The people had tried to oppose Steinith during Rodent's departure, but even with their best efforts, they were defeated by the giant. Most were put out of commission, while the others were ensnared by that vine. Beatrice had saved them… at the cost that was her current fate.

And now, only a few could stand against the giant, who finally looked down at his wound and placed a hand against his side. Blood leaked between his fingers and around his palm as he stared down Rodent.

"Answer me just this, then." Steinith stood adequately, even at the cost of the extra pain. "My heart. You missed it. Was that choice or incompetence?"

Rodent stood seriously, holding his sword with both hands as best he could, having recovered enough from his wounds. Cold winds blew through the barren section of the village. Both men awaited the other's attack. The stillness allowed them both to recover from their injuries.

"What will it take to make you kill me?"

Rodent shook at being asked such a question, and his face demonstrated his confusion. Steinith stood solemn as ever.

"Will a dead villager make your hand violent? Would something outrageous make you crave my blood?" Steinith spoke without a soul. His face was tired and plain. There was nothing to him. "You'll have to kill me. Only death will stop me. You have the means... but do you have the willpower?"

Steinith, not breaking their eye contact, walked to the wooden water tower at the corner of a pathway, grabbing the rope at the side of it. A cloth covered the front of the giant barrel.

When the rope was pulled, the fabric dropped to reveal Beatrice fastened to the barrel, tied by rope to brackets sticking out of the barrel.

She looked crucified.

"There." Steinith gestured at the display. "Look at her. Imagine her suffering. Angry, yet? Feel anything?" Holding his wound, the giant stomped, beating his chest, blood seeping into his white top. "This village isn't safe with me here. I know everyone's faces. Only death can stop me." He breathed. "So… I ask again."

Rodent was in shock.

"Will you kill me?"

Delt, held upward, vibrated in Rodent's hand, talking to him alone. "Kid. It's not my call how you swing a sword. But he's after something."

Rodent looked at the old woman who helped him, hanging there, her feet barely touching the platform beneath. Her face barely rose, and her eyes barely saw around her.

Overhead, gray clouds formed over the area, and a storm was inbound.

Beatrice then saw Rodent.

And she barely repressed tears.

Rodent became serious, gripping his sword tighter, feeling a burning in his chest. But as he looked at the old woman, he didn't want to seem like a thing of hatred... and then remembered that which hung from his neck.

Rodent brought and held up Issac's amulet for all to see. Beatrice saw it and Rodent's smile. Then, he held up the sword, which made her cry for a different reason.

And there was no need for words between them.

Rodent lowered his sword with swiftness and grace.

"Don't worry," Rodent said. "Everything will be alright."

He looked at Steinith still with that smile.

"I'm not going to kill you." Rodent shrugged. "Just don't have the heart for it." He resumed his focused stance. "But I will take you down. I'll make this village safe."

He spoke without hesitation, without doubt, his heart beating differently, something white and pure and new welling from it. The essence flowed to his sword without Rodent being conscious of it.

Delt struggled to not laugh.

Heh.

Delt internally chuckled.

So that's how things work out.

Wouldn't have expected all of this from you.

But maybe there's a trick to you after all.

Steinith.

Just how far into the future are you trying to see?

Steinith was displeased, curling a fist and turning, smashing it into a corner beam of the tower's base. Rodent yelled and charged forward—but it was too late.

The tower became unbalanced and leaned toward its missing section.

Steinith darkly grinned as he watched the boy approach but became confused by the sudden sounds behind him. He turned to see villagers coming against the destroyed beam.

Stolen story; please report.

They supported the immense weight while an older man climbed the ladder to Beatrice.

Before Steinith could do anything, he was stabbed in his stomach, hunching forward from the impact, looking down to see Rodent glaring up. The sword was halfway buried in Steinith's stomach, his giant hand instinctively grabbing the weapon's base.

Steinith's raw strength couldn't be beat. His fist bashed Rodent backward. Rodent, hitting the ground and rolling, rose faster this time—but sweat and blood dripped from his shaking body.

"Not used to taking hits, eh?" Steinith strenuously asked. He was feeling his wounds... but wasn't terribly affected yet. "Takes a lot to get used to them. Your whole body shivering and shaking. Your head and vision spinning. You tremble, feeling the need to flee. Your soul becomes so weak. Barely anything of you remains during those moments."

On the water tower, the older man reached the platform and approached Beatrice, undoing the tied rope until her hands slipped to her sides.

Beatrice, breathing relief, hugged the man's waist. Steinith, looking over his shoulder, bore an exhausted face while shaking his head.

And before Rodent could rise to a knee, Steinith turned swiftly, arm cocked correctly and his footwork impeccable, hurling a charged fist at the villagers supporting the wooden tower's missing corner.

His attack went through the wood high and beyond their reach, blowing the beams and planks outward and causing the tower to collapse.

"NO!"

The attack knocked the gathered, or they stumbled out of the way when the tower collapsed. Atop its platform, the older man hugged Beatrice into himself as they slid and fell with the tower.

