Kaiden's body ached from every inch of his being, his blood mingling with the dirt of the forest floor. The wiry guard's daggers flashed dangerously close to his skin, the leader's halberd crashing down with unstoppable force. His chest heaved, the adrenaline coursing through him, keeping him alive just a little longer. But he was exhausted.
His focus was slipping, each move slower, less precise. He could barely feel his legs anymore, his balance unsteady. Yet, the fire inside him, the desperate need to end this—to find her—was all that kept him on his feet.
I can't let them win. Not now.
Kaiden's eyes darted between the two guards, his mind running through every possible move. They were too powerful. He wasn't using Flow; he wasn't ready for it. His punches were weak, his kicks slow. But he had something they didn't. He had adaptation. He had instinct.
The Battle Rages On
The wiry man lunged first, his daggers coming for Kaiden's throat. The strike was fast—too fast—but Kaiden, through sheer willpower, sidestepped, letting the blade pass just inches from his neck. He jabbed forward with a quick thrust, landing a punch to the wiry man's ribs. The blow wasn't enough to knock him down, but it staggered him.
Kaiden's breath came ragged as he pressed the advantage. Focus. His fist connected with the wiry guard's jaw, sending him stumbling backward. Kaiden didn't stop. He lunged forward, delivering a spinning kick to the man's midsection, sending him flying into the nearby trees.
But as Kaiden turned to face the leader, his vision swam. The hulking man loomed over him, raising his halberd high. Kaiden barely managed to roll to the side in time. The earth shook as the halberd slammed into the ground where Kaiden had been just moments ago.
"You can't run forever, boy," the leader grunted, his voice low and dangerous.
Kaiden grimaced, pushing himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest. "I'm not running."
The Vanguard's Grip
Kaiden's strategy was clear: keep moving. He had no chance in a head-on confrontation with these two. But he didn't need to fight them the way they expected. He'd learned from the best—Garin's brutal training in the Vanguard's Grip. Kaiden hadn't fully mastered it, but the techniques he'd picked up were just what he needed to turn the tide.
His eyes narrowed as he took a deep breath, his body shaking with exhaustion. I need to end this quickly.
He stepped in toward the leader, feinting a strike to the right before suddenly dropping low. The leader swung his halberd to block, but Kaiden wasn't there. He rolled beneath the weapon's reach and executed Vanguard's Form 1, The Wind's Dance, a quick rising strike to the leader's stomach, knocking the air from his lungs.
The leader grunted, staggering backward. Kaiden didn't give him a moment to recover. He closed in with Vanguard's Form 2, The Silent Surge—a fluid, low kick that swept the leader's legs from under him. The brute fell to the ground with a heavy crash, his halberd falling from his grasp.
Kaiden quickly climbed to his feet, his heart pounding. This is it. I can do this.
The Final Showdown
The wiry guard, now back on his feet, rushed at Kaiden with a vicious snarl. His daggers danced in the air like shadows, sharp and deadly. Kaiden's heart raced, but his focus was absolute. He waited until the guard's blade was a fraction away from his face and then used his own speed to duck, slipping beneath the wiry man's guard.
With a swift punch, Kaiden slammed his fist into the side of the guard's head. The impact echoed through the forest, and the wiry man stumbled back. Kaiden pressed forward, knowing that if he hesitated, the wiry guard would find a way to counter.
Kaiden landed another strike, this time knocking the daggers from the man's hands. The wiry guard fell to one knee, his eyes wild with frustration.
"Tell me where she is," Kaiden demanded, his voice low but filled with authority. "Tell me now, or I'll make you regret it."
The wiry guard sneered, his teeth bared. "You think I'm afraid of you? You don't even have the Flow—what makes you think you'll win?"
Kaiden didn't flinch. "I don't need Flow to finish this." He brought his knee up, slamming it into the guard's face. "Where. Is. Elira?"
The wiry man gasped for breath, his eyes darting between Kaiden and the leader, who was struggling to rise. "Fine," he spat, his voice hoarse. "She's at the mansion. Kasir's keeping her locked in the lower chambers. But you'll never make it there alive."
The Final Decision
Kaiden's fists clenched, rage bubbling up from deep within him. The wiry man had given him what he needed—but Kaiden didn't care about the warning. His mind was already set on one thing: Elira.
He turned away, walking as though he were leaving, as though he were going to let the man live.
But in one fluid motion, Kaiden pivoted, his hand grabbing the wiry guard's neck. With a sickening crack, Kaiden snapped it in one quick motion, the man's body going limp in his grasp.
The guard's body slumped to the ground, lifeless.
The Leader's Last Stand
The sound of footsteps echoed from behind. The leader, despite the pain of his injuries, was still standing. His massive form loomed in the distance, eyes filled with fury. But Kaiden didn't give him the chance to speak.
Kaiden's hand was already on the hilt of his dagger, and with a single motion, he hurled it at the leader. The blade struck with pinpoint accuracy, landing directly in the leader's throat.
The hulking man gasped, his massive form swaying before he crumpled to the ground with a thud.
Kaiden stood over him, panting heavily. The battle was over. The two guards who had once been invincible in his eyes were now nothing more than corpses in the moonlight.
End of Chapter 38
Kaiden had fought tooth and nail, pushing himself beyond the limits he thought possible. In the end, his determination had won the battle—but the war was far from over. Elira was still out there, and Kasir's empire was just beginning to unravel. Kaiden had crossed a line, but he had no intention of stopping now.
To be continued...