Chapter 10

The Ship

The storm raged on, the ship tossing wildly in the turbulent sea. Lightning crackled above, illuminating the clash of steel between Vance Malcolm and the Shadow Knight. Their swords struck with deafening force, sparks flying with each collision.

Vance, a man driven by rage, swung his broadsword in a savage arc. The Shadow Knight met him blow for blow, his movements precise and relentless. They circled each other, slipping and sliding on the rain-slick deck, their eyes locked in a deadly dance.

With a sudden surge of power, the Shadow Knight brought his blade down with all his might. Vance’s sword cracked under the pressure, splintering in half. He staggered back, staring at the jagged remains in his hand.

But Vance was no fool. He saw his opening and took it. With a quick feint, he spun on his heel and sprinted across the deck, disappearing into the chaos of the storm.

The Shadow Knight wasted no time. He chased after him, weaving between shattered barrels, loose ropes, and debris strewn across the ship. Lightning lit the scene in flashes, and the sound of their boots pounding on the wood was nearly drowned out by the storm's fury.

Vance darted around a corner, his heavy breathing blending with the howl of the wind. He reached a darkened alcove and crouched low, gripping a loose length of chain he had picked up along the way. He waited, listening for the Shadow Knight’s approach.

The Knight appeared, his silhouette framed by a crack of lightning. Vance struck with vicious precision, swinging the chain like a whip. It wrapped around the Shadow Knight's sword, yanking it from his grasp and sending it clattering to the deck. Before the Knight could react, Vance lunged forward, driving his shoulder into the Knight’s chest.

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The impact sent both men sprawling, but Vance recovered first. He roared with triumph, grabbing the Shadow Knight’s sword and smashing it against the ship’s railing. The blade shattered into jagged shards, leaving both warriors unarmed.

What followed was raw, unrestrained violence.

Vance swung a brutal punch, catching the Shadow Knight across the jaw. The Knight retaliated with a swift knee to Vance’s ribs, the crack audible even over the storm. They exchanged blows with savage intensity, their bodies already bruised and bleeding from the ferocity of their fight.

The ship groaned beneath them, its timbers creaking as the waves pounded against it. The tilt of the deck sent them sliding, but neither man let up. Vance grabbed the Shadow Knight by the collar and drove him into the mast, delivering a series of bone-crunching punches to his midsection.

The Shadow Knight twisted free, grabbing a broken plank and swinging it like a club. It struck Vance across the side of the head, sending him reeling. Blood trickled down his temple, but he snarled like a beast, charging forward and tackling the Knight to the ground.

The ship suddenly lurched, its momentum shifting as it caught a powerful wave. The movement sent Vance tumbling backward, slamming into a stack of crates. The Shadow Knight, dazed but determined, scrambled to his feet and prepared to strike again.

But the ship’s sudden turn created a gap between them, the tilting deck dragging Vance further away. As the vessel steadied, Vance took the opportunity to retreat toward the edge of the ship, his breath ragged.

The Shadow Knight sprinted after him.

Both men met in the middle of the deck, their hands locking as they grappled fiercely. Each sought to overpower the other, their strength pushed to its limits. Their boots skidded on the wet wood as the storm howled around them.

Then, the ship tilted once more, sending both combatants tumbling over the railing and into the icy ocean below.

The water swallowed them whole, the cold like knives against their battered bodies. They sank into the abyss, their vision blurring as consciousness slipped away.

When they awoke, the air was blistering hot. The sound of crashing waves was gone, replaced by the howl of a dry, scorching wind.

They were lying on golden sand, the vast expanse of a desert stretching endlessly around them. Their bodies ached, and blood stained the dunes beneath them, but they stood, glaring at each other with undiminished fury.

Without hesitation, they ran toward each other, fists clenched, ready to continue their brutal battle.