Zarek unsheathed his sword from his back, its metallic ring echoing through the air like a challenge. The thin finish gleamed, showcasing the sword's razor-sharp edge, as the reflection off its surface seemed to dance with anticipation.
Cain's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. "So, you've decided."
The fierce look in Zarek's eyes heightened Cain's anticipation. "I'll hit you with everything I've got, and I'll make you add me to your party."
Cain chuckled, his voice low and husky. "Bring it on, kid."
Zarek burst forward, knees coiled like a spring, unleashing a lightning-fast dash. The air whistled past his ears, his sword arm cocked and ready. His jump brought him to Cain's level, their faces aligned, as he swung his sword at Cain's face.
However, Cain dodged effortlessly, his body weaving around the blade with fluid precision. "I've matched your speed, kid. That's the least I can do."
Zarek's battle cry tore through the air, his sword slicing through the dust motes dancing in the fading light. His eyes blazed with determination.
Cain sidestepped and evaded each strike, his movements almost ethereal. Zarek's sword clashed with nothing but air, the whirring sounds echoing through the space.
"I don't need your pity," Zarek snarled, his breathing intensifying.
The flurry of strikes continued, Zarek's sword flashing in the dim light. Cain evaded each blow with ease, his expression unwavering.
Zarek regained his stance, his chest heaving with exertion.
"Give up, kid," Cain said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "You can't strike a blow at me. This isn't even a real fight; what we're really doing here is just wasting each other's time. Face it, kid – this is the harsh reality."
Zarek's face contorted in a fierce snarl. With a battle cry, he burst forward, sword flashing in the dim light. Cain's expression remained unruffled, but his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
He swiftly dealt a precise punch to Zarek's gut, exploiting the opening. The air exploded from Zarek's lungs, leaving him gasping. His vision blurred as he crumpled to the ground, knees striking the stone floor with a jarring impact.
His sword flew from his grasp, stabbing into the ground with a faint tremor. The hilt quivered, a testament to Zarek's failed assault.
Zarek struggled to catch his breath, his diaphragm spasming from the blow. Despite his agony, a manic laughter escaped his lips, sending chills through the air.
"Give up..." Zarek broke his silence, his voice barely above a whisper, but loud enough to catch Cain's attention.
Cain intrigued.
"Yeah, right," Zarek continued, his voice growing stronger. "Do you think I came this far just to give up? Well, that ain't happening. I have a goal, and I'm gonna see it through till the end, even if it breaks me."
Zarek's words turned into a defiant scream, his eyes blazing with determination. "Do you hear me?!"
As the last words left his lips, Zarek's body succumbed to exhaustion, and he fell unconscious to the ground, his chest heaving with shallow breaths.
"Goal, huh?" Cain's eyes quickly widened as he turned back and swiftly caught the flying sword with his fingers . A tiny droplet of blood came from his finger, scraped from the sword, recognizing that it was Zarek's another blade.
Cain grinned as he realized the situation. "So all this was for this moment. So you knew you can't beat me head-on, so you were trying to catch me by the element of surprise, fighting with a single sword by concealing the identity of another one. During when he tried to strike me, he threw his sword from my blind spot, as it will spin and reach me in quite a time interval, leading me a blow. It would've maybe worked for a regular hunter,but I'm not regular.
Cain gazed at the unconscious Zarek, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Congratulations, kid. You managed to scrape me a little bit." He chuckled, inspecting the minor cut on his finger.
"Looks like I need to keep the end of my bargain," Cain said to himself, a sly smile spreading across his face.
With effortless strength, Cain scooped up Zarek's limp body, slinging him over his shoulder like a duffel bag. Zarek's arms dangled, his head bobbing with each step.
"Time to head to Yuki Mountain," Cain declared, his voice low and even.