Scruffy’s Adventure

Written by Scruffy–hime

Edited by Luciferia

Chapter 17: Unwilling Fight

“Don’t let him escape!” one of the many guards chasing Scruffy yelled as he sprinted down another hallway.

Scruffy ducked under another arrow as it whistled past his head. He rounded another corner, leading him to a narrow hallway that was a dead end. Not knowing what else to do, he readied himself to fight.

The first of the dozen guards rounded the corner. Scruffy swung the sword and cleaved a large chunk out of the woman's head. Blood, bone and grey brain matter splatter across him and the floor. Before the others could react Scruffy had plunged it into the breast of another. She screamed as she doubled over in pain and grabbed the blade making it so Scruffy could not pull it out.

Scruffy kicked the dying woman into the other ten. In this narrow hall only one or two at a time could get to him. This was the only advantage Scruffy had.

“Please! I don’t want to hurt anyone let alone kill again!” Scruffy yelled trying to get them to back down.

The women ignored him. The next one in front lunged forward aiming her blade at Scruffy’s chest. Scruffy dodged the attack grabbing the spare blade from the woman’s waist. This one was thinner with a single edge. Now he was trapped in between two guards.

He quickly deflected the swing from the one in front and moved out of the way as the guard behind him tried to cut into his shoulder. He kicked the one at the front of the line in the abdomen causing her to crumple to the floor wheezing.

The one behind him wasted no time in making her next swing. Scruffy barely avoided the slash. He whirled to face her. Not waiting for her to make move again he impaled the sword through her throat. As he ripped the blade out blood was sent spewing.

As he turned to face the remaining guards, he bashed the hilt of the sword into the woman who was still doubled over. There was a loud crack as her skull shattered and she was sent into the wall.

The next one took a more defencive approach as she made a slow advance on Scruffy. The guard made a feint to the left. Scruffy fell for it and moved his weapon to block it. The guard made a fast strike and slashed down Scruffy’s right forearm. Blood oozed from the wound as he backed a few paces.

The guard attempted another feint but Scruffy did not fall for it this time. Instead took the opportunity to strike at the woman. He cleaved through bone as his sword went through the woman's shoulder, severing her arm from her body. She shrieked in pain and tried to grab the wound as if she could stop the bleeding. Scruffy took no pause as he stabbed into the woman’s skull causing the end of the blade to burst from the other side of her skull.

The remained guards looked terrified as another one of their allies fell. A few closer to the back decided to run and hide or get reinforcements.

Scruffy looked at the remaining three, “Please… just leave me alone…”

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“I must admit I did not expect you to be this hard to take down.” the guard in the front replied. “Tell you what. If you can best these remaining two I'll show you how to get out myself.

“Captain?” the one behind her looked confused as she stepped past the captain and took her stance.

“Why would you do that?” Scruffy asked suspiciously.

“I have my reasons…” was the only answer he got before he had to deflect a strike from his opponent.

Scruffy refocused on the fight. This woman was smaller and her strikes much faster. He backed as he deflected the onslaught of strikes from the guard. His back hit the wall as another slash came down on him. He narrowly dodged it watching as the blade cut into the wall.

Scruffy took the opportunity to punch her in the face. There was a snap as the woman's nose broke. Blood ran down her face as she screamed in rage and abandoned the weapon stuck in the wall.

The guard started throwing punches at Scruffy. Her bare handed attacks were as fast as her sword. She landed several hit into Scruffy’s stomach and wounded forearm.

Scruffy dropped his sword after she landed another hit. As an act of desperation Scruffy tackled the woman. He hit her with his shoulder into her chest knocking her from her feet. Scruffy fell onto her. He quickly sat up on her chest. She struggled furiously as she tried to get out from under him. Giving her no chance to do so Scruffy punched her in the face again.

She brought her arms up in defence but it provided no help as Scruffy changed his plan and grabbed her by the throat. He crushed his hands around her neck. The guard fought furiously punching and scratching at his face trying to make him let go. No matter what she tried Scruffy’s grip never lessened.

He listened to her pitiful choking as he broke her windpipe. Her eyes went wide as she tried gasping for breath. She kicked and clawed at him violently. After a short moment her thrashing stopped and Scruffy climbed off her.

Before he could get to his feet the next woman was already on him. This woman was much bigger with larger muscles and a huge claymore. She swung the sword as Scruffy. He managed to back away just enough for the blade to miss and cleave the head of her strangled comrade in half.

Blood, bone, sinew, and gore exploded from the corpse. As Scruffy scrambled backwards into the wall again he grabbed the sword he had dropped a moment ago. The large woman swung at him again. Knowing that he could not parry a swing of that strength he rolled forward through her legs. He turned as she launched a kick at him forcing him to duck under her leg.

Acting fast, Scruffy drove his blade through her knee and then pulled it back out. The guard screamed in pain as blood oozed from the wound. Before the large woman could try to swing her weapon at him again Scruffy lunged forward and plunged his sword into her heart. As the woman fell back he pulled his sword from her lifeless body.

He turned to face the remaining guard. Exhaustion caught up with him as the adrenaline wore off.

“Well done…” the captain remarked looking at her fallen comrades. “I didn’t think you could actually do it…”

“You said you’d show me how to get out?” Scruffy asked catching his breath. “Or do I have to fight you too now?”

“No, I’ll get you out. My name’s Ria by the way.”