In the split second before her blade connected, I summoned every ounce of my aura, channeling it into the Blade of the Fallen King. The sword flared with a brilliant blue light, and with a shout, I brought it down in a sweeping arc that deflected her strike and sent her reeling backward.
The New Moon warrior stumbled but quickly regained her footing, her eyes narrowing in shock. She wasn't expecting this—wasn't expecting me to block her attack, let alone force her back. Her gaze flicked to the glowing blade in my hand, taking in the power radiating from it, and I could see the calculations in her eyes.
"Impossible," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the din of battle. "You're no more than a two-star warrior. How can you…?"
I didn't answer, keeping my stance firm, sword raised. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to breathe steadily, calming my mind. She was right—I was only at the two-star level, nowhere near the power of a New Moon warrior. But I had something she didn't expect: experience. Not just in this world, but from my past life, and the game mechanics that had somehow bled into reality.
I had fought stronger enemies before, and while this world was no game, the principles were the same. Observation. Strategy. Timing. Every movement mattered, every slight shift in her stance could tell me what was coming next.
The warrior's face twisted into a grimace of frustration. "I don't know what trickery you're using, princeling, but it won't save you." She straightened her posture, her twin curved swords twirling in her hands like extensions of her limbs. Her aura flared, the dark energy swirling around her in a wild dance.
I braced myself as she launched forward, her speed nearly blinding. Her swords blurred as they came at me from multiple angles, each strike faster and more precise than the last. It was all I could do to keep up, deflecting and parrying with the Blade of the Fallen King, feeling the impact of every blow resonate through my arms. She wasn't just fast—she was skilled. Each strike had purpose, designed to test my defenses, to find a weak point. And I could feel her growing more aggressive with each clash of steel.
But I had fought like this before, against foes who relied on speed and ferocity. I knew the patterns, the rhythm of her attacks. With each strike, I was learning—deciphering her movements, predicting her next attack.
She darted to the side, aiming a slash at my neck, but I twisted away, bringing my sword up just in time to block her blade. The impact jarred my bones, but I held firm, forcing her back again.
Her lips curled into a snarl. "You're delaying the inevitable, boy."
I didn't respond, my focus entirely on her. She was trying to unnerve me, but I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. Instead, I tapped into the Path of Heroes, pulling up the skills I had honed within that strange intersection of reality and the game. Berserker Rage was out of the question right now; I couldn't afford to lose defense, not when she was attacking with this much precision. But there was something else I could use.
Her eyes narrowed as she saw me shift my stance, and for a moment, I could see her hesitate. "What are you—"
I didn't give her time to finish. Drawing on the energy of the Flame Shield, I activated the skill with a sharp breath, feeling the heat flare around me. The moment the fiery barrier ignited, her expression changed—surprise, and then rage. The flames danced around my body, absorbing the impact of her next strike, sending sparks and embers flying as her blade bounced off the shield.
"Magic?" she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "Is that all you have?"
I grinned, though the exertion was starting to wear on me. "No. I have more."
With a flick of my wrist, I drove my blade forward, the flames trailing behind it like a comet. She barely managed to dodge, her swords crossing in front of her to block the strike, but the impact still sent her stumbling. The flames from the shield licked at her armor, singeing the edges of her tunic.
She hissed in frustration, her aura flaring even brighter. I could tell she was done playing. Her next attack came with the full force of her New Moon power, and this time, I wasn't fast enough to block it entirely. Her blade caught the side of my armor, cutting through the metal with ease. Pain shot through my side, but I gritted my teeth and stayed on my feet, refusing to let the injury slow me down.
"You're bleeding, princeling," she taunted, her voice cold. "How long can you last?"
"Long enough," I growled, stepping back to reassess.
But before I could make my next move, she unleashed something I hadn't expected—an actual skill. Her aura gathered around her swords, and she moved in a blur, faster than before. Her blades glowed with a dark energy as she activated a technique that sent waves of energy cutting through the air, forcing me to dodge or deflect with all my might. One of the waves caught me in the leg, knocking me off balance, and I barely managed to stay on my feet.
"What the—"
She smirked, seeing the confusion in my eyes. "You're not the only one with tricks, boy. Did you think only you had special skills?"
I cursed under my breath. I should've expected it. New Moon warriors had their own techniques—powerful, lethal moves that could turn the tide of battle in an instant. I hadn't been prepared for this, but I wasn't out of options yet.
"Aldric! Emory!" I shouted, hoping they were close enough to hear.
I didn't have to wait long. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aldric's massive form barreling toward us, his warhammer raised high. Emory darted in from the other side, his twin daggers gleaming in the low light. They'd managed to regroup and were now heading straight for the New Moon warrior.
She saw them coming and snarled, spinning to meet their attack. Her blades clashed with Aldric's hammer, the sheer force of the impact sending a shockwave through the air. But Aldric held firm, his strength matching hers as they pushed against each other, neither willing to back down.
Emory darted in, quick and lethal as always, aiming for her unguarded side. She twisted at the last moment, her blade deflecting his strike, but the distraction gave Aldric the opening he needed. With a roar, he swung his hammer in a wide arc, catching her off balance and sending her stumbling back.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Aldric grunted, his voice laced with satisfaction.
The New Moon warrior's face twisted in fury, but before she could recover, I was on her. I surged forward, the Blade of the Fallen King cutting through the air in a powerful overhead strike. She raised her swords to block, but I could feel the strength of my aura pushing through, forcing her to her knees.
"You're finished," I said, my voice low and steady.
For a moment, I thought she might surrender. Her eyes flickered with something—fear, maybe. But then she let out a wild, guttural scream, her aura flaring to its peak as she launched herself at me with everything she had.
The clash was brutal. Her strikes came with a desperation I hadn't seen before, and it took every ounce of focus and strength to keep up. But the fight had taken its toll on her, and I could see her movements becoming more erratic, more reckless.
Finally, with one last surge of strength, I deflected her strike and drove the Blade of the Fallen King through her chest. Her eyes widened in shock, her lips parting in a silent gasp, and then she collapsed, her body falling limp at my feet.
I stood over her, panting, my chest heaving with exertion. The flames of the Flame Shield flickered and died, the last of the heat dissipating into the cool night air. The New Moon warrior was dead.
Aldric and Emory came to my side, both of them breathing heavily but alive.
"You did it, Your Highness," Emory said, wiping the sweat from his brow.
I nodded, though my body was screaming in protest. "Thanks for the assist. I wouldn't have managed without you."
Aldric grunted, his warhammer resting on his shoulder. "We're not out of this yet."
I followed his gaze to where Rodrick was still locked in combat with the other New Moon warrior. The ground around them was torn and scorched from the intensity of their battle, but Rodrick was holding his own. Barely.
And beyond that, I could see the barbarians still marching toward us, their numbers seemingly endless.
I took a deep breath, gathering the last reserves of my strength. "We need to help Rodrick. Then we deal with the rest of them."