"Bravery... Valor... Thoosssee golden hair and emerald eyeeesss... Aah... Ah... You are... yet again... a deliccciousss Fragment, indeed..." The being muttered, his tail slithered along the ground.
I braced myself right then and there, yet the being laughed. He laughed... and turned to us.
"It iiisss... a pleasssuuure to meet you again... Fragment. I am... Vladimir Blooddusk."
Vladimir... Blooddusk...? And... Fragment...? What’s that…?
"...what do you mean by Fragment? What are you?"
I inquired further but all I heard was a hiss, then a laughter.
"How unexpected... You are... not 'Bounded,’ yet... The 712th wassss... more clever than you. But your sssstrength... issss unmatched."
A gleam of jade appeared inside the darkness within the cloak. I presumed it as an eye but.... it was odd.
My skin shuddered, my whole body set off a warning alarm ordering me to flee, my blood froze and I could feel my heart thumping furiously in fright.
In front of him... I have absolutely no chance.
My intuition told me that. I was certain as it was the only thing that was sharpened even in my previous life. But not like this. This is way too abnormal...!
"Fear... eh? And you are... more immature than the resssst. Iiisss it related? With thossseee chains?"
"...what do you mean...? What... what are you? What do you know about me!?"
I shouted to fight off my fear, but that was it. My hands gripping the sword's sheath trembled and cold sweats slid down my cheeks.
"Heh... Heh he he...! I sssseee!! I sseee now!!"
With that said, Vladimir dashed towards me. Speed blinding enough to stun me and the great sword slipping out from his cloak revealed itself. I dodged out of reflex but the bladed tail snaked its way to pierce my head!
“Gh…!!” I raised sword to defend myself. Both weapons clashed for a moment-
*SHATTER!* And the sword shattered, the aftershock sent me flying for several meters then I crashed into rubble.
“Argh…!” I coughed out the air in my lungs. Slowly getting up, I heard a hiss.
“Ssssturdy. Asssss… I thought… it waasssss… alsssoo you who foiled Ivory’s attempt…” Vladimir hissed lowly with a ridiculing tone. His great sword moved in rhythm alongside his tail as if defending him like a pair of mechanisms.
That inhuman strength… This fear… And that name…
“…tch… So… you’re a demon… huh? Really, my luck is as bad as my weakness is…”
I spit out blood and rubbed the corner of my lips with the sleeve of my dress. Slowly getting up, I threw away the broken sword and shouted.
“All soldiers, to battle positions!!”
With one order and the beastmen all snapped back to reality. They drew out their arms while one particular soldier approached me and presented two objects. A pair of swords, one sword thin enough to be called as a sabre while the other was a metallic katana, plus with their sheaths as well as sword belts.
Finally. When I have these two back around my waist, I felt incredibly at ease. Maybe it’s related with both being tokens given by Fei…?
“Thank you. Go protect Elliot and Seine. Also, please retreat along with the civilians as well as the wounded.”
“Milady…”
“It’s fine. I’m not alone so go.”
The fifth squad’s captain bowed. His gesture was heavy but he went away. Right in the next moment – A shadow lunged at me and I grabbed the hilts of the two swords.
“Hmph!!”
*CLANG!* The profound sounds of singing metals reverberated, sparks scattered above me and between the crossing blades, I glared at the cloaked demon.
“Sloppy, aren’t you? You’re just swinging that huge sword wildly.” I commented.
“Exxxcelent!! But that issss more than enough to extract you, Fragment!!” Vladimir announced.
I shouted “Bring it on!” and pivoted. The swords in my hands flashed to blow away the demon but in midair, his tail flew to claim my leg.
“Too predictable!” I slashed at it, deflecting the tail away and rushed toward Vladimir!
Tyrfingg clashed against the great sword first. I could feel the heaviness and strength incomparable to my impression of Vladimir but I knew how to handle such overwhelming power! Sliding to the side a little and shifting the blade for a few degrees, I parried the great sword!
“Sixth Step: Dragon Bite!!”
*SLASH!* A wide swing followed by an uppercut struck Vladimir! I sensed resistance once the sharp blade cut the cloak but I saw the green orb glimmered for an instance!
The bladed tail flew from above his left shoulder. Using that blindspot, he intended to drill a hole into my abdomen. But – I was already prepared as I reverse handled the black katana, swinging it to defend myself from the incoming attack!!
Sparks flew, terrible force pushed me back and yet I refused to back down.
Once my feet touched the ground, I inserted Aura below the soles and bound me to the ground. Using that, I spun around like a screw. I followed the flow of the opposing force, guiding my swords and landed a clean horizontal slash at Vladimir!
