Before I could react, Declan materialized before me, his form blurred by speed, swinging his crimson dagger toward me. I instinctively ducked low, feeling the rush of air as the blade sliced through the space above my head. With a swift motion, I countered, aiming for his thighs, but before I could strike, his right leg shot up like a battering ram, colliding with my nose with the force of a falling boulder.
Pain exploded through my senses as I stumbled backward, blood trickling from my nostrils like a relentless stream. Ignoring the metallic taste of blood in my mouth, I groaned, contemplating my options amidst the chaos of battle. Aeonis, my trusted ally, remained an option, yet its strength still fell short. My sigils, pulsating with untapped power, beckoned, but caution held me back.
"What're you thinking about!?" Declan's voice sliced through the haze of pain, accompanied by the impact of his uppercut to my stomach. I doubled over, the taste of iron filling my mouth as I coughed up blood. Summoning every ounce of strength, I attempted a retaliatory kick, but it sailed harmlessly over his shoulders. In response, he seized my outstretched leg, his grip like a vice, before effortlessly hurling me into the ground.
As I staggered to my feet, adrenaline coursing through my veins, I unleashed my next move with a primal roar. "Surgical Strike!" I shouted, vanishing from his sight and reappearing behind him, daggers poised for the kill. But before my blades could taste his blood, another blow crashed into my stomach, hurling me against the crumbling wall with bone-shattering force.
Trapped against the unforgiving surface, I dodged and weaved, desperation lending speed to my movements. But Declan's relentless assault closed in, each blow a testament to his formidable skill. As I braced for another attack aimed at my vulnerable stomach, his leg swept toward me in a surprising arc, catching me off guard like a sudden gust of wind.
"ACK!" I cried out as pain exploded through my face, my instinctive urge to shield myself thwarted by his unrelenting assault. Summoning every ounce of strength, I lashed out with a lightning-fast jab, momentarily halting his advance. But his grin remained unyielding as he pressed the attack, his movements fluid and precise like a seasoned warrior.
With each clash, the cavern echoed with the sound of our struggle, a symphony of violence amidst the chaos of battle. I hurled one of my daggers toward him, aiming to disrupt his rhythm, but he deflected it effortlessly. Undeterred, I pressed forward, fingertips grazing the Avaloria as I launched myself into a swift kick aimed at his cupped hands.
"Tch!" His exasperated grunt was drowned out by the scuffle, my body skidding across the ground as I evaded his counterstrike. Retrieving my lost dagger, I closed the distance once more, a feigned attack drawing him into my trap. With a swift slice aimed at his exposed heel, I found a momentary reprieve from his relentless assault.
"You getting tired?" He taunted; his voice laced with arrogance. But I refused to relent, my determination unwavering as I launched myself at him with renewed ferocity. With a calculated strike, I aimed for his chin, the impact reverberating through my bones as his defenses wavered.
But before I could capitalize on my advantage, his retaliation was swift and punishing. Caught off guard, I found myself pinned against the wall once more, the taste of blood thick in my mouth as I fought to stay conscious. With each blow, I felt the weight of his power bearing down on me, like an unyielding force of nature.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I launched a desperate uppercut toward his chin, but his iron grip remained unbroken. Instead, he seized the opportunity to trip me off balance, sending us both outside of the cavern.
We spun throughout the air.
"Gravity Surge," he muttered, and suddenly, we were drawn back toward the mountain with bone-jarring force. As we crashed back into the cavern, on a lower level, I rolled to a stop, the world spinning around me as I struggled to regain my bearings. I glanced around us, noticing the battles of other teams happening.
One charged at Declan, saying, "this scrimmage is mine!" But Declan, like a flash of lightning, appeared multiple times over the boy before that very same boy fell. Only a few seconds after hitting the ground, I noticed blood crawling out from his body.
'Just what type of move is that? Or is that even a move? If he's just naturally that fast... then has he been playing with me?'
I came at him like a pile driver. He dodged left, but before he could attack me, I spun and elbowed him in the face, saying, "Razor's Edge."
My speed turned insurmountable, although not even close to when I was an angel, and my feet began to burn up from the speed. Both my daggers met his skin, causing blood to spurt out from him.
"Not bad," he turned to me, "how about we take this outside again?"
I didn't respond, merely charging at him, and just before I tackled him, I saw that he too was smiling.
The sound blew throughout the cave and the two of us began spiraling down the mountain once more. I locked my fingers behind his neck and kneed him as many times as I could before his relentless punches made me stop. Headfirst, I kicked off of him, gathering some space as our bodies began to burn up.
He spun and planted his foot on top of me, but no real impact was made. I twisted his foot and slit his right heel again. "Surgical Strike." I groaned. My eyes felt as if they had been replaced. I saw each vital point of his and subconsciously chose the most efficient route, plunging both my daggers into his right thigh.
I was met by another knee to the face. I spit out blood amidst the air, falling faster than it did. And as I saw the impending ground of Avaloria, I pulled my daggers from out his thigh, and with all my strength, I pushed off him.
My body went flying as I was now a few inches from the mountain. I took my daggers and thrusted them into the cavern wall. It fought my daggers, and my bones began to tremble. As I slowed down, I looked below and saw that Declan had caught on fire.
He impacted on the ground and a cloud of dust filled my vision. By the time I stopped and reached the ground, I ran over to where he fell, but his body was gone.