Everything clattered and exploded into bits on impact.

A small cloud of dust wafted outward.

"FUCK!"

Rodent cursed. Spite fueled him to his shaking feet and buckling knees. His breath was faint and hot. Battle overloaded his nerves. Rodent struggled with the disparaging sight; his white energy dimmed and waned.

Delt watched.

This must be a first for you, kid.

Delt watched Rodent dig his feet into the ground to better support himself.

Doubt this is your first rodeo... but this is the first time you can make a big difference. You're feeling the strain, the burden, the responsibility.

How will you deal with it? Will you let despair and Deskar gain inside you? What kind of fighter—person—are you? You wear the face of a fool—but you're more than one.

Who are you? What are you? What is your future?

You're a rookie.

But I'll keep on watching you.

Rodent choked, standing there, gasping, body and mind burning, the white pulse from his soul being pushed back inside. He was frozen, stuck.

Then, a voice spoke inside his mind.

"There's nothing you could have done, Rodent."

Rodent growled. His chest burned intensely —burning the darkness within. He became heavier, cracks shooting out in the ground around him. Rodent rose despite it all, charging into the dirt cloud ahead, which dissipated to reveal the silhouette of the grinning Steinith.

"STEINITH!"

Rodent didn't falter. Stenith, chuckling, raised a hand to smack it down like an axe. Rodent held his sword to meet that attack. Everything slowed as the two neared and unleashed their assault.

Before steel and skin could meet.

There was contact.

There was a brilliant, shining, invisible force, two magnets pushing apart, wind gushing from the scene. Rodent endured the impact and weight as he was crushed harder into the ground.

Black and white currents flourished from each, opposed the other, and clashed in the place between forearm and sword.

"Heh… it's true." Steinith lorded over the smaller man... but couldn't gain much against him. "You can use Brar. I would've killed you at the start if I knew." His head retreated behind his dark tide. "How's this possible? You didn't have magic when we met. How has this come to be?"

Rodent didn't answer, struggling against the greater force, weak in his stomach and chest, his soul depleted. He wanted to give up... until he saw the people around them... everyone helping each other from the wreckage... helping them limp away.

Rodent knew then he didn't need to win.

He just needed to hold out long enough for them to escape.

Rodent pressed harder against the force, inflating his soul. He felt its pulses empower the white tide he conjured, repressing the Deskar slashing into him.

Rodent yelled, uncaring if he was pushed back. He held himself against the strain, staring through the clash at the giant, who was glaring at him. Steinith sneered like a hunter seconds before a kill.

On the sidelines, those freed from duty watched the young man facing the older soldier, seeing, to their disbelief, the white current flourishing from the total stranger.

Something was triggered in their hearts at once, where every raw beat could be deeply felt.

And they felt something they had not felt in a long, long time, something perilous to feel.

Yet felt it, they did, as if they had no choice to do so.

"ROOOOOOOODENT!"

Rodent, captured from his trance by the voice, checked to the side to see Beatrice standing there, cut and battered and weak… but standing on her feet while leaning into the legs of the older man.

Those who stood there wore amazed faces at the sight.

Rodent, however, was speechless.

Him and Beatrice, both breathless, locked eyes.

And then.

"FUCK! HIM! UP!"

Rodent blinked, breathing through his mouth at seeing the others, who, frozen and confused, soon broke out of it, nodding and opening their mouths.

Soon... everyone joined together... chanting.

"RO-DENT! RO-DENT! RO-DENT!"

Rodent felt a good shock that jolted his body with power and life, that both repaired and doubled the size of his soul as, at once, the white currents casting out of him doubled in size and power.

Doubts of being smaller, weaker, and less experienced were being wiped from his mind as one desire took over.

DEFEAT.

HIM.

Rodent growled, and instead of pushing harder with his sword, he focused on pouring out his spirit and soul. As he drove with that, he focused only on defeating Steinith.

The giant's size and power no longer entered Rodent's mind as he shoved against Steinith's force. He was able to stand again and regain some steps, breaking through Steinith's Deskar.

Steinith flinched, the people, helping each other and seeing Rodent's Brar, no longer feared him or generated despair. At once, his Q weakened even more, and the Deskar he pulled from the air became less and less, allowing Rodent to break through.

Rodent's tide won against Steinith's, and in that gained space, his sword sliced into Steinith's descending forearm—right to the bone.

Steinith pulled that arm back and quickly tried punching Rodent with his other fist, hoping the speed would catch him off guard. But without hesitation, Rodent slashed the wrist and then sliced the other way to catch the incoming fist—both stopping and slicing halfway through it.

Steinith growled as he yanked back his fist precisely to avoid further damage, roaring like an animal as the people gathered around him. Rodent didn't stop his advance as he moved forward, slicing and striking at the giant, who barely dodged the attacks as he retreated.

Delt, still, was silent.

Who are you, kid?