Rite of Courage

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William's perspective

My mind was a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty as I tried to accept the weight of the task at hand. The words, stark white against the black screen, seemed to mock my unease.

[New Objective has been assigned]

[Defeat the Blight Rider and its Blight Dragon]

The screen abruptly disappeared, leaving me and my father to confront the Blight Rider and its Blighted Dragon. Its armor, once formidable, was now a testament to decay, covered in a network of blackish veins. Its kilt swayed ominously—a chilling sight. The dragon's eyes contorted with an eerie white pearl eye, blackish veins covering its ripped-apart body.

As the rider approached us, it unsheathed its sword, revealing a singularly edged longsword reminiscent of a katana my father told me about, yet distinguished by its broader blade. Unlike the backside of a katana, the backside of this sword was completely flat, extending to the hilt. Near the hilt, the flat edge sharpened into a point, then seamlessly curved, blending into the blade's sharpened edge as it met the hilt. I thought to myself that such a thing would be a design flaw. But this was a Rider's blade, so I don't think such a design would take away the sword's strength in any way.

The rider aimed its sword at us. In response, my father swiftly snapped his bow into two, transforming it into hook-like blades, ready for the impending battle. I, too, readied my own sword, despite my trembling hand. My heart raced, my breath short and quick, as my body screamed to run away. I clenched my teeth, gripping the hilt with both hands as it wobbled in my grasp, knowing that this thing would never let us go.

I wish I had gone to the South Gate.

The building next to us erupted as another rider crashed into it, momentarily distracting me. I instinctively covered my face, only to realize my mistake as the Blight rider lunged at me, his sword aimed at my chest. I reacted swiftly, pulling my sword over me and using the flat edge as a shield. Our blades clashed, sparks flying, but I held my ground. Despite my strength, my legs protested, forcing me to stumble backward from the rider's pure might. With a quick sidestep, I moved the rider to dash past me, his sword missing me by just an inch.

My body relished the release of tension from the rider's attack. As relief flooded through me, I saw the rider twist its body, using its momentum to turn as it raised a foot towards me.

My vision went black for a moment as the rider's kick connected to my face, flinging me away towards the ground. I saw stars enter my vision as I collided with the destroyed road.

I could taste the iron in my mouth, inhaling the disgusting smell of sweat, my heart pounding in fear as adrenaline pumped into me as I looked back up at my adversary. Before the rider could finish me off, my father swung his blades at the rider. The weapons clashed as the rider was stuck on the defensive, and my father pushed it back, managing to leave a long slash on its helmet. The rider retaliated with a big swing, but my father blocked it with the blade in his other hand as he countered with a kick to the gut. The rider scooted across the ground as my father charged at it.

Before my father could strike again, the Blight Dragon snapped its massive jaws at him. Luckily, my father evaded at the last second, only for a black, eerie flame to erupt from the dragon maul. I felt a wave of warmth from the flame, but it wasn't welcoming. My body jolted off the ground at a speed I never knew I had.

The rider stood back up, turning to me.

"William!" my father shouted as the rider and the dragon stood between us. "Take care of that rider!"

My body protested, my heart raced in fear, and my breathing was erratic. I gasped for any decent air, but none was found. I can't do it.

"I can't beat it!" I yelled in protest.

"Yes, you can!" my father yelled as the dragon hissed at him. "I know you can!"

I can? I'm not a hero! I'm just a regular person. I can't even capture a heraraptor, let alone join the Order.

Before I could think, the rider charged at me, swinging its sword at me. I was too slow, barely blocking in time, only to be met with more sword strikes. The metal clashing echoed through the demolished street, sparks flying off our blades as I frantically swung my sword to block each attack.

I tried to remember my father's teaching, but I was too busy not dying as my body refused to calm down.

I watched as the rider swung his sword at my legs. Luckily, I slammed my sword into the ground, using it for support as I successfully stopped his sword. I soon realized my mistake as a fist flew towards me. The rider backhanded me, sending me sprawling across the floor.

I groaned out loud, grasping hold of my aching jaw. Coming back to my senses, I rolled across the ground away from the rider, using my momentum to get back on my feet. As I crouched on the ground, I recognized the rider's attack. It looked identical to what I had done to the fiends earlier.

