Amani, searched through the notes, it really was astounding, she could clearly see the amount of work that went into this, the trials and errors, the madness that threatened to undo all of this man’s work.

She however did not have time to marvel at such things, she needed to find where they had gone, closing her eyes she felt out into the world.

As a spirit of nature she was able to feel and see anything that was out of place in the world.  So it was not hard to feel the gaping hole that had been left in the natural fabric of reality.

She examined it, and much to her pleasure she was able to understand what exactly it was.  It was a temporal rift, a small area that was created by the user to make a small world almost, it was what she had done many times when she had still been trapped in that bottle.

His temporal rift however was crude, and used magic she was very familiar with.

Her own magic.

She didn't know how he had done it most Gallu simply go mad from the magic this one however was able to keep some of his sanity and did some research and found some way to control the 10,000 plus years of magic stores in the bracers.

This would take some time, she could tear them back into reality, but it would require untangling the fabric and patching it.

“Hang in there Dan.”  she whispered as she got to work.

[Dan]

Dan launched himself at Richardson like a man possessed, he pushed off the ground with both feet, like he was attempting to swim in air, raising the khopesh in a huge overhead strike he connected with the Demon.

The collision was spectacular, Richardson was hit with such a force he sunk into the sand and lost his footing. The two fell to the ground and both showed a surprising amount of grace as they twisted to get back to their feet.

Richardson lunged at Dan, who parried the blow with the Flat of his blade. He didn’t just stand around to see what would happen next; he rushed forward and came in from Richardson’s exposed right.

He thought he had a solid blow connected with the man’s head as he was regaining his balance, but much to his surprise its hand shot up and grabbed the blade in his hand, nullifying  the force that was in Dan’s strike.

At the same time his knee was planted into Dan’s gut, pushing him back two feet, and causing a small amount of blood to leak out of Dan’s mouth. The blade arced with a fluid motion that was all too smooth and powerful for a human, and possessed a speed made it hard to even follow. He dodged the blade by leaning back instinctively.

Bastet watched on with fear and trepidation, she should be out there, he was fighting to protect Sara, so should she, but he had been extremely clear on where he wanted her, if he fell in battle she was to look out for Sara and Abyzou, who was currently frozen.

Completely unaware of the conflict boiling in Bastet’s mind Dan lunged forward, grabbing his  arm. The demon twisted in his grip, running the blade through his stomach.

“Dan!” Bastet cried out.

“You fought surprisingly well, you even hurt me once, not bad for a mortal.”  Richardson growled, pulling the blade free of Dan’s stomach.  

Dan stumbled back, desperately holding his guts in place as they threatened to spill out of the gaping hole that had just been added to his person.  He ungracefully sat down on the ground, a look of pain twisting his face.

Closing his eyes he readied himself for the final blow.

This was the end.

But somewhere in the back of his mind he heard a small voice, it urged him to get up, to push on, even if he hit his limits.

Limits were meant to be broken.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

He opened his eyes, and this time, instead of the blue that normally shone there they were solid gold, with a diagonal slit like a reptile's.

The blade coming down from above almost seemed like it was in slow motion.  Dan threw himself to the side, rolling to get out of the way, leaving a trail of blood in the sand.

Richardson looked over, surprised Dan was even able to move let alone throw himself out of the way like that.

He couldn't see it, But Bastet did.  Dan no longer had the aura of a mortal, he now had an air of divinity.  He was no longer a man, but a Demigod with the form of a snake.

Dan felt like the world had grown colder, like the blood in his veins had lost all their heat, taking with it the pain of his wounds.

It was comfortable.

“How?” Richardson asked,  but before he could finish his question Dan attacked.

The blade swung with much more speed and grace than before, arching through the air like a snake striking at its prey.  

Ding

Ding

Ding

The clashing sounds of swords against each other rang out in the light of the noon sun.  The temperature was still low even with the warming rays of daylight.

“Hu-Hu-” Breathing roughly Richardson heldthe blade at head height and pointing it at the man that was standing before him.  Da  stood there, not breathing hard at all, before falling into the same stance as Richardson.

The blood oozing out of all the wounds didn't seem to bother Dan.

