Chapter Thirty-Seven

Before Ambrose returned to Vivienne, he needed to deal with his progression. Four levels in his class meant thirty-two points to spend and five points from his profession. Thirty-seven points total. Added to his last gains, that meant fifty points total. He considered his stats, bringing them up with a thought.

[Constitution: 179

Strength: 141

Intellect: 148

Wisdom: 156

Willpower: 186]

His strength and intellect were behind it. He assigned ten points to each. After a thought, he put six more points into strength, bringing it to one hundred fifty-seven points, six points into constitution, and the last eighteen into will power. Euphoric power rushed through him, his core flaring as his mana pool grew slightly. He almost wished he could get another couple of levels to hit one hundred. Shaking his head, he used the key to teleport to the tree and Vivienne.

The Lady of the Lake greeted him beneath the branch Ambrose had hung from not so long ago.

“You have returned stronger than when you left.”

“I defeated the four avatars. It’s time to remove Mordred.”

Vivienne gave him a slight smile,

“Yes. I felt their destruction. Before you destroy Mordred, I offer you a chance to understand the enemy you face.”

He crossed his arms,

“What? So I can empathize with him? I don’t need to empathize with his tragic back-story, Vivienne. I need to put an end to this.”

Vivienne pressed her lips together,

“Understanding your foe is the path to defeating him. Surely a seasoned warrior such as you understands this.”

Ambrose blew out a breath.

“Yes, I do understand it, thank you. I’m pretty sure I already understand him. He has daddy issues. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”

The Lady of the Lake regarded him steadily.

“If you wish to face him now, I shall not oppose you. I merely offer you more tools to succeed.”

Ambrose closed his eye. He was being unfair to the island spirit.

“Yes, and I appreciate that. I’m sorry. I’m just ready to be done with this, that’s all. I have a goal, Vivienne. All of this is a means to an end.”

Vivienne’s eyes were knowing.

“Yes, I understand the purpose you have assigned yourself, Knight. You wish to destroy your heart’s enemy.”

He clenched a fist, his jaw tightening.

“More than that. I won’t just destroy him. I will unmake him. I will kill his friends, burn all he has built to ash, and salt the earth he built it on. There will be stories about what I do to him. He took her from me. There is going to be a reckoning for it.”

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A storm was in his chest, and his voice was absolutely sepulchral.

Vivienne said nothing. Ambrose took his mental leash, wrapped it around his snarling wrath, and brought it to heel. It wouldn’t do him any good here.

“What can you tell me about how he fights? He likes to push buttons. I’ve noticed that.”

Vivienne flicked a hand. He felt it when the island responded, Mordred rising from its depths, the earth opening up for him. He was still encased in stone, but purple, red, and black veins crisscrossed through it. Power hummed from the statue. He looked much like before, with armor and a massive sword.

“Mordred is a skilled warrior, Knight. He was one of the finest swordsmen ever to walk our realm. Before his father cursed him, he was high A-Grade. The curse has regressed him back to D-Grade, but he is still quite deadly. Defeating his avatars has made this easier but nonetheless hard. He is brutal and strong; yes, he will press these ‘buttons,’ as you call them. Are you ready?”

Ambrose stepped back and took out his axe. Noelle wanted him to manifest her, but he told her no. This was one of those fights he needed to face alone unless he needed to cheat. There is no such thing as an honorable fight, boy. His father’s voice was an echo from the past in his mind.

He jutted his chin at Vivienne. She raised her hand.

The island shook, waves of red-purple light palpitating outward from the statue. Flakes of it began to fall away, revealing armor and skin beneath. Cracks sounded in the air, and larger chunks of stone fell away. Before long, Mordred was before them.

The knight was on his knees, his body shaking. His thick veins stood out under his skin like writhing fat leeches. The island beat in time with those veins. Its spirit was in flux, and this fight would determine Avalon's fate.

Ambrose did not wait for Mordred to catch his breath. He leaped forward, tapped his core to fuel [Infernal Infusion], and kicked the dark knight in the chest in a flash of blazing black and red fire. Mordred flew backward, grunting in pain as he landed some ways away in a spray of dirt.

His axe lit aflame from his [Infernal Smite] and flew towards Mordred in a deadly arch from his throw. Mordred’s sword flashed forward, smashing Ambrose’s axe out of the air. Mordred got to his feet, and his eyes were calm oceans of hidden fury.

“You’re not the only one who can manipulate his weapon, Knight. Tell me, did you like those memories I sent you? It must gnaw at you. To know how you failed your dear, dear Alice.”

Ambrose did not respond. He merely activated [Infernal Aegis], his shield wrapping around him, his aura blanketing the area. Mordred’s eyes flicked with surprise, with just a touch of doubt. If Ambrose hadn’t had such mastery over his emotions, he might have crowed with triumph. Instead, he flicked an [Insight] at Mordred.

[Mordred the Guileless Son-Level 115]: The bane of Avalon, Mordred used his father’s curse to shape Avalon to his twisted ends in an attempt to dominate it. Defeat him to cleanse the island of its curse.]

Ambrose didn’t pay much attention to the description. He just wanted to know his level, and that was all. He used [Infernal Recall] and manipulated his axe’s trajectory to cut through Mordred’s neck. Mordred’s sword moved seemingly of its own accord, swiftly slashing upward to parry his blazing axe away from him.

“Tsk tsk. Attacking a foe from behind? Where is your honor, Sir Knight?” Mordred’s voice gained an edge of condescension and mockery.

Ambrose rushed forward, summoning his axe to his hand. He brought it down on his foe’s head. Mordred was ready, though, and grasped his sword, parrying the blow. Mordred responded with an overhead slash of his own, which Ambrose ducked.

Clenching his jaw, Ambrose used [Infernal Sanctuary] in an attempt to hopefully end the fight early. Ghostly chains alight with black fire lashed out at Mordred, but a palpitation of ugly red and violet light repelled the chains.

It was distraction enough for Ambrose to throw his axe in his bag, retrieve the key and tackle him around the middle and to the ground. He activated Avalon’s key to teleport them above the lava room now turned to shining obsidian. They both plummeted, Ambrose punched Mordred in the face, his gauntleted fist wreathed in his [Infernal Aegis]. It was like punching a rock wall.

They slammed into the stone below, small shards of obsidian bursting around them, their collision a hollow boom in the air.

Ambrose stood up, producing his axe from his bag, but Mordred made a motion with his knees and pushed Ambrose forward and over him. He dropped the axe and turned his fall into a roll, coming up across from the dark knight.

Mordred’s laugh filled the air as he got up. He hefted his sword and pointed it at Ambrose.

“Come now, Knight! Show me that wrath within you! Let loose the storm! Show me your power!”