That bastard! He thinks he can make a fool out of me in front of Lady Evalina no less! I’ll kill him for his insult! That bastard got lucky is all. Now it seems Lady Evalina is infatuated with him. First, he embarrasses me in front of the woman I plan to marry. Then he goes and captures her heart. No, no, no this will not do. She cannot be in love with a spy. That man is a danger to all that we’ve built here. Why can’t she see this? Well, no matter, he won't be a threat for long. It’s my job to deal with threats to this village and have ways of dealing with threats.

While looking over Halvar’s party I scanned them. Hoping to gain some idea on how to win this fight and at the very least. Stay alive.

Scan Results

Creature - Elf

Name - Druvien Hunter of Forest Rain Village

Combat Type - Ranger, Summoner

Threat Level - F

Special Skills - Summon Demons (Shadow Demon, Blood Demon, Wolf Demon), Multi Shot

Scan Results

Creature - Elf

Name - Lilica the Hunter of Forest Rain Village

Combat Type - Ranger, Rogue

Threat Level - F

Special Skills - Dual Wielding, Backstab, Poison Weapon, Smoke Bomb

Okay. So, the man is a summoner who uses demons. Not concerning at all. While I assume he fires off his bow from the back. Similar to a Beast Master. The woman fights similarly to me but with less magic and more tools. Then I have big and beefy in front of me. Great! This is going to be one hell of a fight.

I slowly started walking forward while casting a spell behind my back.

I calmly said, “Hello again Halvar. I would say nice night we’re having but seeing as you mortality wounded your own subordinate in an attempt to flush me out. I’d say the opposite is true. And you brought guests. Nice to finally meet you. I'm a friend of Thorns. I’m sure you already knew that though seeing as you followed his blood trail here. So, Halvar. Tell me what would drive someone like you to kill one of his own people in an attempt to kill a random person? Betray the trust someone has placed in you over the course of what I assume is many, many years.”

He said, “If you must know Thorn is a plague on our village. An outcast, only useful when he’s put to work. Away from the common people and away from our leadership. Sure, once upon a time he was seen to have great potential, but things change. And boy have they changed. Bringing spies into our home and exposing our people to unnecessary danger. Surviving impossible challenges. Yes, I’m sure you know I was the one who put him up to hunting that goblin den alone. He wasn’t supposed to make it back though. We were going to have a grand funeral for him. The lady wanted to send him back to the capital, but that cost money. Money, we keep giving to people who don’t deserve it. The biggest reason he had to die though was because after everything we did for him, he goes and makes friends with someone like you. You who will one day be the cause of tragedy in our village. No! Won’t allow this! For the sake of our village and our safety. Die!”

An explosion of smoke went off and I saw a bright crimson light flair up behind Halvar. That had to be the summoner calling one of his demons. Soon after another explosion went off, but this one was behind me. She fell for my trap. Once I saw that she had the backstab, poison weapon, and smoke bomb skills. I knew that she was going to attack me from behind. So, I left a present for her while Halvar and I were talking. I swung my scythe out wide in an arc behind me. Removing her hips from her torso. Spinning around to face the remaining two before they had a chance to ambush me.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

A good thing too. The moment I was facing them again I saw the flash of Halvar’s sword scoring another hit on me though this time he was aiming for my heart. I managed to dodge just enough for his blade to slide across the top of my left shoulder. Leaving a large bloody wound. Pushing through the pain I snapped my fingers striking Halvar with a Wind Tunnel Spell. Forcing him back 20 paces. Crashing him into his buddy taking cover behind him. During my moment of reprieve, I cast Gale and drank a potion. I managed to get a Control Winds Spell off before powerful winds came rushing in from behind me. Almost strong enough to pull trees from the ground. Forcing Halvar and his buddy to fight against it to get close to me. Also preventing any arrows from being fired in my direction. I was about to fire off a Wind Blade at the summoner when a cold pain lanced through my back. Causing me to fall to a knee.

Looking behind me I saw a shadowy figure in the shape of a person with claws as long as daggers protruding from its fingers standing behind me. Blood from my wound was still dripping from one of its hands. It seemed totally unaffected by the winds and was in position to strike again, when it vanished. Getting a feeling this thing was similar to the woman I’d recently dealt with I dove to the ground. Narrowly avoiding another devastating wound.

Getting to my feet I scanned the figure.

Scan Results

Creature - Demon

Name - Shadow Demon

Combat Type - Rogue

Threat Level - F

Special Skills - Shadow Step, Backstab, Deep wounds, incorporeal body, Contracted.

Looking to the Shadow Demon and back to Halvar and friend I held my hand up pointing at the Shadow Demon charging a spell. Quickly though I repositioned my hand, so it pointed it at Druvien and fired off my spell. An Invisible blade of wind flew through the air. Landing a clean hit on the man. Killing him on the spot. The moment my spell left my hand I threw myself to the ground once again dodging another vicious blow. Scrambling back to my feet I downed another potion. Feeling its healing effects knit the wound my back closed.

Halvar wasn’t just standing around letting me kill off his party members. The moment Druvien died, he let out a mighty roar. Charging at full speed in my direction. Fortunately, full speed was now less than half speed. But he was closing in none the less. He swung his sword at me. Which I dodged causing his sword to slice through the Shadow Demon. It didn’t do anything, but I was worth a shot. Dancing back, I made my way into a small clearing near the cave just as my Gale Spell dissipated. The moment it did I shot off a Fire Bolt at the shadow. It landed right in the middle of its chest. Erasing both it and my fireball in a poof.

Halvar and I stared each other down once again, both breathing heavily. Me from the constant movement and spell casting. Him from forcing his way through gale force winds, managing to stand through the entirety of it. With labored breaths and heavy arms, I pointed two fingers at him. I could hear the leather of his sword handle grown under the pressure of his tightened grip as he prepared to counterattack.

“You’re one tough bastard, you know that?”, I said to him.

Snarling he said, “One who will be looking down at your corpse in a moment.”

I said, “Normally. You’d be right, but did you think you were the only one who brought friends to this fight?”

His eyes widened in fear as countless arrows rained down on him from the trees above. Most of the scouts the Goblin Chief sent out were still in the trees. Watching our battle from start to finish. Once I revealed their existence, they knew that was their moment to provide a wonderful distraction. While Halvar attempted to dodge and block the incoming arrow. A blade of pure wind took his head from his shoulders. Ending the fight and ensuring my victory.

I collapsed to the ground. Exhausted from the fight. My lungs were on fire, my muscles felt like jelly, my bones were aching, and my eyes were heavy. I just laid there for a moment, floating in and out of consciousness. That is until I remembered that Thorn was fighting off death at this very moment. Forcing myself to stand, I got to my feet. I used my scythe as a walking stick to hobble my way back to the cave and into my realm.

Standing there listening to the goblin shaman telling me that there was no way to save Thorn. My world started spinning. I didn’t know him long, but he demonstrated what it meant to be a true friend. Even to his enemies. He never raised a hand to the people who betrayed him. The people he was meant to protect. Nor did he treat me the way that the other hunters did. He went out of his way to show me kindness, trying to give me hope in his own way. The second friend I’d made in millions of years. Was laying on the ground dying right before my eyes.