Chapter 51: A Knight's Sacrifice
The chamber erupted into chaos the moment Kaelina's blade clashed with Illarion's. Sparks flew as metal met metal, the sharp ring of their strikes reverberating off the chamber walls. Illarion moved with an eerie grace, his strength and precision far exceeding anything Kaelina and Eryndor had anticipated.
Kaelina slashed low, aiming for Illarion's legs, but he leapt over her strike with ease, his counterattack forcing her back. Eryndor charged in from the side, his sword coming down in a brutal arc. Illarion twisted, catching Eryndor's blade with his own, the sheer force of his block sending Eryndor stumbling back.
"Surprised?" Illarion's voice carried an amused edge as he pressed the attack, his strikes coming faster and heavier. "Well, of course, you should be. A power greater than the Marked Ones—this is just the tip of the iceberg of the Honored One's gifts!"
Eryndor snarled, wiping blood from his mouth as he rose, ignoring the pain radiating through his ribs. "You won't win this!"
Illarion smirked, sidestepping Kaelina's lunge and spinning to deliver a crushing kick to her midsection. She gasped as the impact sent her sprawling, her sword clattering to the ground. "Win?" Illarion chuckled. "You're mistaken. This isn't about winning. It's about erasing obstacles."
Kaelina rolled to her feet, gripping her blade tightly. "Then let's see you erase this."
The fight raged on, each moment more desperate than the last. Illarion's speed and strength were monstrous, his attacks calculated to exploit every weakness. Kaelina and Eryndor fought with everything they had, their coordination honed through countless battles. But Illarion was unlike any opponent they'd faced.
Eryndor lunged again, but Illarion caught his blade mid-swing, twisting it out of his grasp before delivering a bone-shattering punch to Eryndor's ribs. He hit the wall with a sickening thud, collapsing to the ground with a groan.
Kaelina darted forward, her blade aiming for Illarion's exposed flank. But he spun, his hand catching her wrist in a vise-like grip. "You'll need more than brute force to defeat me," he hissed, slamming her into the ground.
Struggling to her feet, Kaelina's mind raced. Their usual tactics weren't working. Illarion wasn't just stronger—he was smarter, predicting their moves with unnerving accuracy. They needed a new strategy.
"Eryndor," she called, her voice strained but resolute. "We can't overpower him. We need to outthink him."
Eryndor coughed, blood staining his lips, but he nodded, his gaze steely.
They pressed on, attempting to coordinate their attacks, but every attempt to corner Illarion ended in failure. His movements were too fluid, his counters too devastating.
Kaelina felt a searing pain as Illarion's blade grazed her face, her vision blurring as blood poured from her left eye. She screamed in agony, stumbling back, but she didn't fall. She couldn't afford to.
"Kealina!" Eryndor shouted, his voice filled with panic.
She steadied herself, her good eye locking onto Illarion. "Focus, Eryndor! This isn't over!"
With gritted teeth, she made a choice. Raising her blade, she charged, feigning a reckless attack. Illarion smirked, ready to strike her down.
As Kaelina anticipated, he left himself open, and Eryndor, battered and broken, seized the opportunity. While Illarion focused on Kaelina, Eryndor moved, dragging his body across the floor until he was behind him.
Illarion raised his blade for the finishing blow against Kaelina. "I'm sorry it has to end this way. Good fight, though."
Before he could bring his blade down, a sharp, wet gasp escaped his lips. He looked down to see Eryndor's sword protruding from his chest. The realization dawned too late.
Illarion's gaze shifted to where Eryndor had been lying moments before. The spot was empty. "Impressive," he whispered, blood trickling from his mouth. "You… know…"
Eryndor twisted the blade, the sickening sound of tearing flesh echoing in the chamber. "That's enough talking," he growled.
Illarion's knees buckled, his strength leaving him. His body slumped to the ground, kneeling as though in prayer, his head bowing forward as if succumbing to sleep.
Kaelina collapsed to her knees, her bloodied hands clutching her face. Eryndor, broken and battered, fell beside her, his breath ragged but triumphant.For the first time in what felt like eternity, the chamber fell silent .