Aurelius reappeared on the rooftop of a nearby building, barely managing to stay on his feet. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his entire body throbbed with pain. The last exchange had been brutal, and he knew he couldn't take many more hits like that.
The Orc had used some skills of his that cast an explosion of force outwards from him. Aurelius had been too close to the force and could not react quickly enough. The shockwave had knocked Aurelius into the air and off his feet, catapulting him into several nearby buildings. Recognizing his slightly unfortunate state, Aurelius realized that he needed a new strategy, one that didn't rely solely on his physical prowess.
The Orc Chosen turned his gaze towards him, a predatory grin spreading across his face. He started to move toward Aurelius again, his great axe ready for another devastating strike. Aurelius wiped the blood from his mouth, his mind racing. He couldn’t afford to keep teleporting blindly; each jump drained his mana reserves further, and he needed to conserve what little he had left. Even more so now that Aurelius realized that his mana-imbued strikes were the only thing that could really hurt the beast.
Aurelius opened his storage space, pulling out another sword. Aurelius cursed himself, this was the fourth sword he had used in the battle. His first the Orc Chosen had been tossed away somewhere after dislodging it from his body. The second Aurelius had to discard following a series of exchanges with the great axe that nearly broke Aurelius’ weapon. And the third, well, he had just lost that one somewhere in the 5 buildings he had just crashed through.
Luckily, Aurelius had the forethought to store 2 dozen such blades in his spatial storage following his trip to the capital’s armory, preparing himself for situations such as this. He knew, however, that he needed to use these swords as a final trump card to potentially win the fight. If he could overload the mana in the weapon, causing it to explode from the power held within, he might be able to dish out some serious damage. That, combined with his temporal surge skill, might just be enough to turn this fight around. It was risky, yes, and definitely very expensive in terms of mana, which is why Aurelius knew he had to use the combo in a crucial moment — a moment in which he knew he could succeed.
In the meantime, Aurelius tried to build up his mana pool by using his teleportation ability sparingly. It took a couple of minutes, but Aurelius finally felt confident that he had gathered enough mana to execute his plan. Aurelius’ stalling had the added benefit of continually enraging the Orc general.
Aurelius gripped his newly summoned sword tightly, feeling the familiar weight in his hand. This time, he had to make it count. The Orc Chosen closed in, his massive form casting a shadow over Aurelius as he raised his axe for the final blow. Aurelius waited until the last possible moment, then he sprang into action.
With a burst of speed fueled by his desperation and determination, Aurelius dodged the Orc's swing and closed the distance between them. In one swift motion, he unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one infused with his gathered mana.
The Orc Chosen wasn’t to be outdone and quickly used his massive speed and strength to match Aurelius blow for blow, and then some. The tidal wave of swings, which should not have been so rapid given the weight and size of the axe, slowly forced Aurelius back.
However, Aurelius had been both hoping and expecting for this outcome. Aurelius had been waiting for this precise moment. As he retreated under the relentless assault of the furious Orc Chosen, he maneuvered himself strategically, leading the creature toward a specific spot on the rooftop. His heart pounded with anticipation as he lured the Orc closer and closer, his movements calculated and precise.
Finally, as they reached the edge of the rooftop, Aurelius saw his opening. With a sudden burst of energy, he feinted a retreat, drawing the Orc Chosen forward just a fraction too far. In that split second, Aurelius unleashed his final gambit.
Aurelius quickly outstretched his left hand and cast a temporal surge for the first time in the battle. Given their proximity, the cast was a point-blank shot directly into the face of the Orc Chosen. The Orc Chosen gave a strangled cry of surprise that quickly turned into a grunt of pain as the green light enveloped his entire body, leaving slicing cuts in the Orc Chosen. Aurelius knew he only had a few seconds, and he needed to make the most of it. He needed to kill the Orc Chosen.
Aurelius teleported behind the Orc Chosen immediately bringing his sword in a downward cutting arc that aimed to cut deep into the Orc Chosen’s shoulder. Now, throughout the battle, Aurelius had realized that the Orc Chosen had an uncanny ability to detect Aurelius’ attacks as if he had his own blade dancer senses. Normally, Aurelius’ teleportation wouldn’t have worked and the Orc would have predicted the move. However, with the combination of his disorientation, the slowing effect from Aurelius’ temporal surge, and the tight proximity of the rooftop, the Orc Chosen wasn’t able to shift his sword around fast enough to block Aurelius’ downward strike.
Aurelius watched in satisfaction as his imbued sword cut a foot or so deep into the axe-wielding right shoulder of the Orc Chosen. Thinking quickly, Aurelius overloaded his sword with mana, causing it to explode while it was still lodged into the shoulder of the Orc Chosen
The Orc Chosen let out a bellow of pure pain and rage as the explosion ripped through his flesh and bone, sending chunks of his shoulder and arm flying in all directions. The force of the blast knocked both Aurelius and the Orc Chosen off their feet, sending them tumbling across the rooftop. Aurelius gritted his teeth against the pain shooting through his body as he rolled to a stop, his ears ringing from the explosion.
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Aurelius got back up quickly, knowing he had to press his advantage. However, the temporal surge now wearing off, the Orc was already standing, looking at Aurelius with a burning red hate. Aurelius watched in horror as the Orc picked up the axe with his remaining left hand and he also watched as the Orc Chosen’s right attempted to stitch itself back together.
