They simultaneously charged at each other and met at the centre with their swords clashing. Despite being crafted out of nothing but vines, the sword was not lacking in context against the leader's metal sword.
"For one who had just awakened you have no chance against me. Give it up". He warned, struggling to maintain superiority in the clash.
"Is that your fear I hear trying to bring my will into submission". Mikeal mocked.
"Fine, if that is how you want to play it, fine by me. I will take this as an opportunity to teach a fool like you the difference between a newly awakened and a late-stage awakened".
The leader resigned the superior show of strength to Mikeal as he deflected his sword and took a step back.
"Flame magic! Double pierce".
He cast to which he thrust his sword at Mikeal.
Mikeal contended with the sword by blocking its momentum with the blunt side of the vine sword.
Surprisingly, Mikeal found his body pushed back against his will, causing him to lose guard of his sword.
He felt a sting from his shoulder and turned his eyes only to see that there was a hole in his clothing that also got through his shoulder and came out from the back.
"Your Highness!". "Mikeal!". They both called out, worriedly.
"I am fine". Mikeal assured them both.
"Are you sure about that?!". He questioned, pointing at the hole in Mikeal's shoulder.
As it would turn out, Mikeal is bleeding out through the hole. Though it is in small quantity, it could turn out a problem if left be for long.
The leader rushed at Mikeal, relentlessly swinging his sword and barely giving Mikeal time to recuperate, just one attack after another.
Unable to withstand his onslaught led Mikeal to shift his stance from an enhancer to a conjurer. He summoned the spikes from the ground to block off the leader's route toward him.
This allowed Mikeal to catch his breath as well as understand how much damage he had incurred from that onslaught.
Contrary to his expectations he had taken a lot of damage. He has bleeding holes in his body and finds it a mystery how he is still standing.
Also, the holes in his body do not match the amount of time he was pierced.
'Double pierce was it?!'. Mikeal assessed.
The number of holes in his body doesn't make sense but it doesn't have to be if he linked his attack to a form of magic skill.
'The flame at the tip of his sword shows he is a flame mage. He must be using that flame to create a second strike form, one that I cannot discern with my natural eyes. That must be what is making these holes and why I can't dodge them'. Mikeal assumed.
He was certain he followed the leader's movement and was even able to parry them, at least the visible ones.
If he is to win this fight and stop his body from getting damaged than it already is, he has to find a way to stop the attacks that cannot be seen.
'How do I do that?!'. Mikeal questioned inwardly, trying to look for a way to gain an advantage over the leader.
"Flame magic! Quadruple pierce".
The spike wall was brought down by his sword, slashed in four different directions like an x.
"That same trick isn't going to work on me twice". The leader assured, passing through the brought-down spike wall to get to Mikeal.
Mikeal has had enough time to deliberate on how to survive this encounter. What he needs now is a starting line to put his plan in motion, and he knows just how to get it.
He ran head-on at the leader without regard for the strikes the leader intended to deliver.
Mikeal did the best he could to evade the strikes he could see, all the while closing in on the leader.
"How bold of you, but I suggest you take a good look at your body first". He derisively advised, relentlessly throwing the strikes at him.
Mikeal ignored his warning as he went in headstrong. He certainly was getting a lot of hits on his body, but none of that was enough to stop his momentum.
The leader's sword got within his range and was about two inches away from stabbing through his left eyeball.
Mikeal carved his hip outward, causing the upper part of his body to lean entirely around his waist. This also allowed him to lean his head backwards to avoid the sword.
As he was within the leader's range, he let go of his vine sword and grabbed the leader's hand so he wouldn't swing the sword so carelessly again.
"What are you hoping to achieve by making physical contact with me". The leader mused.
"Skill! Synthesize". Mikeal retorts, his gaze very close to the leader.
He was utilizing all his strength to pin down the leader's hand to prevent him from slashing the sword his way.
'Synthesize?! What kind of skill is that'. He panicked, trying to set himself free.
The leader forced his left hand out of Mikeal's hold as he clasped his fingers side by side before thrusting it toward Mikeal's chest.
"Flame Magic! Decagon pierce!".
Mikeal felt ten consecutive sword strikes penetrate his body. The strikes released enough force to crash Mikeal away from the leader and have his body tumbling on the ground.
He rolled twice on the ground before he took back control to stop himself from rolling.
He had the leader's arm and sword under his control yet the leader was able to weave a sword strike at him with just his palm.
This was evident that the sword was not a necessity for his skill's activation.
"I don't know what you just did, but you are going to regret putting your hands on me". He threatened.
The leader took on a stance! One that is quiet unlike his other. He had his legs stretched far from each other and his sword pointing at Mikeal.
"Flame Magic! Death pierce!".
He gathered every ounce of mana in his body, directing it all into his sword. It was! Electrifying.
The flame that was at the tip of the sword is gone, now maintaining the form of a normal sword. But one is not to be deluded into believing it is a normal sword.
Mikeal breathed in, his eyes closed, his head relaxed, his mind calm as he prepared to take on a strike that could kill him in one touch.
The leader took his step, the first very slow followed by a hastened one that eventually led to speed the likes that could confuse one into believing air was what was running and not a human.
As he closed in on Mikeal, the leader made certain to observe his movement. Even though he seemed relaxed and looked like he had given up resisting, never would he make the mistake of believing that to be true.
"This is the end for you". The leader declared.
His death strike attack was so deadly that the very sword anchoring the leader's skill slowly melted as it was too weak to withstand the heat surrounding it.
This was no doubt the definite end for Mikeal.
The maid who knows this hurried herself to Mikeal. She knows how weak she is against the incoming strike, but there is still much to be done.
By placing her body in the sword's direction, she believes she could shield Mikeal's body, even at the cost of her own life there was no hesitation in her.