Fists clashed against sword as the battle between Lloyd and Duke.
Duke's punches were precise and strong, while Lloyd's sword strikes were sloppy but fast. In terms of strength Duke's was superior to Lloyd but Lloyd was faster than Duke.
[Pistol Fist HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
A fast punch Lloyd couldn't react to hit him right at his stomach lifted him up into the air followed by a curved back leg kick from Duke, which made Lloyd roll all over the ground.
"Without those little minions of yours, you're nothing." Duke said. "I've been dreaming of the day I finally get to kill you."
Lloyd pushed himself up from the ground and wiped the blood from mouth.
"Keep dreaming, you fu*king bastard." Lloyd said.
[Spectral Release HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
Pale green particles started coming together forming an energy ball in Lloyd's mouth, creating a small ball of soul energy. In less than three seconds it ball was as big as a basketball.
Lloyd fired it as a beam of energy Duke,he rolled out of the way and the blast decimated everything in it's part. The beam had eerie cries and whispering shrieks.
Duke ran straight for Lloyd, who had just finished beaming and Lloyd did the same. Lloyd slashed his sword downwards, which he caught with his hand and proceeded in using his free hand to try and punch Lloyd away.
Instead of taking the punch from Duke. He let go of the sword, which meant his two hands were free.
[Demonic Aura HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
He used a skill that would stop Duke from moving for a few seconds. Lloyd grabbed unto Duke's head and slammed it down on his kneel, which immediately was followed by a left hook and finally a right upper cut.
Duke landed on the ground with a broken nose and a face full of blood. He stood up immediately and took a fighting stance.
"You and yours cheap tricks. Now that you've dropped your sword, let's see how well you fight with your hands." Duke said.
Lloyd was at a clear disadvantage, because he was that skilled in hand to hand combat. As for Duke, not only does his class require him to fight with his hands, he was also a military officer and was one of the best hand to hand fighters.
'How good can he be at close quarters.' Lloyd thought while also taking a fighting stance.
Lloyd was the first to attack, he threw a couple of punches which Duke were able to dodge and block with minimum effort.
"You call those punches. Let me show you what real punches feels like." He said.
The first kick from Duke to Lloyd was to the left ribs which made Lloyd's whole body curve like in crescent pattern. Lloyd body rolled through the ground like a ragdoll until he was stopped by a tree.
It took Lloyd a while to get back on his feet and as he did, Duke was standing right besides him. The next punch was aimed towards Lloyd's head which was still close to the ground.
Lloyd rolled over to the other side and the punch landed on the ground, creating a small crater on the ground.
Lloyd quickly repositioned himself and swept Duke off the ground with his leg. Now that Duke was on the ground Lloyd used this opportunity to move a few meters away from him.
'Who would have thought, I would be this weak without my shadow summonings.' Lloyd thought.
Duke wasted no time in getting back up and was walking towards Lloyd slowly.
"This is what arrogance gets you, death." Duke said.
Lloyd again readied himself and took his stance, looking calm as ever.
"Fu*k you." Lloyd said said showing Duke his middle finger.
[Bond Merge HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
Inside him, Lloyd could feel a his energy rising at a rapid rate, while small changes appeared over his body. Two wolf-like ears made from red flames formed on top of his head, his nails grew into claws, his canines grew a bit longer and sharper and three whiskers like marks appeared on both sides of his face.
[Incomplete Union Mode IS ACTIVE]
'My entire body feels light and I can feel my body surging with power.' Lloyd thought.
Duke was unfazed by Lloyd's new appearance and continued walking. He was less than three meters away from Lloyd
"You think a new look will change the outcome." Duke said.
Lloyd remained silent as Duke approached him. Duke's punch went for Lloyd's stomach. The attack was stopped halfway as Lloyd caught his hand.
Lloyd followed with two slaps to Duke's face then a spinning kick that sent him flying, destroying a few trees on impact.
Lloyd noticed Tessa, had been standing in one spot for a while now.