Aurelius knew he had to finish this battle before the Orc Chosen could regenerate. And with that, he withdrew another sword from his spatial storage and charged the Orc Chosen once again. As Aurelius closed the distance between them, the Orc Chosen let out a guttural growl, swinging his axe with all the strength he could muster with his left arm.
Aurelius, however, could immediately notice the difference. Whether it was due to the blood loss or due to the fact that the axe was now in his non-dominant hand, Aurelius was able to somewhat easily sidestep the attack.
With the Orc Chosen’s left arm and axe overextended, Aurelius quickly pressed his attack, casting Temporal Surge once more and slowing down the movement of the Orc again. With another massive momentum-filled swing, Aurelius’ imbued sword was imbedded into the Orc — this time into his left shoulder. Repeating the process, Aurelius overloaded his sword with mana once again, triggering another explosive release of energy. The force of the explosion ripped through the Orc Chosen's already weakened form, tearing apart his left shoulder and arm.
After Aurelius disarmed the Orc Chosen, literally having remove both his arms, Aurelius watched as the Orc Chosen fell to his knees, an expression of shock on his face.
Aurelius stood over his fallen foe, breathing heavily as he watched the smoke and dust settle around them. The battle was finally over, but Aurelius knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down just yet.
As Aurelius approached cautiously, he could see the Orc Chosen struggling, his breathing labored and his movements sluggish. Aurelius spared no mercy for the Orc Chosen.
Taking out another sword from his spatial storage, Aurelius plunged it into the chest and through the heart of the Orc Chosen. As Aurelius watched the infernal heat die from the Orc Chosen’s eyes, and his body slumped to the ground, he felt a mix of relief and weariness wash over him. The adrenaline that had fueled him throughout the battle began to ebb away, leaving behind a profound sense of exhaustion.
However, Aurelius wasn’t done. He wasn’t going to take any chances. Looking at the Orc Chosen’s slumped-over body, an expression of surprise and rage forever frozen on the Orc’s face, Aurelius knew what he had to do. He stabbed his sword through the Orc Chosen's open mouth, piercing the roof of his mouth and penetrating the brain of the Orc Chosen. Aurelius then began to infuse his weapon with mana, once again overloading the amount of mana the sword could hold.
Then, Aurelius watched dispassionately as the weapon exploded while it was still lodged in the Orc Chosen’s brain. Pieces of the Orc Chosen's skull and brain matter were scattered in all directions, ensuring there was no chance of regeneration. Blood splattered across the rooftop, mixing with the charred remains of the Orc Chosen’s armor and the fragmented pieces of his skull. Aurelius felt the hot droplets hit his face and arms, but he barely flinched, his eyes locked on the carnage before him. The Orc's headless body twitched grotesquely, spasming as the last vestiges of life drained away. The ground around them was littered with chunks of flesh and bone, the air thick with the stench of burnt meat and blood.
The rooftop itself was a battlefield of destruction. The tiles were cracked and shattered, some still smoking from the violent explosions. Debris was scattered everywhere, creating a jagged landscape of ruin. Blood pooled in the cracks and crevices, seeping into the building below. The remnants of the Orc Chosen's limbs lay strewn about, his once-mighty form reduced to a mutilated heap.
Aurelius staggered slightly, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest after the brutal fight. He could feel the bruises forming under his skin, and the cuts and abrasions on his arms and legs stung with the mingling of sweat and blood. He wiped his brow with a trembling hand, smearing more blood across his face.
The adrenaline that had kept him moving, kept him fighting, was now dissipating, leaving behind heavy fatigue. He could feel the weight of the battle settling into his bones, the exhaustion threatening to pull him under. But he couldn't rest yet. Not here, not now.
Aurelius then looked around at the larger battlefield, knowing his work was not finished. The High Elves were still desperately outnumbered by the possessed army and Aurelius knew that they would need every able-bodied soldier fighting if they wanted to win this battle.
At the same time, however, Aurelius could hear some of the cheers of the High Elven warriors as they witnessed the downfall of the Orc Chosen. Their morale lifted at the sight of Aurelius’ victory, and the news spread like wildfire through their ranks.
Aurelius quickly teleported down from the rooftop, appearing back behind the front line of High Elven soldiers. He made his way to where he saw Valen and Lord Gavrel standing.
As Aurelius approached Valen and Lord Gavrel, he could see the relief and gratitude in their eyes. They had witnessed his epic duel with the Orc Chosen from afar, and now, seeing him alive and victorious, they greeted him with a mixture of awe and reverence.
"By Augustus, Aurelius, that was incredible!" Valen exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration. "I've never seen anything like it."
Lord Gavrel nodded in agreement, his usually stoic expression softened by a hint of amazement. "You have proven yourself a true hero today, Aurelius. Your bravery and skill have saved us all."
Aurelius smiled wearily, acknowledging their praise. "I simply did my part,” he said humbly.
“Yes, you indeed did,” Lord Gavrel nodded. “Now, it’s time for us to do ours. It’s time to reclaim the city of Alerial,” Lord Gavrel said, pointedly looking at Aurelius. “You, Aurelius, look beat to hell, however. You’ve done your part, head to the healer's tent and get some rest while we try to beat back this army.”
“No,” Aurelius said, the aggressiveness in his voice surprising even him. “It’s time for me to receive my reward. It’s time for me to get some free experience.”
With that, Aurelius turned back around to the front lines, another imbued sword already in his hand.