“Nh…!?” He exasperated.
I’m not done yet! I yelled as I swung the black katana after Tyrfingg. The Japanese sword was made from multiple folding. The blade was extremely sharp like no other with thinness as if it was a glasswork.
The main advantage of a katana was its curved form, its center of gravity and the sharpness in exchange of its durability. The only way to wield it was – to strike the vital of the opponent in one strike.
A single moment for a kill. That, was the objective in wielding this sword!!
“Third Step: Soaring Fang!!”
*SLASH!!* The uppercut sliced the cloak and the enemy in a speed subpar than sound. As if on cue, the world seemed to slow down as the cloak fluttered-
“Heh… Heh he he heh……!!!”
“……..!?”
A shiver ran down my spine. I backpedaled the moment the shiver coursed in my body and in the next moment – two great swords descended.
*CRASHES!!* The two similar weapons destroyed the ground, created a crater and sending rocks away but the alarm inside my head did not stop ringing!
“Frightening. Frightening indeed, for I am no eeexxxpert in hand-to-hand combat. But…”
The cloak landed on the ground and I cringed at the sight. Even the soldiers exasperated in shock when we saw…
A feline beastman whose head was split open, blood oozed out along with grey matters. But in the middle where there was supposed to be an empty space… there was a head of a serpent. As if it replaced the content of the skull. As if it devoured the beastman from the inside out.
And not only that…
“U-uwaaaaaaa!?”
I heard a scream and when I turned my head, I saw another beastman in the same state attacking a squad. It had the same great sword, the same bladed tail and it attacked almost as skillful as the one I fought.
One by one, the enemy multiplied. As if they were all clones. As if they were all doppelgangers.
Then the deep green scales bathed with gore shone and the serpentine eye stared at me. I felt the gaze, and I unwittingly growled.
“You… You bastard…! What did you do!?”
“Ssssiiimmpplee… ‘I’ took over their bodies…”
The snake tongue slithered, the dead body moved sluggishly. Of all things, this kind of nightmarish thing was the first time for me as if common sense had turned upside down.
“Well, then… It iisssss time for the Assstral Festival!”
*BOOM!* Several great swords rained down upon the ground and sending rocks around. It happened right in front of me and it caught me off guard!
I flew out from the main trajectory of the bigger rocks, but – following me was a group of Vladimir laughing maniacally. They all possess the same weapons and their combat abilities are stacked up with numbers!
“Hya ha! Hya ha ha ha haaaaaa!! Where do you think you are going, Fragment!?”
One of them kicked a wall and flew to me. I brandished Tyrfingg and defended against the great sword while in midair, and used katana to parry the bladed tail. He aimed for my vitals without reservation and his movement was too radical to follow through.
Damn it…! Even though he’s not hard to deal with, he has the nerves to chase me around with most of his clones! The other soldiers were too occupied too so I can’t hope for a support!
After deflecting the last attack, I sensed the ground was close. I changed position to land with my feet then I retreated quickly. In the next moment and the spot I was in earlier was struck by great swords, with an addition of the rest of the enemies going after me.
*CLANG!* The swords clashed again, scattering sparks and letting loose ear deafening sound. I took a step back, fending off a bladed tail and alternating between the two different kind of weapons aiming for my life.
Although I tried not to let myself be killed, some still passed through my defense and carved small wounds. Again and again, the situation deteriorated as I continued to disallow my enemy from surrounding me.
But – I noticed one particular Vladimir went out of the ranks and chased me with a heightened agility.
“Ssssoooo ssskkilful! You are…! Nowhere close to your brethren!!” Vladimir exclaimed as he swung down his great sword.
“Well, thank you but I am not flattered!!” I replied and parried it then I counterattacked by slashing him diagonally.
Blood sprayed, the beastman corpse which was possessed by the demon fell down only to be trampled by the other enemies like a stampede.
Geh… This guy is nuts! Are all demons so tenacious like this!?
Just when I wanted to curse out loud, many presences emerged from the alleys.
“No way!? There’s more in hiding?!”
This is… seriously bad! If they were to let loose, then… the soldiers will all be annihilated!!
“Damn you…!” I cursed out, turning around and fled.
“Milady…!?” One of the soldiers shouted. Had he not noticed me, he would have realized he’s still fighting against the demon that possessed corpses to do his bidding.
But – unlike what I expected. The remaining enemies. The possessed corpses… all looked at me and they pursued me.
One by one. Ten by ten. Dozens after dozens. They all chased me as if seeing me as a terribly important reward.
“I knew it...!!”
