"YOU ARE DEAD!!" the priest roared, his monstrous form lunging toward me with claws extended. His grotesque face twisted with fury, veins pulsing with the red aura.
I side-stepped just in time, his claws slicing through the air where I had stood moments ago. A low whistle escaped my lips. "Woahhh." I taunted, turning to face him again.
His movements were unnaturally fast as he spun back and charged again, swiping his claws toward my chest.
*CLANG*
I raised my dagger, blocking the strike with a metallic clang that echoed in the eerie red-lit room. Sparks flew from the clash, and I couldn't help but smirk.
"Hmm...so this is the power he gave you." I said, my tone almost bored as I slid backward, avoiding a follow-up slash.
"How are you keeping up with something like him?!" Hina's muttered from behind me, her tone laced with both shock and admiration.
The priest growled, his frustration building up with every failed attempt to land a hit. His attacks grew more animal like, more desperate, but I continued dodging and parrying with ease, my dagger moving like an extension of my arm.
*Clang* *Clang* *Clang* *Clang* *Clang* *Clang*
"You are TOYING with me!" he spat, his voice distorted and guttural.
"Maybe," I replied. "Or maybe you're just too slow that it isn't even taking me much to counter your attacks."
In one swift motion, I leaped backward, flipping out of the room and into the main chamber where the towering statue of Malokos loomed over us. I landed gracefully, my dagger still in hand, the black blade glinting ominously in the red light.
"Stop running and fight, coward! HAHAHA!" the priest followed, charging after me with recklessness.
I stood calmly in the center of the room, spinning the dagger in my hand like it was a mere toy. "Oh, I wasn't running," I said, "I just wanted to come before I destroy you. I don't want the kids to get hurt."
"And yes..." I grin slightly as I said, "Testing you.."
"TESTING ME?!" he roared, his claws slamming into the floor as he leaped toward me.
I bent backward, effortlessly dodging his attack, and spun gracefully to the side. "Yes," I said, my voice dripping with mockery. "And sighh* I must say, I'm disappointed."
Before he could respond, I struck. My movements were quick, deliberate—a flash of black slicing across his side. A thin line of blood appeared on his torso, followed by a hiss of pain as he stumbled back.
"You little—" he snarled, clutching his side.
"Ouch," I said with mock innocence. "Did that hurt?"
Meanwhile, back in the room, Hina was busy freeing the children. Her shining white sword glimmered in the dim light as she used it to cut through the ropes binding their wrists.
"Don't worry," she whispered to the frightened children, her voice soft and reassuring. "You're safe now. I promise."
The children's eyes were wide with fear, but Hina smiled at them, her warm demeanor slowly breaking through their terror. "Come on, we need to get you out of here."
One by one, she helped them to their feet, steadying them as they stumbled. Some of them were too weak to stand on their own, but Hina's determination didn't waver.
Some didn't have eyes so she asked other child to hold on to him and one kid didn't have so she picked her on her back.
Back in the main chamber, the fight was heating up. The priest's attacks grew more erratic, his breathing labored as I continued to evade him with ease.
"Getting tired?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I ducked under another wild swing.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" he roared, but his voice was losing its conviction.
I smirked, stepping forward and delivering a powerful kick to his chest. The impact sent him flying backward, his massive body crashing into the statue of Malokos with a thunderous boom. *BOOOM*
The statue cracked under the force, chunks of stone falling to the ground.
The priest groaned, slumped against the shattered remains of the statue.
"Oops," I said, tilting my head as I approached him. "Looks like your deity couldn't save you."
"You... you dare insult Malokos?!" he spat, his voice trembling with disbelief. "He is my savior! He gave me strength! I cannot lose to someone like YOU!"
"Then why are you on the ground?" I asked, and the silence fell in the room. My eyes stared at him into his soul that said "What did you even got by committing such horrendous crimes?"
With a guttural scream, the priest forced himself to his feet. His aura flared brighter than before, the red light casting ominous shadows across the chamber. "I'll show you... I'LL SHOW YOU THE POWER OF MALOKOS!"
I watched as his body twisted and contorted, his claws growing longer, his muscles bulging grotesquely. He looked less human with every passing second.
"Impressive," I said, shrugging. "But it won't help you."
He charged at me with renewed ferocity, his claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. But before he could reach me, I vanished.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" he bellowed, his blood-red eyes darting around the chamber.
I was perched on the ceiling, knees bent, my dagger resting casually in my hand.
"Where are you looking?" I asked, my voice calm and taunting.
His head snapped upward, his glowing red eyes locking onto mine.
Before he could react, I dropped down like a shadow, my dagger slicing cleanly through him as I descended.
The priest's body froze, his eyes wide with shock as a dark line appeared down the center of his torso.
I landed gracefully behind him, my back to him as I flicked the blood off my dagger.
For a moment, the room was silent. Then, with a sickening crack, the priest's body split in two, collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap.
The red aura surrounding him flickered and died, plunging the chamber into an eerie stillness.
From the doorway, Hina appeared, the children huddled behind her. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene, her gaze shifting from the shattered statue to the priest's lifeless body.
"It's over," I said, turning to face her.
Hina nodded, her grip on her sword relaxing. "Gulps* Yeah...I guess..."