Dashing forward they both poured their all into the strikes, swinging the blades with such force there was an after image left behind and turning their arms into blurred image capped with a streak of silver.

The flurry of blows to the untrained eye looked like it had no rhythm or timing to it, but to those versed in swordsmanship it was easy to see the myriad of stances they were using.

Alber

Ochs

Fools pose

Tail guard

Roof pose

Both were flowing from form to form as naturally as waves on the beach, each strike was precise, each parry accurate, and each dodge used the absolute minimum movement necessary to avoid the blade.  In terms of swordsmanship they were on the same level,this was due to Richardson cheating and using magic to learn swordsmanship.

But in terms of stamina Dan currently had the advantage.

Richardson was showing his lack of stamina  by his ragged breathing. It was clear he would be unable to beat him like this, it was time to try something else.

“You, you are dead!” a blood thirsty growl sounded, and Dan threw himself to the side, barely avoiding a spike of ice as it sprung from the ground to impale him. Richardson’s eyes were cold, devoid of life, the eyes of a glacier.  

In the quickness of the evation Dan lost his Khopesh.

Richardson smiled evilly and planted his foot on the blade, looking at Dan with murderous eyes .  “You dodged, good, but in the end it was all for naught, without your blade what can you do? Nothing!”  He laughed evilly.  “Your crimes against me are large,to think you had the hubris to try to go after my woman.”

Dan laughed fiercely putting his hands on his hips he looked at Richardson without a fear in the world.  “Your woman?”  he shook his head,”They are not possessions, things to be gathered, but it seems you will never know this.”

Richardson’s face turned a dark red as he seethed in anger, this mortal was humiliating him?! He was a god now. The only recourse for this was death!  A demonic smile spread across his lips, “Today you die, don’t worry, I will take good care of your wives for you...”

He quickly summoned his mana and went about launching his largest trump card, the spell frozen earth.  The air around them grew colder, frost condensed on Dan’s shirt and every other nearby surface.  Gritting his teeth at the cold Dan launched himself at the Demon, a fire burned in his golden eyes.

As he approached a rain of icicles fell on him , the amount was so large that there were some that he could not possibly dodge.  one inserted itself into his leg, and another he blocked with his hand, causing a large bloody hole as the spike tore through him with ease.

Dan stumbled and almost lost his footing but he still slammed into richardson, they tumbled and rolled around on the frozen sand, and as they were doing so the world turned grey and started to crack.

“What are you doing?!” Richardson cried out in shock.

“Oh good I was worried it was another one of your tricks.”  Dan said, as he went to plant his fist in the demon’s face.  But before he could do that they were falling through nothingness.

The feeling only lasted a second, before they slammed back into the ground of a certain wooden shack.

As soon as they had landed Bastet pressed the attack giving Dan time to recover.

Amani was there, she looked over at Dan and was surprised to see he was not who he used to be, it however only took her a second to recognize what had happened.

Abyzou’s blood had mixed with his own.

She was happy, but this also was a problem, if he was no longer human than he couldn't use the soul devouring flame without risk.

“Dan!”  she cried as she rushed over to him.  His vision was fading from the loss of blood.

“Give me it.” he grunted.

“I can't, if you touch it you will lose your soul, you will die, I will lose you! I can't lose you!”  she wept.  Her tears running down her face.

She always had such pretty eyes, eyes like that should never cry.

But he was going to have to make her cry.

Snatching the cloth out of her hands and shoving her aside he stood up and retrieved his khopesh.  He smeared the paste on the blade and struck it against a stone on the mantle, the spark flared and the blade burst into flames like it had been doused in oil.

Black cold fire covered the blade, and Dan felt like he was turning to stone.  Amani looked at him in horror as his skin faded from the light color into a pure white.

“ I have to do this Amani, I love you but I can't let anyone be hurt by this monster, don't ask me to stop, you're a genie right amani?  Grant me one last wish,”  he looked at her and smiled sadly. “Don't ask me to do that which you know I can't.”   and with the last of his strength he rushed forward.  

“Dan!”  she screamed reaching out for him, but he was out of reach.

Richardson didn't see it coming, he was occupied with Bastet.

The blade plunged into the man from behind, and as it did they both turned into solid stone...