First came the downward slash, which involved dodging. Dodging was only the first stage; after the battleaxe's head was embedded into the ground, it would be pulled up, sending a magma burst in front of the axe's direction.
Sidestepping, I sliced at Rudgar's core with a quick strike, only for the axe to be brought to a spinning A.O.E strike that would hit anything within his arm's length. Given Rudgar's long reach and massive axe, this would touch even corners of the battlefield.
I ducked the cleave and followed through with another onslaught of rapid strikes, repeatedly pinpointing one area repeatedly pinpointing one area. The point at which I focused my onslaught was Rudgar's right side, right under one of his glowing tribal marks, which now glowed hot red.
Rudgar showed no hint of stopping as he rushed forward, barely giving me enough time to jump to the side. That reflex potion was worth every gold coin, as it just barely raised my dodge chance of evading such a sudden strike.
You can only keep this up for a while, child. Not forever.
He yelled as he brought his axe up to the sky, shadowing the battlefield in an ominous form. Holding it up high, he roared with the fury of a thousand goblin warriors as he finished charging his attack.
Just as he brought the axe crashing down to the earth, sending rumbled terrain in all directions, I searched deep inside, channeling all the mana on my feet, and called the wind to throw me up like a rocket into the air,
Gotcha now; reaching out from his side, he produced a hand crossbow. Aiming, he grinned as he pulled the trigger.
You're not the only one with cards up his sleeves.
Stolen story; please report.
Holding my palm forward.
I activated the second palm of the pond: reversal. Glowing with a vibrant blue, a translucent giant palm appeared in front of my own. Rudgars eyes narrowed but did not stop him from holding down the trigger and unleashing a barrage of tiny cross bolts into the sky.
As they whizzed through the air, they were instantly deflected and turned back on him with a force multiplicative of his own. This is what truly caught Rudgar off guard. I'm sure he knew what was in store for him if he shot at the glowing, resonating palm in the sky, but for it to come back with fury was not in his plans.
The darts pierced his flesh, sending a whaling cry into the air. Around him, the eyes of the apostle goblins began to break. It was as if God himself was being made to bleed in front of their eyes.
As I descended, with the wind at my feet, my fall became graceful; one of the goblins got up and chucked a splintered spear in my direction. With the adrenal pumping, I easily dodge the piss-poor attempt.
Rudgar was displeased by the interference; before I could do anything or act, that goblin head toppled to the ground, making a crude example of what would happen if they dishonored the duel before them.
Enough, bellowed Rudgar as the battlefield had taken another turn.
The next stage was upon us, I thought as I readied myself.
And just when I got used to his attack patterns…
Grinning, my confidence boomed inside me. All this with just the system's tools. Even the blade of the soul was not needed yet. That's if it would come to me. Again, searching deep down, I knocked for that power to answer; my soul's warren didn't respond.
Something about the events transpiring grew my insides chill. It was as if this differed from the course things were meant to take.
"It's too early for all of this, Rudgar. You will fall today, right here, right now, in front of your legion of followers. It is because he beckoned before you were enough. It felt sudden. It was as if fate had no choice but to call you rushed. Well, that's because he did. You were supposed to finish your war, unite your people, grow and be stronger, then face me. I was meant to face a Rudgar far superior to the one who stands before me now!"
My words did not rise or fall; they were. I believed every bit of them. Inside, I felt at peace. I was right; on Rudgar's face, even he knew I was right.
Before he could interject, I continued.
You could still become the seed that sprouts; all you need to do is turn away. Run away from this battlefield and the early death before you!"
Now, I did scream; I yelled my final words as I held my bloody daggers up high, pointing at the zenith of the crackled sky, the one that filled with the bloody red of a setting sun. How long had passed? How many hours? How long had we waged war?