They were after me from the beginning! So it’s my fault again troubles appeared!!
“Do you think you can esssccaaaappe, Fragment…!!”
Gaaaaahhh!! I hate this! I hate this development the most! Why do I have to attract freaks’ attention for fuck saaaaakkkeeee!!
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
-
-
-
-
In the end, I almost explored every nook and cranny of the city out of desperation. But it’s way too much as when I turned around a corner, I saw lizardmen soldiers and they added up into the batches. Now I’m basically a sole participant of the infamous annual festival where I got chased around by an angry bull…
Well, a stampede, more or less but I still hate it!!
“Stop pestering me!” I yelled as I slashed one of the ‘Vladimirs,’ severing the head from the body cleanly.
It fell down and it was soon trampled by the lizardmen and the other Vladimirs… So scary! This is just like some B-rated zombie movies!!
“ “ “Giiivve up noooowww!!” “ “
“That’s creepy so no! ABSOLUTELY NO WAY!!”
I shouted out but the death march ain’t stopping! How am I supposed to deal with hundreds of monsters wearing the same faces along with ground lizards wearing armors!? I’m not some OP protagonist where a blow is enough to decimate the entire frontline!!
Even more…
“Then how about… thiiisssss!!”
A green lump of energy blasted out from among the stampede. Cold sweats ran down my back and I sensed a large amount of mana pursuing me with the speed thrice faster than the stampede’s…
Could it be, magic!? I immediately leaped to the left, entering a narrow alley and when the blast struck the walls…
*BOOOOMM!!* A large explosion collapsed the buildings, turning them into rubble and small debris. A large crater was left at the spot where it directly hit against with and the aftershock killed a few of the lizardmen along.
“What the heck was that!?” I screamed out as another blast of energy homed in towards me.
No way!? A magic missile!? But the output is incomparable than what I have seen so far!!
“Khg…! Reinforce!!” I activated the second booster magic and it felt as if the world slowly slowed down.
In this state, my physical strength is tripled! I think I can escape but there will be no end. Also, if I cast Reinforce for the third time in succession, I’d fall victim to mana depletion, illness relapse as well as physical exhaustion.
In short… I will be rendered immobile with high risks of dying.
I have no choice, you know? Otherwise, being hit by that thing will insta-kill me for sure. I have to survive!
“But… what should I do to overturn this situation…?” I breathed out while hiding inside an abandoned building.
There were lots of books scattered around, the shelves destroyed and the whole place reek of violence and pillaging. Should I say… it’s fortunate that the Golden Word Master isn’t here?
“I’m pretty sure someone like him can deal with this kind of problem but that will cost me a lot.”
I exhaled. Not much I can do now… I guess I’m really weak huh?
I leaned the back of my head against the wall, raising my chin and gazed upward with a distant gaze.
“…haa… So there’s this much of a limit for one person to do.”
I slowly understand the burden of being alone. No one to rely on but I have to extend my hands to protect others even if they’re unrelated to me. Is it because I want to save them too?
…no. I didn’t do it because I’m being selfish. Not most of it but because I want to challenge myself by looking from the same view as Fei did.
I love him, yes. But in order to truly understand him, I have to know his hardships, his problems and his responsibilities. If I can’t even consider them in his account, how could I be able to be closer with him? How can I be able to recognize his feelings and burdens?
Sheathing the katana, I gripped Tyrfingg’s hilt with both of my hands. Then I flicked my gaze to the left, towards the back of the store.
*BOOM!!* A swarm of lizardmen along with a band of controlled corpses emerged. Like ants bursting out from their nest, the scene was definitely giving off a grotesque and repulsive impression.
Following after, I sensed the front part of the store being destroyed by another swarm and I could feel a large amount of bloodlust pouring from above in the form of lumps of mana.
“I was waiting for this!!” I poised a stance, sword pulled by my arms and I planted my feet firmly on the ground.
Focus! Focus a portion of my mana and aura into my sword! Concentrate in the blade and sharpen it, improve its durability, multiply the offensive power it could carry!! Enhance my vision and muscles! Ignore my fear! Put all of my will into the sword! Entrust my life in one moment! Forge everything…
Then… unleash it in one strike!!
“Draconic Sword Style: Seventh Step – Flight of White Dragon!!”
Right at the moment when the blade shone with pure white light, I leaped forward without hesitation. In front of me was a jaw of death filled with atrocious beings desiring my death and I have no place to retreat.
And yet – a pure white dome of light purified the area, cleansing off everything without leaving any trace.
