Sweat was running down my face, my eyes were wide open, staring intently. And my pants? Thoroughly shat. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. An 8 foot tall, golden knight of nightmares was pointing his weapon at me. His last words replayed in my mind as I began to ask myself the same question.

“Why did I dodge that!?” If I let the attack hit, it would at least prevent whatever suffering I am about to endure. Making me wish to go back a few hours and slap my previous self over the back of the head for complaining about having to eat some raw meat. I’d much prefer that now.

“If you aren’t going to move… Then why dodge in the first place?” Hallimer asked, tilting his head slightly to the right as his eye traced my body. Before trailing off to the chain and its attachment.

“Are you going to use that or is it just for show?” I didn’t get a chance to respond before the giant closed the gap between us.

*Bang*

He appeared in front of me almost instantly, already mid swing of his attack. His free arm swung around before landing a mighty backhand slap into the sword. The attack was meant for my head, but again I instinctively raised the sword to block. It didn’t feel like it was my own reaction. As if something was guiding my body to protect myself, could it be?

“Still trying to escape the inevitable?” Hallimer spoke once more. Before turning his neck to look over his shoulder at where I landed.

“Kegh…” I coughed as the wind was knocked out of me. Even though I managed to block, the force still flung me across the room, and I found myself slamming back first into a wall. Making me double over and kneel down.

“It would only be inevitable if it was predetermined. Funnily enough time doesn’t work like that.” Picking myself up I raised my sword and took a breath in to calm myself. It doesn’t matter if my enemy is much stronger than me. All living things bleed, no matter how reluctant they are.

“Ever heard of the butterfly effect?”

“...” He looked at me with a blank expression, clearly he was in no mood to talk. Or maybe he just didn’t see me as interesting enough to listen.

*Clang*

The sound of metal crashing into one another echoed through the hall. Hallimer launched another attack with his left arm, still refusing to use his weapon. He went in for another hit. This time aiming at my face, and unlike last time. He used his fist. Maybe he's beginning to take this seriously? I blocked once more, turning the sword upside down with the bottom of the hilt facing upwards, and the flat side of the blade facing Hallimer. Whilst supporting the blade with my left hand to take on the brunt of the force behind his punch, I moved the blade off to the right side upon contact to disperse the attack. As his arm slid past me, I retracted my blade arm. Twisting my wrist to bring the tip of the sword upright, before gripping the hilt with both hands to bring a downwards slash onto his head. Hallimer was much faster than me, so I gambled on bringing this slash from the right side of his body since that's where the eyepatch was. Hoping that he won’t be able to react since the attack would be coming from his blind spot. To my demise, he reacted. Hallimer, in an outstanding acrobatic feat. Twisted his body which was leaning forwards, in order to deliver a roundhouse kick to my torso before the sword reached its target. Once again sending me back, only this time I didn’t block in time.

“AArgh!” I screamed out in pain as my body flailed from the impact of the cold hard wall. The pain shot through my body as I felt multiple bone fractures surface. I didn’t dare close my eyes, if I missed even one of his movements. It could be the end. So I forced myself to keep them open, no matter how much I wanted to pass out at that moment. Blood dripped down the back of my head. I could feel my hair getting wetter, I most likely split my head from the impact. Looking up from the floor, and supporting the rest of my body with the sword as I was kneeling once again. Hallimer was just standing there, looking down at the floor.

“It’s been a while since I was harmed in battle.” My eyes widened at his remark. I hit him? I scanned his body until I could see what he was talking about. On his right thigh, halfway up. A cut in the golden armour, trickling out blood.

“It seems like I underestimated you, rat… Perhaps I give you too much credit. Without that sword you wouldn’t even be standing here. What a peculiar blade indeed.” He looked up from his initial subject, and moved his crimson eye to the sword attached to me. It makes sense why I thought that I missed. Since the first thing this sword has cut, not once have I felt resistance when pushing it through solid material. Be it rock, flesh or armour. So far nothing has stopped the blade from cutting. Explains my initial surprise at seeing Hallimers wound.

