Deflecting an arrow from the Ranger, I quickly step forward and dodge Gale's attack. It misses just a few inches, but I quickly defend against Herk's shove and get behind him. He prepares for my strike, but I quickly shift toward the Ranger and approach with my blade raised high. A worried shock and expression hit their face as they reached for their sword.

Clang

That is when Gale threw himself forward and clashed with my blade. He held me tight before landing a knee on my side and shoved me off of him. I coughed briefly as I adjusted. Herk attempted to strike, yet his swing was much slower than before. Reacting, I faced him, sidestepped to avoid his strike, leaped over him to prevent the Ranger, and kept my distance from Gale.

Jamming my hilt into his back, Herk tenses up before I slash him once on his knee and kick his chest. He falls face-first into the stone and struggles to get up. I slammed my foot into his skull a couple of times to make sure he didn't get the chance to recover, leaving only me and my two opponents.

"If you want this to stop, Gale, all you have to do is surrender; no shame in showing your defeat standing," I spoke confidently.

"Not a chance. Even if you take my men down, I will never lower my head to you. Either you die, or I die. That's how this will end!" Gale held his sword tightly with a burning rage.

"As much as I would oblige, I have no intentions of killing you or your men. But if you want to fight me, then fight me! I don't care if you have support; I will ensure I win."

"Grrr... You're annoying. I should have just finished you off."

"I know you are smarter than that, Gale; you aren't a dumbass like most people. If you had killed me before, you would have had the entire House Aris, and my men make sure you are hanged. Don't forget that I am still of noble blood; I don't care much about it unless it is important!"

Leaping forward, I charge and slide under his legs as he attempts to strike, giving me enough time to deflect another arrow and kick his knee. My time with Eckhart the last month gave me the skill to handle more than one enemy at a time, using my size and speed to my advantage. My time training was well spent; Eckhart made sure to properly focus my efforts on reading my opponent and their movements and countering and making split-second decisions to achieve the outcome I so desired. I felt the rush of gaining the upper hand begin to swell within my chest.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

My kick visibly hurt Gale, signaling the Ranger to fire another arrow; their quiver is nearly empty. I immediately realize that Gale is stalling, which catches me off guard as he throws his blade, forcing me to whack it away with my weapon. With a leap from the ground, Gale lands on me and pushes me to the ground, my blade constricted by his hand. I realized the dire situation and noticed that he was trying to pin me down the entire time.

"Just because you are bigger doesn't mean I can't escape!" I grit my teeth, shouting as I strain against him.

With a kick shift in my position, it gives me enough to slam my knee into his groin and wrap my arms and legs around his head when he is stunned. I twist around and kick off his back, weaponless; I unsheathe my dagger and plunge to pierce Gale. However, the moment I get close to him, a sharp arrow slashes my right shoulder, blood spewing from the wound; I flinch and recover by kicking off of Gale the moment they touch him.

With a smile, Gale grabbed my leg and held it in place. I looked in horror as the final arrow of the Ranger was fired. The speeding bolt of steel races forward; I quickly pull my arm forward, and with intense pain, the arrow shoots through my arm, nearly hitting my left eye. A scream of pain escapes my lips. Gale pulls me close and grabs my throat to strangle me. I gasp for air, my face quickly turning red as the life inside me begins to vanquish.

"I had it with you! Just fucking die already!" Gale intensifies the grip, his fingernails digging into my neck, blood trailing down through his fingers.

With a fleeting feeling, the pain in my arm becomes numb as my consciousness fades to dark. My life soon slipped away, a lasting sense that caused me to think of a way out. Eckhart's words pop into my head once more.

"When a warrior, a knight, a soldier is ever backed into a corner, weaponless, it is his duty to find whatever he can to finish off his enemy. If it costs him his life in order to land a blow, he will do it. If he is weaponless, then he must become the weapon, the sword, the blade that bathes in blood. If you can understand that concept, then I believe you will do whatever it takes to achieve an honorable victory by death or by survival."

A quick gasp of life awakens me just before the bones in my neck begin to break. With the resolve to win, I grab the arrow sticking out of my arm and snap it off, holding the arrowhead and half of the arrow itself in hand. A solid kick to his chest to bounce me closer to his face, eyes red with my last effort, jam the arrow straight into his left eye. Gale screams in pain the deeper I push, enough to drop me and himself hitting the floor in pain, clutching the eye.

The wound from the arrow is still bleeding badly; its crimson liquid trickles down my arm. I stare at the Ranger, who watches the writhing Gale in horror. A crooked smile appears on my face as I drag my sword from the ground into the air; holding it with one hand, I face my last challenge.

"You're going to pay for the hole in my arm; l can still fight with one arm; do you have the spirit to continue fighting me...!"