-
-
-
-
I slumped down to my knees, breathing erratically as large beads of sweats poured down. After a little self-reflection, I realized I had exerted all of my cells and exhausted at least a third of the allowed amount of mana. Because aura too originated from mana which was refined and converted into usable energy, the strain became too much for me to endure.
But…
“Not… yet…”
I have to get up. Probably, that was only some small batch. Although I eliminated anything for ten meters radius around me…
”Aha ha haaa…! Ssssso you killed them all in one sssssweep huh!”
That detestable voice echoed again. I turned back, facing an army of Vladimirs who became more and more similar to cockroaches. Honestly, the numbers are too much and they had the same disgusting features I want to kill them.
I stood up albeit wobbly. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I pulled out Tyrfingg from the ground and looked up since I’m right in the center of the crater. Obviously, it was below the ground level.
“…well…? You seem like you have most of your clones reduced.” I commented while forcing a grin.
“And you sssseem to be at your limitssss… am I wrong?” Vladimir stuck out his tongue as his bladed tail made a slithering sound.
Geh… I guess I really am at my limit. With that big move, I don’t actually have any other method and if I were to use Blade Arts… I doubt Tyrfingg’s durability will last for more than three hits. Each and every technique I have is too burdensome for my body and while there are some easy skills, most are usable only when particular conditions are met.
If one element is missing… well, I doubt I could defeat even the weakened Bravzgaim.
So? Am I at a deadend now? I would have despaired and maybe I should. Unless—
“Kill them all!!” One particular voice roared, accompanied by battle cries.
And I saw them, soldiers with lances and swords leaping off the shadows, ambushing Vladimirs and killing them in one strike.
“Nuu…!?”
They could no longer pay attention to me so they had to fight back in place, but – I guess element of surprise can truly end a war.
I exhaled and detected a presence descending into the crater silently. He landed near me and I recognized his features well.
“Gram.” I called out.
“Sorry, we took too much time sheltering the civilian and the wounded, nya.” Gram explained. "But that sure was a flashy technique, nya. Thanks to it, we could pinpoint the location relatively easy."
I shook my head at that and smiled wryly.
“It was a close call. I never expected myself being the one the enemy wanted. Also-“
“Nyaha ha! We’re not done yet, right?”
I nodded down. Considering it’s a demon we’re fighting with, I doubt it will end so easily. Not to mention there’s this sense of foreboding floating around my mind. I looked at Gram and it seemed he had nothing good to assist him.
“Gram. You should use something else. I don’t think long sword suits you.”
“Huh? Why nya?”
“You’re more suited in assassinating rather than fighting, right?”
Gram was flabbergasted at that. Looks like I hit the bull’s eye huh? Well, he did attack me despite me using Aura for enemy detection. I didn’t notice him and thought he had a thin shadow but I could never be more wrong, especially when he always tried to hide his weapons behind his back.
Who wouldn't recognize that gait in walking? He's practically doing silent step just like an assassin would. To not make sound while using only the toes alone to walk is seriously something amazing if not conspicuous.
“Anyway-“
I set my gaze at one Vladimir who broke through the encirclement. He’s wounded the slightest so I guess this one is even stronger than the rest.
No matter how I look at it, I don’t think this guy has an endless amount of clones. While additional reinforcements appeared, I doubt he could replenish the great swords and I have a vague feeling.
What is it, I wonder…? This unease…
“I’ll take care of this one.” Gram suddenly interrupted and he dashed off like a gust of wind.
Fast! I could only watch as Gram drew out the long sword and… he reverse handled it? That’s a bit hard isn’t it when the blade length reached for one meter…? I thought I would see Gram doing a hit-and-run tactic but a shiver ran down my spine.
Cold. Oppressive. What… what is this intense pressure!? I nearly choked as Gram grew even faster and becoming a thin line of shadow zigzagging towards Vladimir!
*SLASH!!* In one moment and the demon parasite, the great sword, the bladed tail as well as the distorted corpse was sliced in halves!
Gram released the intense pressure he had and turned around. Right after he did so, the enemy was further sliced the body, making it into four chunks of flesh!
“Nyah? It provided less resistance than it would be, nya.” He said in dissatisfaction but no matter what… I think he’s the overpowered one here.
Ugh… are all men this strong or are they just stupidly more talented in killing? I would have barfed had I not experienced the cruelty of the world firsthand… Also, Fei is also ridiculously strong to be able to disintegrate his enemy.
Hmm… this is bad. I think I have to cross the lines if I want to approach even a step closer…
“Ah.” Just when I was pondering, a sound leaked out from Gram’s mouth. His jaw dropped, his eyes as round as saucers and he was… too comical that I’m actually suspicious.
Could it be…? When I turned around, I saw…