Now knowing that even a graze from the blade would cause injury. I regained some confidence. Standing up once more I felt an energy well inside me, almost as if I caught a second wind.

“Would you laugh if I told you that this sword is the reason I ended up here in the first place?”

“I don’t remember such a relic being a part of the treasury.”

“So now you want to have a chat?”

“You’re right, talk is pointless. I can find everything I need after your death.”

“That's not what I-” Rudely interrupted once more by the powerful giant appearing in front of me. This time I was ready. A hook aimed straight at my head this round, thankfully my opponent is so tall that fighting someone my size was most likely out of his comfort zone. With this in mind I took the leap of faith, and stepped in whilst dropping my shoulders. Thankfully my prediction was correct. I managed to completely dodge the attack before swinging the sword at his abdomen with both hands firmly gripping the hilt. The strike came from my right side, with the direction curving upwards before levelling off to a horizontal slash. Instinctively, Hallimer tried to block my strike with the long handle of his weapon. To his surprise, my sword completely ignored the fancy pole of metal. Cleaving right through with no resistance. Noticing this happening, Hallimer abandoned his attempt to block and chose to jump back before the blade reached its full extension. Even though I failed to cause a major injury. I managed to leave a permanent mark on his armour, forever staining it with the edge of my blade.

“Hmmm.” Placing his left hand over the cavity in his golden art piece of valour. Hallimer could feel that if he continues to be careless the tides would no longer shift in his favour.

“It appears that my continuous understatement of your blade has cost me. I will no longer be so foolish…” For a while now I could feel, and see a smoke of energy from within myself. As well as around Hallimer. I chose to ignore it for the time being as it was helping me see the path of his movements before he executed them, allowing me to plot around them. However, it brought back a memory. About 5 years ago, when I was infiltrating the Russian mainland for recon as well as gathering dirt on some higher power political figures. I ended up running into an old gipsy lady that kept pestering me. Whilst trying to navigate St.Petersburg’s train station, she kept following me around. Until eventually she grabbed me by the arm and wouldn’t let go until I let her read my fortune. I asked her why she was so persistent. Her words were along the lines of “Your aura is something I’ve never seen before.” Prior to this encounter I never heard of the word. Her explanation was that this ‘aura’ was an energy that all living beings possessed, but only those with closer ties or beliefs in the supernatural, or alternatively those who have been born with the ability could sense and see it. At the time it just seemed like the ramblings of a madwoman who was trying to scam me out of a couple of rubles, but now. I think I'm beginning to believe.

Aura, a strange concept. If I wasn’t staring at the energy running rampant around Hallimer I would never believe such a thing existed. Crimson in colour much like his eye. Sharp and smothering like his demeanour and strength. The display was enchanting, but I could not drop my guard.

“Across all my battles, only a few have witnessed this. And even fewer have lived to tell the tale.” The energy focused in, before morphing its shape into a crimson serpent. It slithered around Hallimers body, stemming from his abdomen before twisting itself around, towards his back. Finally reaching upwards, and over his shoulder. The head of the snake resembled the design of his helmet, with dark yellow slitted eyes it looked at me before snapping its head back to Hallimer. Opening its mouth wide, the snake lunged at the eyepatch. Engulfing the eye, and biting hard into the side of his face.

“Ewwwww, that’s gross man…” My face scrunched at the affectionate display between man and limbless reptile. I was unsure of what he was trying to achieve by letting his pet injure him like this. Well truth be told, I couldn’t tell you if it was his pet or not. The serpent only appeared after his aura morphed into that shape, so maybe it's more right to say that this wasn’t an actual serpent.

“A mighty artefact in your possession, yet still the intelligence of a rat.” Hallimer spoke as the serpent let go and dissipated. Leaving a black, scorch mark around his right eye. The skin around the area became an ashen colour, with cracks sprouting around the eye socket and spreading outwards until reaching their end travel at the side of his face.