I surveyed the area for any look of him, but as I looked more into the crater - several miles wide - I saw an odd bunch of dirt that was stacked up. I touched it, 'like a pillow.'
I heard rubble fall, so I turned around, quickly.
"There you are." I spoke.
Declan was smeared in the dirt, still holding that crimson dagger. "You're the one who grabbed onto the mountain."
I ignored his remark, pointing at the dirt pillows, "neat." I acknowledged.
Declan cracked his neck, "the scrimmage is mine. Mine. Your team can't have it. Do you understand?"
I chuckled. "Just fight me already, man."
He moved so swiftly that it felt as though he had teleported, suddenly standing before me. "You'll regret it," he warned, his hand clenched into a fist. Despite seeing the impending blow, I couldn't react in time. Strangely, just before his fist connected with me, I witnessed particles of dirt and rock coalesce around it, as if forming a protective layer.
They clustered around his fist like a makeshift cushion.
Gritting my teeth, I braced for impact as his fist met my body, nearly expelling all the air from my lungs. I felt suspended in the air, buffeted by violent winds, my vision blurred. Collapsing onto the ground, I bit down hard on my tongue in agony, feeling my skin seared and cracked. With a frustrated cry, I pounded my fists against the unforgiving Avaloria.
Running my hands over my scorched skin, I winced as every touch sent electric shocks through my nerves. Despite my efforts to rise, I was struck again, feeling like a sledgehammer pounding against unyielding stone.
Swinging my daggers desperately, I bought myself precious moments to regain my footing. "You're starting to spoil the fun," I taunted, mustering my strength. "Surgical Strike!" I exclaimed, positioning myself directly above him. As I descended, I focused on his shoulders, luring him into a false sense of security. He took a step back, falling into my trap as I drove my dagger into his left foot.
"UGH!" He grunted in pain. Rolling away, I drove the dagger deeper into his foot. With a cry, he attempted to grab me, intent on dislodging the dagger and retaliating.
But things wouldn't go according to his plan.
With my other dagger concealed, I thrust both hands upward, driving the blade towards the sky.
And that's precisely where it struck.
Nothingness.
A sudden, searing pain erupted in my lower abdomen.
He had stabbed me.
As he withdrew the dagger, preparing for another strike, I acted swiftly, kicking him away and wrenching the dagger from his foot.
My frame now appeared as a shadow of its former self, draped in tattered remnants of cloth that fluttered with each labored step. Sweat mingles with blood, tracing a path down my dirt-streaked skin, leaving a trail of grim determination in its wake.
My eyes, once sharp and alert, now betray the weariness that gnaws at my very core. They flicker with a mixture of fear and resolve, reflecting the torment that coursed through my battered form.
With every heartbeat, agony pulsed through my veins like a relentless drumbeat, threatening to drown out the world around me. My muscles scream in protest with each movement, protesting against the relentless onslaught that has brought me to the brink of collapse.
My breathing was heavy, and my body was turning limp. I couldn't hold out much longer, but I had to know just how much longer. I swiped at the air in front of me, my stat screen appearing.
My HP read: [26,657/121,500]
'He hasn't really used many skills. They seem to be related to natural materials. If so, then I'll be sure to use that to my advantage.' I thought, gazing around for something to use.
The clouds of dust had yet to settle. 'Shadows.'
I held my daggers out, pointed at Declan.
There was a silent agreement between the two of us: Let's end this.
We ran at one another. He socked me in the face, so I met him with the same. My ribs felt like they were shattering with each punch. I made sure mine felt the same to his as well.
I grabbed dirt off the ground, in order to experiment, and tossed it at him. But just before reaching him, they stopped, like there was an invisible force.
The two ends of my mouth expanded and curled, "a sub-class," I muttered, amazed, "you're a mage, aren't you?"
I felt the ground shake and tremble. The unsettled dust began to become one singular being behind Declan. They pushed past my body, and it felt like I was getting pricked by a thousand needles.
Then, I saw all of the dust materialized behind him.
A needle.
That's the shape it took.
"Does this answer your question?" He gloated.
"Hey, what's... What's your name again?"
He scoffed. "Declan Roy."
"Well, Declan, if you want to cheat, then I will too."
My shirt, already tattered, officially melted off from my body.
It was hard not to notice, but there was still another cloud of dust up above.
My sigils began to materialize, and as they did, the reality of what I was about to do began settling in.
'If I do this, then the higher ups will know about my sigils. But that's not what matters. What about Lea and the team? Can they win?' I nearly smacked myself in the face, 'of course they can. They will.'
I puffed out a big, deep breath. Declan and I began our chants.
"Avaloria's embrace, a fortress strong..." Declan began.
"A soul is one's calling..." I started.
"With every hurt, I rise, not long..."
"To create is to shackle..." I entered a state of focus, the both of us continuing.
"Like roots that cling, steadfast, true, from pain, resilience blooms..."
"My blood is to be gifted..."
"In soil deep, my spirit lies..."
"An existence flourished, yet unbeknownst..."
"Each wound a stone beneath the skies..."
"While I abstain..." the two of us were reaching the end.
"Yet, unyielding, I stand my ground. For Avaloria's embrace..."
"My soul dawns."
"In strength, I'm bound."
The true power of the sun had turned its judgement to Declan and the righteousness of Avaloria turned to my demise.
The ground cracked beneath us, and the brightness of the sun glowed ever bright.
And as the both of us sent our hands flying forward, everything turned dark.