could bait me out," he chuckled again "we led you to the river just for this particular trap and you fell for it, idiot!".
"Damnit!" Anthony growled struggling to break free from the thick ice, it was no use... He couldn't help but think, was this how he would end up dying.
"Say your last plea demon hunter," Ayami's hand glowed blue an ice spear forming from the river beside Dwinko "thank you Ayami, this kill will be worth while." Dwinko grabbed the spear and with all his strength hurled it at Anthony.
"Shit!" Unable to do anything else Anthony brought his hands to his face to block bracing himself for impact.
"Ahhhhh!" The spear lodges deep in his shoulder letting an outflow of blood oozing from his shoulder and drenching his uniform partially. Anthony's grinded his teeth trying to hold the pain in, he needed to break free or might actually die a slow painful death, but how.
"Hehehehe! Look at him squirm," Dwinko made fun "this makes me feel like an executioner... Next one Ayami!"
"Coming your way," Ayami said another spear forming before Dwinko.
"Fend up demon hunter this one's gonna leave a scar!" Dwinko joked pulling his hand back to get more force in his throw.
He hurled the spear into the air faster than the first "damn you hunter!"
There was no avoiding this descicive blow especially as his legs were stuck in the ice, he needed to break free, but how?
He pulled hard on his leg and to his surprise he heard the splitting crack of ice to his effort. Ayami ice spear had divided his concentration weakening the ice trap, he needed to act fast before he notices. Anthony quickly lunged for sword again, streching to reach it barely. He took a deep breath and exhaled getting a good clutch over his sword. He wasn't planning on letting his guard down anymore.
Anthony bent his knees in a crouching position shattering the ice that held him down and ducking the spear which missed him by an inch "Technique 5!"