“I think your knowledge isn’t up to date. Recent studies show that rats are actually very intelligent. Ah it's one of those things right? Don’t worry, even if it is gross. There’s no need to feel ashamed of the bond you have with your pet.” My remarks might’ve made my situation worse, but honestly that’s for the better. An enraged opponent is easier to deal with most of the time. Although I am unsure of how this will affect him, someone who has seen countless battles.

“I do not care for your opinion. For someone who is lucky to be alive after encountering me. Your words mean nothing!” Oh yeah, got his ass.

Hallimers aura began to run rampant again. I readied my blade, pointing the tip at my foe in the same stance as when I let the sword first taste a kill. So far he hasn’t shown too much of his abilities. Which can either mean one; His skill set consists of raw unadulterated power accompanied with immense flexibility, speed and reaction time. Or two; He was a great actor, and I haven’t even scratched the surface of his arsenal. Rather than charging in as he did in our previous encounters. Hallimer decided to take a leisurely stroll towards me. His right eye still closed as his crimson left was now focused on my weapon. With each step he took. I could feel the pressure pushing into me as our auras clashed. Once more I felt my back against the wall, even if I were nowhere near it.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

*Drip*

*Clack*

As a drop of cold sweat rolled down my forehead to my chin, before letting go of my skin and hitting the floor. So did his last step, as he reached his destination right in front of me. I was again reminded of his gigantic stature. He easily towered over me, his shadow consuming my own. I looked up at his face whilst swallowing the lump in my throat. This might be our last clash.

I thrusted my sword forwards aiming at his abdomen, and at that moment I felt a chill run down my spine. Hallimer opened his right eye, revealing the dark golden orb in his eye socket. The slit pupil stared at me. As the third eyelid all reptiles possessed closed and opened. It felt like no matter what I did at that moment, I would perish. Without a second thought I found myself cancelling my attack and jumping backwards while raising my guard.

“What’s wrong?” He didn’t move, he remained standing still in the same spot. Both of his eyes open, one staring at my sword. With the other looking through me.

I had no clue why I felt so powerless in that one moment. Every fibre of my being was screaming, begging me to run. Hold on, why didn’t he move? Furthermore, who was he talking to? His eyes were fixated on me and the sword yet it didn’t sound like that was addressed to me. Everything that happened indicates that he should be speaking to me, yet his tone had more of a hint of worry. The arrogance he spoke with previously was dwindling. Almost as if his trump card was useless?

“Haha… hahahaha. So it seems I was wrong. You are no mere rat. Tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“Your name.”

“Rennard Keito. Most call me Ren.”

“Interesting. I’ve never heard of you.” For the first time since I met this guy, he was smiling.

“Funny that, never heard of you either pal.”

“No you fool! For me to have never heard of someone is impossible.” I was confused, this behemoth who refused to even entertain the thought of conversing with me, was now screaming at me without a hint of malice.

“This eye of mine. It can see through time. At most I can see up to a day ahead before my brain can’t take anymore, but if it is focused on one thing it can see much more. Past and future that is.”

“But you… you. No matter how much I look, I can't see anything! Who in his highness's name are you!” He swung his arms as his words spilled out of his mouth. It seemed almost frantic. Like a rabid dog who was ready to bite at any moment.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about, but thanks for that.”

“What?”

“Heh.” I let out a small chuckle before using every last ounce of strength I had to charge at him. It seemed to take him by surprise. Honestly I was in the same boat, to my knowledge I still possessed the same physical attributes. Yet I was far faster than when this fight started. Closing the gap between us in a second, I swung my sword upwards towards his chin. Even if I were faster than before. Hallimer still avoided the slash, albeit narrowly with the tip grazing his chin. I wasted no time, twisting my right wrist back into its original position, the blade followed and the sharp edge was now facing the ground as I brought the sword back after taking a step in. Thankfully the move worked, and for the first time during this encounter I felt like I had the upper hand. The slash came quickly and Hallimer was already thrown off balance after the initial attack. The blade of course as it had done previously, sliced through the armour of my foe with no resistance. However, unlike last time. This cut was far deeper, and blood was spilt. Hallimer was stripped of all. His weapon was in half, his armour far from its past, and the trump card he was saving… rendered useless. To be fair to him, I too would have likely been caught by that move. Oh I wish that winning against him were this easy.