That's when the status magic kicked in, as a black screen hovered over the rider's head.

[Sword Skill: Triple Slash]

I stood back up immediately after realizing what the rider was about to do. I channeled magic back into my sword, arms, and legs as I got ready to counter their skill with my own.

[Sword Skill: Rebound Blade]

The skill surged through me, tightening and expanding my muscles, making me feel lighter, faster, and stronger. I pulled my sword close to me, aiming it at the rider as they lunged at me.

Our sword skills slashed, blades colliding into one another as we battled over who was superior with the sword. The first attack was quick and decisive, but I could see it clearly as I deflected it easily. As the rider's sword rebounded off of mine, it quickly came right back down to me, only for me to deflect it once more.

The last slash came down at me as our swords locked in place.

I stared into the rider's slit in its helmet, believing I was looking into its eyes. Grinding my teeth, I could smell the rider's decaying flesh, making my sinuses burn. My heart pounded in pain, and my lungs felt like they were being stabbed as I breathed fanatically. It was like someone jabbed a knife into my rib.

But I didn't let up.

Explosions erupted in the sky like fireworks as we struggled to overwhelm each other. The ground shifted underneath us, holding us up as we pushed back and forth. Our arms shook and trembled as our blades screeched against each other. Taking in the moment, I slowly let one of my hands go off the hilt, focusing on holding the rider back with just my right arm. I poured more magic into my arms and legs, and to my surprise, it was working.

With this discovery, I lunged my left arm forward toward the rider, pushing him back as our swords broke away. But I wasn't done yet. As the rider stumbled back, I lunged forward at him, using my [Sword Skill: Upper Slash]. Swinging my sword up at the rider, they managed to block the attack, but the knockback was still there, sending them hurling in the air.

I smirked at the rider, realizing I was holding my own against them.

Maybe I can do this. No, I can do this!

Before I could take in the moment, the rider spun like a ballerina as their body pulsated with blackish energy. I didn't know what they were doing as I watched the riders reorient themselves and land on their feet. Everything slowed as I watched the rider slam their fist into the ground as they landed.

The black energy surged, crackling with power, as it flowed down the rider's arm and into the ground. Before I could react, I felt a shockwave approaching me, and suddenly, I was hurled into the air. I yelled loudly as I saw a bolt of black energy shooting towards me.

I was helpless to do anything as the energy passed through me, feeling as if someone had punched my gut, knocking all the air out of me. I was sent flying back, smacking into a building, and I slumped onto the ground. My lungs refused to let me breathe as my head spun. Forcing myself to stand back on my feet, I took a greedy breath, looking back up at the rider as he slammed more black energy into the ground.

Unlike before, black orbs sprouted out of the ground near me. Not wanting to stay around and find out, I dove out of the way as the orbs descended near me, sending debris and dust into the air. It wasn't big enough to destroy a building, but it was big enough to send goosebumps up my arm.

If I get caught in that, I'll lose this fight.

Luckily, I can maneuver past each orb due to the circular radius on the ground, which tells me how big the explosion is and when it will detonate. The magic energy would form a circle around the orb, expanding for three seconds until it collapsed back into itself, causing it to burst.

Running past a couple orbs, I charged at the rider recklessly. My heart raced as I ran closer to it, slashing at it. Our blades clashed once more as I tried to force it back to get the upper hand. Much to my surprise, a black orb floats up next to me. Our swords lock as the rider intends to keep me close to the orb, clearly not afraid of hurting itself.

Shit!

Sweat ran down my back as I pushed back their sword, only to faint, hoping they would buy it. Luckily, the rider bought it, swinging their sword towards my head. I quickly dove with little time to spare as I focused and channeled my magic into my legs, propelling myself towards the rider. I deftly maneuvered around him, using my momentum to position myself behind the rider as I held him down in front of me, separating myself from the orb with them in the middle.

If I can't evade it, I might as well have you take it with me.

A flash of black hits my eyes as the orb detonates. Both the rider and I are thrown back by the blast. Fortunately, I was not hit directly, but I still felt the explosion's impact. My back hits the ground as I roll back up onto my feet. I notice that the rider takes a moment to get back up, allowing me to charge at him. I land a straight hit, cutting into the rider's armor padding as black blood seeps out of the armor.

