Chapter 27

My vision wavered as I tried to steady my breathing. I couldn’t feel the lower part of my body. I tried to move, but my legs wouldn’t work. In my mind I could see my health. Hitting that tree had cost me 70 points of my HP, leaving me at 31 points. I groaned and called forth my magic, placing my glowing hand against my chest. The tingling spread through my body, and my feeling returned. My broken spine mended itself with the Tower’s power. My MP dropped down to 81, as the heal Holy spell restored 50 points of my HP.

“Would ya look at that.” Hans was lazily walking towards me. The man was sprouting a dozen arrows, and his right arm was burned. Nyle was drinking something, and Lyn was still taking cover, another arrow trained at the man. “Yous didn’t die from that blow.” He grinned. “Guess the old man did a good job teaching yous Coals to block, huh.”

He took a heavy step towards me, his boots sinking ever so slightly into the ground from the sheer weight having both of his axes out added to his body. Another fireball hit his back, causing him to pause.

“If yous wants to keep wasting copper, go ahead and throw the fire and drink the pots little magic boy.” He was glancing back at Nyle. “But if yous hasn’t figured it out, fire don’t really do much more ‘an tickle me.” An arrow glanced off his head. No, it shattered as it hit his skull. He grinned and turned back to Lyn.

“As for yous missy.” He smiled, a wide, disgusting smile. “My cons high nuff my bones are rock solid. Basic arrows ain’t but slivers to me.”

He hefted both of his axes into the air as he reached me. He grinned down at me, and to my teams credit, they continued their attacks, despite Hans’ words. I looked past him, knowing my time was up.

“Leave me,” I called to them. “Get back to Ryker. Save yourselves.”

Hans made a tutting sound. “Yous really think they can runs fast enough? I can throw each of these axes over a hundred feet with ease. The moment they run, theys dead.” He spit on me, looking me up and down.

“Now en, boy.” He stomped on my leg, and the bone broke. Pain flared through me. I glared at him, hatred boiling. “Lemme hear you scream.” He stomped again, and the pain erupted once more. Bones shattered, blood vessels popped. I nearly blacked out.

“We’re Climbers.” I half gasped, half pleaded. “We shouldn’t be fighting.”

Another stomp, this time on my other leg. I saw my health drop down even more. It was at 20 now.

“Cuz its fun,” Hans said with a smile. “Ain’t nothin more fun, ‘en stompin those weaker an ya.” He lifted his foot again, and I winced in anticipation. He chuckled. “Theres the fear,” he said cruelly, “yous scared of pain, yous a coward.”

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He stomped down, and I cried out despite myself. I’d never felt such pain. It took root, and my mind wanted it to stop, begged it to stop.

And yet, there was something else there. Something that burned within. Hate. Anger. Frustration. This wasn’t right. This shouldn’t be happening. Hans shouldn’t be doing this. And more so, anger at myself for being weak. For being unable to do anything about this situation. For the gross differences in our strengths.

I summoned my nerve, and my magic answered. My hand was still on my chest from before, and I healed myself. Another 50 points of HP, and the bones in my legs healed, the pain washing away with a warm tingle.

Hans growled and stepped back, lifting his axe as he did. “Yous think you’re better then me?” He asked. “Les see how you feel when you can’t heal the injury. When yous have to die, before yous are fixed. Les see how defiant you are, when I make it so yous can’t even walk.”

The axe came down, and even if he’d not said it, the intention was clear. He intended to sever my legs, something I knew from speaking with the Acolyte, that wouldn’t heal until I left the tower.

I moved quickly. Hans had been hyper focused on his cruelty towards me. Nyle had continued launching fireballs at him, but at the same time, had been creeping slowly closer. Lyn, likewise, had been taking careful aim, looking for an opening.

As the axe came down, I did the only thing I could think of. With my right hand I threw dirt in his face, into his eyes. His axe faltered as he growled, and I was moving, lunging upwards, left hand driving forward. My dagger went up, between his legs, to the softest target I could think of. His bones may have been stone, but I had a feeling there was one bit of his body that was still a viable target. In a battle of life or death, there were no rules, no right or wrong. And Hans, his cruelty, his actions, had fueled my anger. Not a single part of me felt wrong for launching such an attack.

He screamed in pain, his legs flinching. He leapt backwards, dropping his axe as he clutched at his private area. Backwards towards Nyle, who had crouched low, rapier ready. The slender blade, with Hans own weight, drove into his side, punching into his kidney. And then, Lyn’s arrow flew true, catching Hans in the eye. The man stumbled, fell to the ground, and screamed in pain and agony.

“Yous done it now,” he growled as blood flowed freely down his face. The arrow shaft moved about as he focused on me. He slapped his right hand against his chest, and a wave of bright yellow magic washed over him. He ripped the arrow from his skull, eyeball included, and threw it to the side. Our efforts had been in vain. “Imma personally rip every limb from yous bodies, one by one,” he said in a crazed manner. I was weaponless, and only had enough MP for three spell. We’d had one shot to take him out, and we’d failed. There was nothing left, no other options. Hans, was going to have his way.

“If yous think I was showing you pain before,” he said with a sadistic snarl, “yous about to learn a whole new meaning of the word. Playtime is over.”

“I don’t think so.” A voice said from above. It was light, cheery. “As amusing as that last attack was,” the voice continued. It was definitely female. I looked upwards and could make out a dark shape perched lightly on a branch high above. However, the figure was wearing a cloak, and their features, everything about them, were hidden. “I’ve a job to do, and I’ve seen enough. You’ve got one thing right though, Hans,” the speaker said the name with sickly sweet venom. “Playtime is over.”