Remember how before, I discussed living beings? This was another case of preservation triumphing rationality. Hallimer forced an attack through the pain he was experiencing. The halberd he held was swung at me horizontally, fortunately he still hadn’t adjusted the extension of his arm. Making this a wild strike in a last ditch effort to cull his foe.

His aura and the movement of energy from his abdomen to his arm told me all I needed to know. Stabbing the sword into the ground, and using his knee as a platform. I launched myself into the air. The chain which connected me and the sword began extending. Allowing me to somersault over Hallimers shoulder to land behind him. During the somersault, I combined the rotation as well as the extended chain, and in one swift motion I had the chain wrapped around his exposed neck. I was hoping that the sword would act as leverage. I based this off my first encounter with the sword, and how it was embedded into a stone altar with no one in the base being able to extract it. I betted my life on this final attack. With all my might I pulled on the remaining chain length that was attached to my arm. Placing my right arm on my shoulder and using both in an effort of crushing Hallimers windpipe.

“Graaagh! Kegh!” Hallimer groaned and coughed as his air supply began to run thin, and his throat contracted unwillingly. He tried to grab and remove the sword, but the position his body was in. Kneeling on the ground with one knee upright, and back as well as neck bent backwards. Didn’t allow him to properly locate the sword, leaving his arms flailing in an attempt to grab hold of the weapon.

“No, no! This cannot be! Not to him, not to this raaaa-” As Hallimers thoughts raced in his last moments, a fleeting sense of confusion and disbelief clouded his mind. Yet all his thoughts, much like his life. Were cut short. His body fell limp, and his hands now fell and rested by his sides. His lifeless body only being held up by the chain coiled around his neck, and the force I was producing in order to choke him to death.

“AAAAAAAAARGHHH!” I kept screaming as I pulled on the chain. My arm suffered the brunt of it. As the chain tightened, the links dug into my skin. Blood was seeping out of the fresh, self-inflicted wounds as I continued to pull without realising that my opponent was long gone, and no longer able to fight or struggle. Eventually my mind went blank from the blood loss and overexertion. I blacked out for a few moments.

“Well done Hexiel.”

“You again?” I found myself in the abyss-like space yet again. The voice from last time addressed me by a name I have no recollection of ever being used to refer to me, well aside from the sword and the last time this strange person did. Alas, the voice still felt warm and familiar.

“The second step is now complete. Climb the rest of the tower, we can formally introduce ourselves after…”

“Wait! At least tell me you-” As quickly as I arrived at the black space, I returned back to reality.

At least this time I opened my eyes to a well lit room, the same room I fought Hallimer in. Just this time, I was looking at the ceiling.

“Fuuuuuck…” I moved my hands to rub my face and eyes before turning my body over to stand up.

Using one knee, I raised myself off the ground. Still aching after the herculean trial I had to face. I could see the lifeless body of Hallimer laying there on the floor. The chain was still wrapped around his neck, and the sword firmly placed in the ground just past his feet. Trudging over to his corpse, I looked over at his twisted face. Strangulation could be one of the most horrible ways to die, not being able to fight back as your breath slowly leaves your body. The convulsions which you produce in an effort to chase a smidge of air, and the feeling of helplessness as you flail and struggle to get away is incomparable. Of course there are other terrible ways to extinguish one’s flame. However, this method can be performed on almost any terrain, in any condition, and the worst part is. The helplessness you feel as you fail to escape or even call for help. Whilst removing the chain from his neck, my eyes traced his face. In my observation I could see that only his left, now dull and blank crimson eye was in its correct place. Rolled to the back of his head only leaving a fraction of his iris visible. Whilst the other was missing, only leaving the empty void in his skull. A strange occurrence, but it must be tied to the way he obtained it. His aura had already dwindled and left his body, which must be the reason why the dark yellow orb was gone too.