Another orb appeared between us, making me jump back. My heart slammed in my chest as my muscles ached from countering the rider's skills. Fatigue was getting to me as my body screamed in pain. Apparently, that explosion did more damage to me than I assumed. The three seconds were up as the orb detonated, blocking my view briefly as I glared at the rider.

I wasn't afraid anymore. I was determined to win this battle. My father believes in me, and I can see why.

I must try. I have to try.

I calmed my breathing and rushed at the rider, ignoring my pleading body as I lunged my sword like a lance at them. They managed to sidestep away from my attack as they tried to slam their sword down on me. Blocking their attack, I felt my legs protest as the ground tried to support me. Heck, even my arms trembled from the pressure. But I didn't let up.

Luckily, no more orbs appeared as the battle raged on. I blocked out all outside noises, focusing on the battle before me.

The dragons, the riders, the blight, my father, even the Titan. Just me and the Blight Rider in front of me.

Once more, our swords clashed, each collision vibrating my sword and rippling into my hands. I swung faster than before, harder. Gritting my teeth as I spun underneath the rider's sword, narrowing and avoiding a quick decapitation. My heart raced out of physical exertion as the rider swung back around with their sword. Time slowed as the sword approached my face, making me move my head as far back as possible. The skin on my cheek sizzled in pain as the sword made contact, leaving a small cut. I howled as I charged at the rider, their sword stuck in motion. I used another [Sword Skill: Upperslash], but not at the rider, but at their hand.

I closed my eyes tight and swung with all my might, pulling as much magic as possible into the attack. I opened my eyes back up to see the rider's hand severed from their body and their sword sent flinging up into the air. The rider, however, showed no pain or discomfort. They thrust their hand forward at me as swirling black energy appeared in their palm. Without thinking, I spun to the left of their arm as a swirling black orb shot past me.

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Letting out a gasp, I looked up and saw the rider's sword coming right back down. Reaching out to it before the rider did another attack, I wrapped my hand around its dark silver hilt. I swung it straight over my hand, turning around as I cut down the rider.

I felt resistance as the sword slashed directly through the rider's armor and into their chest. Yanking the sword out, I watched as they eventually fell to the ground with a loud thud. I wheezed softly as I stared at the newly dead body.

Is it truly dead?

Walking over to it, placing a hand on my side as I started to get my breath under control; my throat dried and became coarse. Standing over the rider's body, I decided to kick it.

Nothing happens.

I sighed in relief as I fell to the floor. I felt like chains were dragging me down. I wiped my cheek where I was cut, noticing that it was a more severe cut than I wanted to have, as blood ran down my cheek.

Wait? Father!

My eyes widened as I jumped back onto my feet and turned to where I last saw my father. A bellowing roar erupted as I saw my father atop the blight dragon. Multiple shots of magic arrows were embedded in the dragon's head, and blue vapor sizzled out of the wounds the arrows penetrated. The dragon tried to shackle off my father.

I stood there in awe.

He's holding his own against a Blight Dragon?

My father continued to balance himself on the dragon's head, ensuring he didn't fall off as the dragon tossed itself everywhere, crashing into buildings in desperate attempts to crush him. I watched as he rapidly fired off multiple arrows into the dragon. The dragon howled out as it thrashed around, and my father leaped off in a backflip. He landed a few feet away from the dragon as it turned its head at him.

"[Weapon Art: Detonate]!" my father cried out, holding his bow out in front of him.

Before I knew it, the arrows on the dragon's head exploded into a fiery flame. Smoke covered the street as a loud ringing noise flooded my eyes. Shaking my head, I ran over to my father's side, carrying both the long and rider's swords in my hand.

Huffing laboriously, I prepared both swords. I never used two swords at once, but how hard could it be?

The smoke cleared slowly as the dragon's head came into view—or what was left of it. Where the dragon's upper forehead would be, an enormous hole exposed the remains of the skull. The eyes and eye sockets were gone, along with the dragon's horns.

I slowly turned my head toward my father as sweat dripped down his face. "Holy sh*t, you just killed a Blight Dragon!" I shouted. I knew my father was powerful, but I wasn't expecting to be able to beat a blighted dragon. Sure, it wasn't a real dragon, but it was still close enough.

