'Magic?' "Is that magic?"
"No, that is entirely different from magic" Lucas said to Artur who did not realize that he had spoken out loud.
A circle of blue light with complex patterns and engravings on it appeared on the ground and out of it came four trails of water, all directed at Duncan. Victor was the only person who could see the light and those trails as they were just all the possible openings that Duncan had and would allow Victor to successfully land a hit.
'I will just neutralize the flames with water and cut him down. That said, it's not going to be easy. Just like he said, this person is clearly stronger than any other rune-user I've fought before'
Victor chose the path to take from the trails and the next moment he was behind Duncan. Duncan's axe dropped from his hand as Victor's sword hit him and flames burst out of his chest.
'What's with this old man, he's much faster than before' Duncan thought.
Victor gave him no time to think or recover at all.
"Loxley water technique: Seventh form: Blade of the naiad"
The circle appeared again and water rose from the conjoining above him to form a trident. He thrust the sword at Duncan who placed his hands across his chest to block. When the trident hit Duncan was thrown back and crashed into a wall.
'This man, I'm really going to kill him'
Duncan took a deep inhale and with his exhale he sat lames from his lips at Victor. Victor was quick to react and took a leap out of its way. More flames followed but Victor dodged them all and even blocked when they went toward any of his men or family. The soldiers and intruders backed away as the fight got more intense.
Duncan picked up his axe and swung it at Victor. It hit, at least that was what he thought happened but it was just Victor's technique again.
"Loxley wind technique: Sixth form, Spirit's fire dance"
It was like Duncan cut through wind and that was when he realized that it was an after image. Victor was already behind him with a readied sword strike.
"Loxley water technique: Fourth form, Water claw"
Three water slashes went through Duncan's back and he was about to fall when he forcefully stopped himself by stomping really hard on the ground, planting his foot as support. With the help of his axe still in the ground, he pushed himself back against Victor and they both headed for the wall. The baron used Duncan's shoulder as a mid air support to spin around Duncan and pushed him into the wall instead.
'This guy...'As Duncan hit the wall he made sure that he got a hold on Victor's left hand, burning it without any hesitation. Victor screamed and used the butt of his sword to hit Duncan in the face so he could free himself.
He clenched his teeth and cradled his hand as he made some distance between them. Duncan spared no time in attacking. He ran to Victor and kicked him in the side, sending him across to his knights. Duncan jumped high into the air and came down at Victor with a powerful stomp. Dust rose into the air and he could not see but he could tell that the attack did not land.
Victor was already behind him with another attack.
"Hey, I thought you were a knight. Knights don't fight this way" Duncan said.
"Loxley water technique: Tenth form, Water dragon's howl"
Water shot out of the tip of Victor's blade and hit Duncan's left chest, passing through it. The tiny string of water showed its power when it collided with one of the houses behind Duncan and brought the whole thing down.
Artur was elated. Given that it passed through Duncan's left chest his heart would have fallen victim to the attack and unless he had something that could instantly fix it, he was a goner. Duncan coughed blood and his eyes lost life. Slowly, the bright glow from the flames on his body darkened and he fell to the ground. He was dead.
Victor turned to the attackers and pointed his sword at them.
"Unless there is someone who can use any magic, technique or runes among you, you're all just worthless scraps. I may be injured but I can still take you all on myself. Release my wife and daughter right now"
Artur could not help but smile and fall back in relief. His father had just saved them after all. Victor slowly approached Vivian and Lily and when he got to them he took off their blindfolds and hugged them. Slicing the ropes off their bodies he helped them get up and took them back to his knights.
"Mom, Lily"
"Artur"
Victor wanted to go to Lucas but he felt a sharp pain from something large tearing its way into his back. He spun on his feet to react but as soon as he turned Duncan's fist went through his heart.
"You old fart. Who declared that the fight was over?" Duncan said.
The whole family was dumbstruck and nobody could even move. Artur, seeing Duncan's hand going through his father's chest was speechless then suddenly he was consumed in rage. Ignoring the pain in his body, he charged at Duncan with his sword, shouting as he went. Duncan saw him coming and kicked him in the gut.
He retracted his leg, allowing Artur to land again before delivering another kick to his face that sent him flying.
"Artur!"
Duncan forced his hand deeper in and Victor grimaced "Shouldn't you be more worried about yourself?" he said.
"You've lost, so your family is mine now"
"You bastard"
"Call me whatever you like"
"I'm sure it went through your heart"
"Well, you see, the thing is...my heart is on the right side. You managed to graze it but I was able to close that injury on time" Duncan explained.
"Heuk!"
"You should know, as someone who has killed many Rune-users, when a rune is activated killing the user won't stop the rune from functioning. That was just me directing all the power to my heart"
"But you are a flame user, how can you even attempt to use your ability on your heart?"
Duncan giggled "You really are clueless to the end old man"
Vivian and Lily were behind, witnessing the horror unfold before their eyes and Vivian who was bursting with emotion charged at Duncan with a dagger that she took from Lucas' holster. He tried to stop her but was too late as she had already struck Duncan with the dagger but he did not flinch. No, the dagger was not able to penetrate his skin.
There was a rock-like substance on his body blocking the dagger.
"You are in my way old lady" Duncan said and his other fist went through Vivian's torso "I have no use for old hags"
"Vivian!"
"Mom!"
"My Rune allows me to give my body the properties of a volcano. With precise control of energy and weaving the correct patterns of heat I can even create fire. All I did was freeze some magma around my heart"
"Why are you doing this?" Victor asked through gritted teeth.
"There's not much I can tell you old man, except that we were paid to do this. I'm just doing my worth of the money"
"So you are mercenaries"
"Not exactly, but I've been ordered to kill your entire family although I'm thinking of keeping your daughter since she is kind of cute"
"You bas-kaaah!"
Duncan unplugged his hand from the couple and let them both fall. By then, Vivian was already dead. He smiled at Lily and walked to her and the knights. She was not afraid but furious and she suddenly got up and charged at him.
"What are you hoping to achieve, just stand down and I will not kill you. I don't plan to" Lily jumped at him and he caught her rather than dodging. "Stop it" He said and the heat from his body started burning her. She screamed.
He felt her hand on his stomach and when he looked down there was a paper plastered to his body. It had some engravings on it similar to Victor's circles.
"Bitch!"
She separated herself from him while he was distracted and made some distance before the paper exploded. Duncan walked out of the smoke and without any hesitation he fired a huge string of flames at her. As the maiden that she was, she was unable to dodge and the flames tore through the left side of her torso.
"I said, stand down"
Artur was finally able to get up but when he turned around and faced Duncan he was met with the most gruesome scene in his life. His whole family, they were finished.
***
"Then what if someone were to take them away from you forever, what would you do?"
"Forever?"
"Yes, forever"
"If that were to happen, …"
***
Everybody present felt the wave move through them. Even Duncan and he had to look Artur's way. The bloodlust that Artur was emanating was extreme, god-tier bloodlust.
'What's with this kid, giving off such bloodlust at such a young age?' Duncan wondered.
The next words that came out of Artur's mouth came from so deep within his guts.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU"