Nestled deep within the formation, I could see the younger knights losing their composure. Understandably so, as over eight-tenths of their comrades had already fallen at the hands of a mere boy. And now that same brat was toying with them, taunting them by circling around their formation while dragging the lifeless body of Caer behind him. But I knew Lucas well and his skill in combat, and I could tell he was playing mind games with the enemy.
It was clear that they stood no chance against Lucas, and I was well aware of that fact. My goal was simply to buy enough time for reinforcements to arrive. For even as strong as Lucas was, he would not be able to take on hundreds of warriors all at once. He could try to flee, but he understood the potential consequences of that action all too well , as if he run away his family would be payed a visit by me.
As Lucas launched another offensive, hurling Caer's charred body towards us, chaos erupted among our ranks. Two knights stumbled and fell, their screams echoing across the battlefield. In the blink of an eye, Lucas was upon them, his blade flashing as he dispatched them with brutal efficiency.Of one he cut off the head while of the other he burned the body.
The remaining knights, their nerves shattered, abandoned formation and charged recklessly into battle.
Bloody fucking hell, did father sent me youngster to protect me?
It was clear that my plan had failed, and our hopes of holding out until reinforcements arrived dashed. Now, there was only one option left: to confront Lucas head-on and fight until the bitter end.
With lethal precision, Lucas moved among the remaining knights, his movements fluid and calculated like a deadly dance upon the battlefield. As he closed in on his targets, his sword flashed in the sunlight, a glint of steel cutting through the air with deadly intent. With each strike, he aimed for vulnerable spots in their armor, exploiting any weakness with ruthless efficiency.
One by one, the knights fell under Lucas's relentless assault. Some he cut down , others he burned using magic, as apparently he took a liking to it .
He showed no mercy, no hesitation, only a cold determination to eliminate his foes. With each swing of his sword, he cut down another knight, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake.
The remaining knights fought bravely, but they were no match for Lucas's skill and ferocity. One by one, they fell before him, their lives snuffed out by his merciless blade. And as the last knight collapsed to the ground, Lucas stood triumphant amidst the carnage, his sword stained crimson with the blood of his enemies.
As the battle came to a close, only Roy and I remained standing, at least someone still had the sense to heed me . The once chaotic and intense battlefield was now eerily silent as Lucas, my enemy, gazed at me with a bored expression on his face. I could see the satisfaction in his eyes, knowing he had sent so many men to their deaths just for the chance to kill me.
"Was it worth it?" He asked, his voice dripping with disdain. "There was no need to send so many men to the other world, all I wanted was your death." He scanned the remnants of my guards with a sense of detachment. "Whatever path you choose, Favian, the destination is always the same – death by my hand ."
I said nothing, but continued to watch him closely. His words were filled with malice and regret, yet he spoke them as if they meant nothing. "You talk as though you regret killing them," I retorted, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice ''We both know that is not true ''
He let out a cold chuckle. "That's true, Whether they live or die does not interest me,I had no pleasure nor distaste in killing them." His eyes glinted with a dangerous glimmer as he added, "So are you going to fight or do you want to send that other knight to his death too?"
I exchanged a quick glance with Roy before turning back to Lucas. "You have not even spared the wounded," I noted with a grim smile.
"You think I don't know you're just stalling for time?" He taunted as he stepped forward, his eyes never leaving mine.
"So much for my elaborate plan, come on stop wasting your breath and come at me , let's put an end to this once and for all" I muttered under my breath as I prepared myself for one final stand against my enemy.
"Young master," he stammered, his face contorted with nervousness and sweat. "Run towards the dense forest, I shall create a diversion to buy you some time. It's our mistake, we should have realized from the start that we had no chance of winning against him. Our duty is to protect you, and we failed in that task. The only thing left for me to do is to delay him as much as I can." He spoke quickly, his words tumbling out one after another as he gulped for air.
But deep down, I knew it was useless. There was no hope of escaping this situation alive if I run after all he would catch me immediately
"Our situation may not be as dire as you think," I said calmly, earning a confused look from Roy. "Although he is trying to hide it, the battle has taken its toll on him. He's exhausted from using his powers too much. And I still have one trick left up my sleeve. However, I will need you to distract him for at least two seconds in order for me to use it effectively. Can you do it?" My voice was firm but tinged with desperation. We were running out of options, and our only hope now lay in this risky plan.
His voice was a firm, unwavering declaration as he replied, "I can." His eyes remained focused and determined.
Suddenly, a presence within me spoke, its words dripping with malice. "Do you mean to finally invoke me? Or are you too stubborn to admit defeat?"
My voice dripped with venom as I spat back at the pathetic, sneering bastard before me. "I will not be bested by a pathetic bastard like that " I declared confidently. "With or without your aid, I will emerge victorious, also it is not like I will have the time to employ you"
I could feel hw curled up into a cruel smile as he taunted, "Proceed as you wish, mortal. But know that the blood price will be paid."
Confusion clouded my mind, what debt was this entity referring to? But my only answer was the echoing sound of Baalkaroth's mocking laughter, ringing through my ears.
I still did not understand, why was he so calm?When I was battling the demon he was scared out of his mind, yet right now he is so calm.Is he not aware that if I die he will too?
There must be something that he knows that I don't....anyway I can't waste time like this
Despite the temptation to engage in idle chatter, I knew that my focus had to be solely on the battle at hand. Lucas, my opponent, had already launched into action with blinding speed. In a split second, he closed the distance between us, his movements so swift they blurred.
Before I could fully register his approach, he was standing before me, a hazy figure in my periphery. Reacting on pure instinct, I raised my sword just in time to parry his slashing strike. The clash of metal echoed through the air as our weapons collided. Despite the force behind his blow, I held my ground and gritted my teeth against the strain.
With adrenaline pumping through my veins, I seized the chance to counterattack. After pushing his blade aside with mine using the hilt of my sword , I lunged forward, aiming to strike him back. But even as my weapon arced towards him, Lucas moved with incredible agility and darted away from my attack like a fleeting blur. His preternatural speed caught me off guard and forced me to quickly readjust my stance for the next round of combat.
I already knew of his style of fighting , yet I can't help but be disorientated by his skill.
Frustration surged within me as my blade sliced through empty air, the momentum of my strike carrying me forward before I could regain my balance. In that split second, Lucas had already put distance between us, his form barely discernible amidst the chaos of battle.
Regaining my composure, I squared my shoulders and braced myself for the next exchange.
It was clear to me that Lucas lacked experience in combat at this point in the story . His movements were unrefined and his strikes lacked finesse. Despite his obvious strength, he overcompensated with brute force rather than skill.
As I easily deflected his clumsy attacks, I couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority. My theory about his lack of training and rushed trip to the academy had been confirmed.
However, this did not mean he was completely powerless. Even with his sloppy swordsmanship, his sheer strength was still greater than mine. As our blades clashed once again, I felt my limb trembling under the force of his strike. Though lacking in technique, Lucas was a formidable opponent due to his raw power and his cheat-skill which made him a tricky enemy to fight with.
As apparently having an enormous mana pool, meant that one could display much more raw strengh than their counterpart....