CHAPTER 5
My enemy and I circled one another, as I waited for Meili, Remen and Alt to retreat further back and hide. Neither I nor Arrin wanted to strike first. It almost felt like a test to see who can endure the pressure without rushing forward to attack; such acts of passion, without any caution, could cost you greatly in battle. In most games, an initiative in attack was a great advantage but here where the skills and abilities of your opponent were a great unknown, a mindless assail could easily end in a fatality for the one who lacks patience.
Arrin moved in an almost disarming manner, as he circled around, one elegant step after another, it was hardly reminiscent of a man in the middle of combat. He moved carefree and lightly, as if he was taking a stroll. He held his knife in hand somewhat awkwardly as if he wasn’t very used to the feeling of it.
I perked up my ears, enhanced with the super hearing I got from the ghoul leader. As soon as I felt the slightest inclination of movement from Arrin I would be able to respond accordingly.
“What is it? Are you scared to come at me, but I thought you had no idea who I was. Do I really frighten you so?” Arrin said as if he was drawing enjoyment from every moment of this. That twisted smile of his was revolting to look at.
“And what about you, for a big shot from some notorious gang you sure hesitate a lot. After all I’m just a wondering nobody.” I replied.
“Hah, I just watched you take down these bandits, not to say that they were worth much in strength or competence but still, that’s hardly something a mere wondering nobody could do is it?” Arrin said; his handsome face permanently locked in a mocking smirk.
“Well there is only one way to find out what I am truly made of. Come at me.” I said.
His smile extended as he finally sprang into action. His feet pushed him forward and I also moved, deciding to meet him halfway. Our blades met in a powerful clash as few sparks flew out. His dagger was a mix of dark, silver and red, the colors reflected inside his golden eyes as I stood face to face with him. He was fast, and strong but not nearly as much as I had anticipated. If this first confrontation was anything to go by I would dare say that we stood pretty even, all things considered.
“Can you do better?” he drew out his words as if twisting a knife inside someone’s chest.
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I jumped back and forward again, plunging my blade forward. He evaded to the side as he also made an attempt, with the intention to slash me across the face. I ducked and extended my leg, trying to trip him and make him lose balance but he predicted my move as he jumped up and away from my reach.
“This is getting somewhat cumbersome.” Arrin mused as he finally stripped off his grey cloak, revealing his garment underneath.
I noticed that he had no armor or any protective pieces on; he simply wore a doublet of dark leather with a satin shirt of red and black underneath with a pair of pants that also had a matching red and black color. Suddenly my little chainmail shirt felt like a full plated armor when compared to my enemy’s attire.
Not giving him too much time to relax I switched on the full offensive trying to get a hit in but it had been a fruitless endeavor. The light breeze moved the giant branches as the sound of our clashing blades echoed through the forest. Somewhere in the distance I could hear the griffins stir from their boughs as they took their flight and my newly acquired friends cower behind a tree. What a strange place I have found myself in, I thought suddenly.
I felt a few beads of sweat break down my forehead as I started to be enveloped by the heat of the battle. So far, neither of us appeared to have an advantage over the other, one ought to get an edge over the opponent if we ever hoped to lead this fight towards its conclusion.
“Are you getting tired,” I teased Arrin, while trying to hide my sweat, “I am just getting started.”
“So am I.” My opponent replied.
He jumped back, right next to an unconscious body of one of the bandits that I had taken out earlier.
“You are running away?” I asked, wiping the sweat with the sleeve of my shirt.
“Not at all, I am simply upping the stakes.”
As soon as he said that he bent down and plunged the knife into the bandit. Whether he stabbed him in the back or his arm I could not tell from where I stood. As he raised the knife, the blood of the bandit stuck to the blade in a long string of crimson red. He extracted a long line of blood as he proceeded to grab it. The blood did not spill but rather, it started hardening into a tall red spear as if it was carved out of rubies. The blood spear shone in the afternoon sun that trespassed into the dark confines of the forest. He threw the knife aside as he began doing practice swings with his new weapon.
“This feels so much better.” He said as he swung and spun the spear made of blood.
Arrin moved towards me with the speed that far exceeded anything I’ve seen before, he was at least twice as fast from how he was before and it took all I had to evade tip of the crimson spear that zoomed past the side of my head. I touched the tip of my ear and noticed a small cut.
[Processing the identification of the ability] the system said.
[Identification complete]
[Enemy is using a unique ability “The Shape of Red”]
[Warning]
[Engaging in a prolonged combat with the enemy may result in death.]