As a sign of respect, and honour in my win against this challenging foe. I placed my hand on top of his face and closed the eyelid on his left side. It’s the least I can do. Having removed the chain off his neck, I looked over to the sword.

*Rattle*

*Swoosh*

*Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang*

Without any prior warning, the chain began retracting at an alarming speed. The sword catapulted out of the ground and was flying hilt first at me.

“Ayo what the fuck!” Visibly shocked by the return feature of the weapon. I shielded myself in a panic, both arms in front of me in an ‘X’ shape hoping that would be enough to stop the lump of metal going mach-fuck at me.

“AAAAAAH… Oh it’s fine.” Thankfully, the sword lost momentum and gently placed itself into my hand. Almost as if it was trying to scare me before going. Sike! Gotcha! Every passing moment it feels like something is out to kill me, and I am still confused as to what I even did to deserve such treatment.

I opened my eyes and moved my arms away from my face. Now being able to see the weapon in my hand.

“Wait, what is this!” It looked strange, amid its usual colour and hues that it was sporting, another had entered the mix. A dark yellow colour, which was swirling around the blade. It bore a close resemblance to the colour of Hallimers right eye.

“Ugh” As I was thinking that I felt a sharp pain run through my head. It felt like a flashbang went off. My vision became unusable, my eyes were burning, and my head was ringing.

“AAAAAAAH” The pain escalated, making it seem like a thousand needles were stabbing into my eyeballs repeatedly. I gripped into my head in an attempt to comfort or even distract myself, my palms pushing into my eyes, yet it persisted for what felt like an eternity. Falling to the floor and writhing in pain, I continued to scream out in agony. The yellow energy from the blade kept shifting as I felt it move around my body until it reached my eyes. After a few moments, the pain began to subside and the energy I felt calmed down, eventually disappearing as it fused with my own.

“Agh, hugh… kegh, Fuck. It's always something since I’ve come here. Can’t seem to catch a break.” Breathing heavily, I sat up from the floor, complaining to myself once more. I opened my eyes to find that my vision was still usable, shaking my head slightly to try and disperse any lingering effects.

“Huh?” Whilst doing so, and looking forwards to the end of the room. I noticed that along with the usual imagery that I can process, came another set of the same information. Strangely, the objects that entered my vision looked like they were sliding into another pre-existing image of the same objects with the movement of my head. The initial imagery stayed the same, but when moving my eyes or turning my neck. I could see the objects that were there before my eyes landed on them. It was quite disorientating, making it feel like I was seeing what's to come in my mind's eye before actually seeing it in the real world. Hold on, Hallimer said that his eyes gave him the ability of foresight.

“Maybe that’s what it looks like to see into the future before actually seeing it happen.” I rubbed my eyes to see if I could make it go away. Seeing the future is fine, but when it constantly overlaps with the past… It can get very confusing very fast.

“Somehow you managed to absorb it to pass it on to me, but why? Actually, more importantly how?” I looked down at the sword whilst talking to myself, maybe voicing out my concerns can get the cogs turning. The yellow hue was gone, and the sword had gone back to its original colours. Meaning that the energy from before was definitely Hallimers.

“ I should’ve asked him how it works while we were still fighting! Nah, he had that whole stone cold, silent type thing going on. I doubt he would’ve said more than he did.” It was no use thinking such things. Dead men tell no tales. I’ll have to figure this one out the old fashioned way. Trial and error, a very trusted method indeed.

There was no time to waste. The voice from before already gave me instructions on what to do next, and if this is meant to help me on my journey, then I must learn quickly. So that I can escape this hell hole and get my answers.

“Hold on, stranger. We’ll have our talk soon...”