"You doubt your old man?" My father chuckled, gasping, as he approached me and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Look at you, though. You killed a Blight Rider."

"You doubt your own son?" I retorted. He responded by brushing the blood off my cheek. We laughed out loud, exhausted and sore, as he set his hand on my back. We stood there for a moment, taking everything in.

I eventually decided to return my long sword to the storage ring.

[Long Steel Sword has been stored in Storage]

It's better to put that guy somewhere safe. Hold up! Didn't father have a bracelet to store items in? Where did he get this storage ring?

Before I could say anything, a bright explosion erupted in the distance. Like thunder rattling the sky, a tornado of fire lit up the night sky, burning all that crossed its path. The flames flickered as the massive beast bellowed out. It looked like a feathery dragon that lacked legs but had its arms remaining. Its feathers were on fire as more flames flickered on its head and down its spine.

I stared in disbelief, seeing another massive monster in my home. But then I saw its name due to the status magic. Above its head, a black window appeared with two words.

[Titan Narric]

Titan Narric? As in the Titan Rider narrative? He's here?

My mind raced with assumptions. Was Narric here to save us, or was he here to kill us?

Before I could say anything, my father grabbed my arm. "Come on! Let's go!" He yelled out, pulling me as we ran down the street. "Let Narric deal with that Titan!"

The world was in utter chaos. Death was all around us. My world was being turned upside down. My home was being destroyed. I wish I could do something about it. I wish I could stop it.

"Come on!" my father yelled, snapping me out of my head. I ran right behind him as we moved around each demolished building.

We finally made our way to the gate. It was surprisingly intact. I kept looking back, staring at all the destruction behind me, begging that it wasn't true. But that wish never came true.

Once we crossed through the gate, a bridge linked to the open field littered with the dead bodies of blight riders and dragons, riders I once looked up to. I thought they were unstoppable.

But how wrong I was!

We ran across the bridge, which was breaking apart. Chunks of the railing were missing, and a few bodies were hanging on the side. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the awful sight as we entered the field. As soon as we got across, we went north along the wall.

On the way, a few more blight fiends attacked us, but they didn't stand much in our way. We carved our way through them as we made our way. Magic fell from the sky from the constant battles as the two Titans battled each other in the city. Buildings and debris were flung everywhere and descended upon the land as we kept ourselves from hitting them. Each piece of debris was lit on fire, and flames burst out as it collided with the ground.

The once green field I used to walk with my father when I was young is now nothing more than withered grass. Everything I once loved is now demolished. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. I was too busy running for my life.

"Holy hell." My father mumbled silently as I saw him looking off into the distance.

At the forest's edge loomed a colossal behemoth, a grotesque figure standing twenty feet tall with arms elongated and sinewy, dragging alongside its legs. Its torso was human-like, however grotesquely distorted; the stomach twisted inwards, with thick black veins pulsating around the cavity where the heart should beat. The face, hauntingly human in shape, sends an uncanny feeling, making my body shiver in goosebumps. Heck, I could see the flesh torn apart near their hands and torso, exposing the jutting bones.

"It's a giant," I mumbled in shock as we continued to run towards it.

Wait? Aren't we running toward it?

We are!

"It's near the house," I yelled, snapping out of it. I grabbed my father's arm and pulled him towards me, and we ran east. "We can't face that!"

"Go around it!"

We took off from the wall while keeping a close eye on it. We saw more blight creatures fly over the city as magic shot out of it. Turning back to see the mountain, I saw the two Titans pummeling each other, destroying everything in sight. I grimaced to myself, wishing I could stop it.

"What is it doing?"

I looked up at the giant. It ripped a tree from the ground, tearing its roots away as it wrapped its massive hands around it, ripping off the branches to form a large makeshift spear. But it wasn't looking at us. It was looking at the sky, where all the riders were. I watched as it threw its makeshift spear into the air. The tree twirled in the air, whistling as it struck a dragon.

Coming to a halt, my heart sank as I watched a dragon's agonizing cries plummet from the battle-filled sky. The dragon spiraled down toward the grassy field adjacent to us. The impact was catastrophic as the dragon slammed into the earth, scattering debris and uprooting swaths of grass. The rider was sent hurling off of their dragon. They were dressed in shiny navy-blue armor similar to what Barren had. The tree pierced the dragon's wing. The giant approached them with another tree-shaped spear.

