With my sword in hand, I shifted my stance, my feet spreading apart for balance, my grip on the hilt tightening.
The knight, still as a statue, released an ominous aura of death that enveloped the room.
It was a palpable force, heavy and suffocating, making it hard to breathe, let alone move.
Breaking the silence, the knight spoke.
His voice was deep and resonant, echoing around the vast room.
"A mortal in my realm," he stated, his tone devoid of any emotion.
"How intriguing."
A shiver ran down my spine, my hands trembling slightly on the hilt of my sword.
My heart pounded in my chest, its rhythm erratic and fast.
I found myself asking, "Am I scared?" The question hung in the air, unanswered.
However, something within me activated. It was as if a switch had been flipped in my mind: [Trait Activated: Sovereign Serenity].
My fear began to dissipate, replaced by a strange calm.
"Why am I not panicking?" I questioned myself, surprised at my own calmness in the face of such a terrifying opponent.
Lost in my thoughts, I looked up to find the throne empty, except for the spear standing still.
"Huh? Where is the knight?" I asked aloud, confusion seeping into my voice.
Before I could react, the knight emerged in front of me, his movement so swift it was as if he'd materialized out of thin air.
He kicked me in the stomach, the force of the blow sending me flying towards the wall.
Asher hit it hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him and causing him to lose consciousness for a moment.
'kuh...'
When I came to, I could feel the warm trickle of blood spilling from my body, and the sharp pain of fractured bones.
With a grimace, I forced myself to stand, using my sword as a crutch.
The knight remained still, watching me, as if waiting for my next move.
I held my sword out in front of me, my mind racing. 'First, I need a plan,' I thought, my gaze never leaving the knight.
He was stronger than anything I'd faced before, maybe ten, no, twenty times stronger than the inferno spirit bear and the phantom wolf spirit. But he wasn't invincible. There had to be a weakness.
I shook my head, trying to clear it. Overthinking wouldn't help me here.
I needed to act. "Quick heal," I muttered to myself, feeling the pain in my body lessen, just enough for me to move again. It was time to face the monster head-on.
With a calm look in my eyes, I charged at the knight, sword aimed directly at him.
The knight was quick, his movements fluid and precise.
My sword swung towards him, but he parried it with his hand.
He retaliated swiftly, landing a punch to my stomach, followed by a hit to my face and chin.
The world spun around me. I was knocked out for a moment. I felt weak, dizzy, but I forced myself to stand, gripping my sword tightly.
I realized that simple attacks wouldn't work against this knight. I needed to be stronger, faster.
With a calm resolve, I launched myself at the knight again.
This time, my sword moved in a different pattern, striking from unexpected angles. The air seemed to part as my sword cut through it.
The knight countered with a swift punch. His fist cut through the air, meeting my sword.
Our weapons clashed again. Our battle raged on, a dance of sword and strength, each of us matching the other blow for blow.
The knight was relentless, but so was I. Each clash of our weapons, each punch he threw, I met with equal force. The rhythm of our battle was like a deadly dance.
Suddenly, the knight spoke, his voice as cold as ice. "It's been ages since I had a fight like this. Quite intriguing, but enough of this child's play."
A chill ran down my spine. I knew from the start that the knight was holding back, treating me like a plaything.
As he summoned his spear, darkness enveloped the room, a death aura emanating from him.
I stood my ground, a sense of dread settling in. "Monster," I whispered to myself.
The knight initiated his attack, "Void Spear Art: First Form - Blood Moon Eclipse."
Behind him, a blood-red moon materialized, casting an eerie glow that bathed the room.
The room transformed, weapons of all shapes and sizes sprouting from the ground like a grotesque garden, a silent testament to countless battles fought.
He struck with his spear, the force of his attack shattering my weapon, the Silverfang Blade.
I felt a sharp pain in my body, looking down to see a hole. The world around me started to blur, and then everything went black.
***
The knight looked down at his fallen opponent, his eyes as cold as ice.
With a final glance, he turned and walked away, making his way to his throne.
He sat down, a look of disappointment crossing his face. "Tch, boring," he muttered, his voice echoing in the now silent room.
Asher's POV
It felt like I was falling, sinking deeper and deeper into an endless ocean.
The world around me was dark, devoid of any light.
I was being swallowed by the darkness, my body growing heavier with each passing second.
"Is this the end?" I found myself wondering, my voice barely a whisper in the vast emptiness.
Just as I was about to surrender to the darkness, a single light appeared. It was small, but in the overwhelming darkness, it shone like a beacon.
I reached out, trying to touch the light. As my fingers brushed against it, my sight was filled with a blinding white light.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing alone in an unfamiliar place.
I looked around, taken aback by the sudden change. "Where am I?" I asked myself, my voice echoing in the silence.
Asher was taken aback. He looked around for answers, but none came.
He found himself in a place that seemed to defy all logic.
It was as if he was standing in outer space, yet there was no floor beneath him.
"How am I standing in outer space? And I can breathe... Wait, I'm dead. This must be the afterlife," he mused, trying to make sense of his situation.
As Asher was lost in his thoughts, a barely visible golden staircase appeared in front of him.
He blinked in surprise. "Is this staircase telling me to climb?" he wondered aloud.
Without hesitation, Asher stepped towards the golden staircase, unsure of where it would lead.
With each step, he felt heavier, as if gravity was pulling him down. He grumbled in frustration.
"Why is there gravity in outer space? This defies the laws of physics." But despite his complaints, he continued to climb, one heavy step at a time.