'She hasn't moved for some minutes now,' Lloyd thought.
Just when Lloyd was distracted, Duke who Lloyd thought was still on the ground, gave Lloyd a heavy punch to the face. Lloyd body was pushed back but Lloyd quickly stopped himself with his leg.
[Soul Restraint HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
Black chains emerged out from the grounds and wrapped around Duke, restricting movements.
Lloyd rushed to where Tessa, she was moving. She just stood there frozen while tears fell down from her face.
"Tessa," Lloyd called but there was no form of response from her.
He shook her gently but it was a in vain. On the other hand, Duke was already making his way towards them.
Cell noticed Lloyd was about to disrupt his plan and also dashed towards them.
"Get lost kid." Cell said
[Bone Protection HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
A seven feet and two meters radius, red transparent rib cage surrounded both Lloyd and Tessa.
Duke release a barrage of punches on it and Lloyd could felt it getter weaker and less durable from each attack from Duke.
Lloyd continuously called Tessa's name but it was to no avail,
"I'm sorry about this." Lloyd said and slapped Tessa on her face.
The slap seemed to have brought Tessa out from her trance, as she was now looking at Lloyd.
"Snap out of it, you've been standing there, crying for over five minutes." Lloyd shouted. "This shield is about to end."
Tessa looked at Lloyd with mixed expressions, relief, happiness and confusion.
"Ho how are you still alive. I saw you die. You and Zeke, I saw both out you die." Tessa said still haven't fully grasped the situation.
"I don't know what you're talking about but now's not the time to talk about that." Lloyd said.
As soon as he finished talking, the rib cage barrier shattered into pieces.
"Get ready to fight." Lloyd said.
She still had about a minute and a few seconds left before her transformation runs out.
She immediately ran towards her opponent Cell, they both clashed for a brief moment. Suddenly a beam of light descended down from the skies and smited the unsuspecting Cell.
[Odin's Smite HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
The beam lasted for two seconds and after that Cell could be seen lying on the ground, with most of his clothes burnt off and fumes from his body flew into the air.
The blast wasn't strong enough to kill him, but it was strong enough to severely wound him on the inside.
Tessa looked down at the pitiful state he was at she pointed her sword at him.
"Go ahead and kill me already." Cell said.
"Why are you working with Duke? What's your goal?" Tessa asked.
"You'll have to find out for yourself." Cell said grinning.
A strange red upside down triangle with an eye inside of it appeared on Cell's head. Immediately the mark appeared, his eyes, ears, nose and mouth started bleeding profusely and then Cell stopped any form of movement, which made Tessa wonder if he was still alive. The following seconds made her thought true.
[You Have Killed The User Of The 'Illusioner']
[Class. +1000EXP, +1000 Golds]
'Kill, but I didn't kill him.' Tessa thought.
A sudden feeling of guilt and regret entered her.
Back to Lloyd, who was still fighting against Duke.
Well, he was easily evading all of Duke's attack while dealing some damage to him. Each punch from Lloyd made Duke cough out blood and he was now down to less than fifteen percent of his total health.
"I refuse to be defeated by an arrogant kid." Duke shouted.
Ran charged in again and so did Lloyd. Duke threw a punch at Lloyd which he easily parried away and gave Duke one in return.
[Soul Impact HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
Light green soul flames engulfed Lloyd's hand, as the punch came in contact with Duke's stomach, a weird feeling came out Lloyd as he could feel something wet on his hand.
Duke also felt strange followed by the most excruciating pain he had ever felt. When they looked down, they found out that Lloyd's hand went through Duke and came out from behind.
Lloyd realized what had happened and quickly withdrew his hand away from Duke and moved a few steps back.
Duke stood there looking at Lloyd in shock, the pain he felt gradually subsided and his vision gradually went darker and darker tills it was all dark and then he fell down.
[You Have Killed The User Of The 'Brawler'].
[Class. +1000EXP, +1000 Gold's]
Lloyd was left in a daze as he continuously red the message in front of him over and over again, making him realize what he had just done.