My eyes widened as I realized who that rider was. It was Lord Dimmal. He slowly stumbled onto his knees as the giant started to sprint at him.

I gritted my teeth as I regrettably turned around and ran to him.

"William!" my father yelled out. "Get back here! Will!"

I ignored him. If I can take down a Blight Rider, I can handle a Blight Giant. I was afraid, but I was more scared of doing nothing. Being helpless.

I sprinted straight towards the giant as status magic kicked in.

[Blight Giant]

[Level 54]

Level 54? I don't care. I got to get to Lord Dimmal!

I pushed as much magic into my legs as the [Skill: Sprint] went off in my vision. Pushing those words away, I felt my feet move faster, my vision blurring as everything skimmed past me as I made a mad dash toward Lord Dimmal. I felt the wind hitting against me, pushing me back, but I moved forward as Lord Dimmal and his dragon figures got bigger.

But luck wasn't on my side as the giant approached Lord Dimmal's dragon. The giant was faster than I could be as I yelled out to Lord Dimmal. "Dimmal behind you!"

Lord Dimmal locked eyes with me, unaware of what was happening. His dragon was slowly getting up, shaking its head.

They didn't know; my voice left me as the giant slammed the tree into Dimmal's dragon.

Lord Dimmal and his dragon let out an agonizing scream so painful that I could practically feel their despair, misery, and fear. Dimmal’s eyes were bloodshot, something I had never seen. The once sharp look in his eyes was substituted with dread and pain as he grasped at his chest as if he could feel the spear that went straight through the back and into the front of his dragon. The dragon slumped onto the ground, motionless, as Lord Dimmal collapsed with it, his navy-blue armor fading away.

I howled in anger as I charged at the giant, running past Dimmal as I readied my newly obtained rider sword I claimed from the Blight Rider. Running underneath the giant, I sliced at its leg, making it roar out in pain. I continued to hack and slash at its legs, cutting through its skin with ease as it tried to step on me. I rolled out from under it as it got a clear sight of me, throwing a fist. I rolled to the side again, swinging my sword at its arm, leaving a massive gash. It pulled back its arm, stumbling backward. Anger guided me as I grew more confident with each laceration I made.

I stared at the giant as it slammed its hand into the ground. I prepared myself to dodge, but before I knew it, it swung its arm at me, hauling the ground into its hand.

I noticed the ground started to turn back. The same blackened earth protruded towards me, hurling large chunks of rocks the size of grown men at me. I held up my sword, using it as a shield, as the rocks collided against me. Everything went black as I shut my eyes tightly and as pain meandered throughout my entire body. Muscle spasming pain as the rock crumbled away after hitting me. I tumbled on the ground as my body ached, and the cut on my cheek started to seethe fiercely, making me grimace, but I didn't let that stop me.

I rolled back over, using the pain to motivate me, but by the time I got up, the giant was already above me. I tried to move, but my foot slipped on a piece of rock that crumbled away after hitting me.

Shit.

I raised my arm and sword to cover me as I watched the giant reel his fist back. Gritting my teeth as my heart banged in my chest, grimacing as I prepared myself for the worst.

I wasn't ready.

A magic arrow slammed into the giant's eyes, making it howl out as it tried to regain its sight. "You're reckless and impatient!" My father came to my side, pulling me up off the ground.

"Father," I said pathetically, exhaling in relief. I almost lost my life there.

"Slow down and focus!" my father demanded, turning his attention to the giant.

I took a deep breath as I prepared my sword once more. The giant shifted its attention to my father, giving me time to run behind it as he shot more arrows to distract it.

"Take out its ankles! Cripple it!"

Charging at its left leg, I swung straight at its ankle, leaving a massive gash. The giant body begins to wobble as it loses its balance to stand. I went directly to the other ankle, slicing at it, making the giant collapse onto the ground. It rolled around, wailing its legs wildly all over the place. Eventually, it turned around to face me as it attacked me. Luckily, I ran back out of its reach in time as my father sent bolts of arrows at its back, making the giant howl in pain.

