Chapter 82

I turned to follow his gaze. My heart stopped. Magneblade, Lord fucking Magneblade, was standing up the street, blocking our path. I cannot stress what a big deal this was. There was a Griidlord, standing there, clearly focused on us. I don't know if I've stressed what a big deal a Griidlord was. There were less than 200 of them in the known world. Each of them was the equivalent of maybe 1000 men in the field. That would be an average; a fledgling Griidlord might match 100, the legends were whole armies unto themselves. Magneblade was experienced, average, he was 1000 men wrapped into one awesome entity of power and carnage.

But it wasn't just the carnage. Their Footfields were arguably their most valuable asset. In a time where everything beyond city limits moved as fast as a horse and car, the Footfields were the backbone of commerce across the whole continent. Each hour of a Griidlord's time was worth a fortune. Couple that with the fact that these gods in armor wanted their own time for drinking, whoring, and living life, and it was an impossibility to imagine that Magneblade was here. But there he was, blocking the path, his axe glowing in the fading light.

Danefer looked at me, said, "If I live through this, then we'll meet again. For now, you better get back."

I looked at him, incredulous, "If you live through... you're going to fight... you won't live through this!"

He said, "I'm going to leave now, if I can."

Magneblade leaned forward, he was coming, he was getting ready to pounce. Danefer shoved me away, the power in the motion was beyond what a mortal man could achieve. Some relic beneath his coat aided the motion and I was airborne, flying away, even as Magneblade charged.

I hit the ground awkwardly, doing my best to roll, but my wrist took a lot of the impact and pain flared. I barely noticed, though, because what unfolded before me was something few would see in their lifetimes.

Magneblade leapt, crossing fifty feet in a single bound. Danefer moved, faster than humanly possible, smoke billowing around him, clouding the street. I assumed he had dropped pellets or a grenade. Lights flashed in the smoke, then a cracking impact echoed, and Magneblade hurtled from the smoke, crashing into a nearby building with a force that sent debris flying. Danefer had delivered an incredible blow somehow.

Magneblade charged again, his glowing axe cutting through the haze. Danefer met him, emerging from the smoke like an avenging angel or a demon unleashed. Their weapons clashed, sending sparks and arcs of energy flying.

Magneblade was nothing but rage and power. The huge axe flashed in the air, time and again. That was the axe of a Griid-lord. An axe like that could shatter stone walls. Magneblade was formidable Griidlord. He was a small army distilled into one body. How could anyone, no matter the relics, stand against that?

But Danefer had his own powers. He moved so well. Unnaturally well. He seemed to blur and haze from existence as he danced the deadly dance with Magneblade. His sword flashed as he parried the blows. It was utter madness that he could parry them at all.

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I watched them battle, and it seemed like I was watching two peers. Magneblade's axe flashed, coming in a wide lateral arc. It was so fast. But Danefer dodged under it, his boot came up, and he kicked Magneblade back. The insanity was that the boot of this mortal was enough to drive Magneblade back. A horse would have crashed into the man to no effect.

But Magneblade was a creature of fury. He charged forward again, intent on destroying the smaller man. I saw that his visor was glowing. No, not glowing. It was blazing with light. As the smoke whirled around his face, it seemed as though Danefer's eyes were glowing as well.

Danefer countered a flurry of strikes with calm counters. I watched them fight, sword against axe. The ground vibrated beneath my feet as they clashed. I couldn't deny my amazement as Danefer seemed to hold his own. But, even as I watched, he seemed to be slowing. No man but a Griidlord could stand against a Griidlord.

For a moment, it looked like Danefer had found an opening. Magneblade brought his axe down hard, but Danefer sidestepped. His sword impacted the Griidlord's abdomen. A pulse of light and violence erupted at the site of contact, like a ball of lightning exploding.

The force of the impact sent Magneblade stumbling back. Danefer darted in to follow with another blow. But Magneblade was less phased by the attack than I can understand. Danefer's sword seemed to carry the power of CUT. It blazed with light, the explosions of his blows echoed. But Magneblade just braved them, letting them glance off of his armor. He quickly resumed his assault on Danefer. Danefer was on the defensive now, his movements growing slower.

Despite his experience and despite the power of his relics, Danefer was clearly losing. Magneblade's sheer power was more than he could overcome.

Despite myself, I found myself rooting for Danefer. Why was hard to say. I didn't want to see him die. I was awed by his ability to stand against a Griidlord for even this brief moment.

Flashbangs exploded everywhere, blinding light and deafening noise assaulting Magneblade. He staggered, his movements disoriented, but only for a moment. Beams of energy assaulted him from the blinding lights and spreading smoke, striking his visor, sizzling against his armor.

A wall to the side of Magneblade collapsed, and he danced aside, narrowly avoiding the cascade of bricks and mortar, but he was still struck by debris. He grunted, his glowing axe spinning in his hand, cutting through the dust and smoke.

When the smoke cleared, Magnebalde remained. He stood, his body heaving with lust of battle, his axe held in both hands. His head snapped left and right, seeking his quarry. But as the smoke finally dissipated, Danefer was nowhere to be seen. He was gone. He had told me that he would leave if he could.

Magneblade's visor faded, the blazing light receded. His head turned, but he didn't seem to pause at all as he surveyed the incredible harm his battle had done to the street. Rubble and dust lay everywhere. The orange light of fires had started to emerge in the darkness. Somewhere nearby a child was crying.

Magneblade's gaze settled on me. He stared at me for a few long moments. I expected him to approach me, to interrogate me. Instead he straightened, the fighting stance disappeared. The huge man turned slow and started to walk back towards The Tower.

I exhaled slowly. Danefer had survived. He had stood against a Griidlord and lived to tell the tale. I was chilled as I considered he was out there somewhere. I was unnerved at the thought of him coming to speak to me again.

I was left standing in the aftermath. More cries started to spring up as the flames began to lick higher and higher.

I had to compete on the morrow. How I was meant to sleep after this?