The giant turned its head back to my father. I gulped nervously as I thought of a crazy plan. But it wasn't the time to think; it was time for action. I sighed regretfully as I leaped at the giant, slamming my sword deep into the beast's body. The giant wailed as it tried to grab me.

"Will, what are you doing?" My father growled at me, but I ignored it.

I pulled myself up, launching upward out of the giant's reach, pulling the sword out at the last second, and slamming it back in. Continuing to climb up the giant's body, every so often out of reach. My father backed me up, shooting the giant's arms out of the way. Finally, I reached the neck of the giant's neck, which I gladly wanted to cut off. I yelled out as I cleaved the head straight off.

Jumping off in time, I landed on my feet, my body aching from the earlier attack as I moved out of the way. Letting out a gasp of air as I fall onto my knees.

Hell ya! I just did that!

I shook my head as I forced back the pain and soreness, and my body suddenly started to shiver, as if I were cold all of a sudden. I ignored it as I turned back to Lord Dimmal. Coughing slightly, I ran over to him, sheathing my sword. I was surprised to see the magnificent armor he wore was gone, leaving him in the navy blue leather padding he had worn earlier.

My father came over to me as he touched Lord Dimmal's neck. "He's alive, but barely." Lightning began to rain down in Hearthglen, sounding like the sky would tear open. "Help him up with me, Will!"

"Right!" I nodded as we grabbed Lord Dimmal, wrapping his arm around us as we lifted him. He was out of it, dazed, eyes fluttering, and mumbling mindlessly. I managed to grab hold of his sword in the process.

We rushed to our home as quickly as possible. Surprisingly, it is intact. The world smelled like dirty iron and decayed flesh. It was awful and heartbreaking. As we dragged Lord Dimmal, I started to cough harder, with mucus coming out of me as snot ran down my nose. Soon, fatigue was slowly getting to me. I felt like someone was pulling me down as my feet started to drag.

"You good, Will?" my father asked.

I looked over to him. "I'm fine, just fatigued."

I saw his face. He wasn't convinced.

We managed to get to the door. My father kicked it open without question, flinging it open. "Basement!" my father shouted. We dragged Lord Dimmal into the kitchen and into the living room. "Hold him."

I nodded as my father lean Lord Dimmal onto me, grabbing the rug on the floor and yanking it out of the way. He then revealed the basement door to us. He went over and opened it, jumping down. "Bring Dimmal first."

Grunting in understanding, I brought Lord Dimmal to the basement hatch, slowly lowering him to my father. But I didn't join him. I remember there was something I had to get in my room.

Mom.

I quickly ran back to the stairs as my father called out to me. Bumping into walls as I started to get drowsy, I barged into my room. Next to my bed, I see a photo of my father and mother resting on a worn-out table.

Just as I left it.

Quickly, I ran over and grabbed it. Right when I grabbed it, my body edged over as I felt myself about to be sick as I hacked up mucus and snot.

Dammit, not now!

After regaining control of my body, I clumsily ran downstairs from my room. My father caught me before I made it to the kitchen.

"William! What the hell are you thinking?" He yelled angrily at me.

"I'm good now!"

"Let's go!" My father shoves me into the kitchen.

That's when I felt it—something dangerous. My father felt it, too. I know he did. The world went silently as we made our way to the window that allowed us a view of the city. We slowly made our way over; everything went silent. I stared out at the mountain as I felt power beyond my dreams—power that I was terrifying, a malevolent power. There was a light in the mountain; it was small but big enough to be seen where we were. It floated up into the mountain.

The world lights up pure white all at once, blinding us all as I gasp harshly. As moments followed a thunder so outrageous that it felt like Kalos, the world itself shook from its violent rumble. Finally, the light settled as my heart froze.

The mountain.

It's gone.

I saw debris from the very mountain that once existed being hurled into the sky. I was in complete shock.

The mountain erupted.

A faint noise echoed into my ears as I pulled away from the window. After finally coming back to my senses, my stomach couldn't hold up as the vomit came rushing out of me. My throat stings as I cough more harshly than before, and my body starts to become even more sluggish.

"Will!" My father yelled as he grabbed me, dragging me into the basement.

Before I knew anything, everything went black.