Most people would have trouble moving through the thick snow, but it didn’t seem to pose any issue for the charging warriors.

“Follow my lead!” The burly man shouted, swinging his axe in a wide arc.

“Oh calm down Tatsuo… The guy’s alone against the three of us.” The lanky man swung back his long hair and grabbed a knife from his belt.

The other Marked, a short haired woman, just glanced at the man in annoyance.

Edward ducked down, as the axe split the air above his head. ‘At least they don’t seem to be used to fighting together.’ He dashed next to the man, dodging his attempt to grab him, and thrust his blade towards the woman. She used the shaft of her spear to push the sword to the side. While their weapons crossed, they looked each other deep in the eyes and her eyes widened.

“It’s you!” She exclaimed. “I thought we left you for death. How did you survive?”

Edward tilted his head, furrowing his brows. He jumped back suddenly, getting out of the way of the knife thrown by the lanky man. It took a moment until he finally recognized the warrior standing before him. He didn’t recall her having short hair but he wouldn’t forget that face. He still had the scar on his chest to remember this woman by…

“You know this guy Camilla?” Tatsuo asked, leaning on his axe.

“I thought I killed him… Neither of us were Marked back then.” She brandished her spear towards Ed. “You! Did you awaken back then? You couldn’t have survived any other way…”

“Oh of course I did… There’s no reason to be embarrassed that it took you a bit longer… You’re just a bit slow, that’s all.” Edward trotted forwards, speaking over the loud gunfire.

“Hahaha, maybe I like you after all.” Tatsuo laughed. “Hey Camilla, are you going to let that slide?”

“Oh just wait…” She smiled viciously, gripping her spear with both hands.

Edward’s footsteps left deep prints in the snow. As he walked in between the two Marked towards Camilla, he suddenly bent his legs and dashed to his left instead, slashing at the thin man in a loose jacket.

“Watch out Evan!” Camilla shouted.

“Oh chill out… The fuck?!” The lanky man jumped back and threw two daggers from under his windbreaker, but he didn’t expect Edward’s slash to send out a golden arc without any warning. The projectile cut through one of the knives and cut deep through the side of Evan’s torso.

Edward took the other knife into the shoulder, wincing at the pricking sensation of cold metal tearing his muscles.

“Ahh… shit.” As the knife wielder cursed in pain, squeezing down the large gash on his side, Tatsuo and Camilla jumped at Ed from both sides.

“Alright, you messed around enough little man.” The burly warrior swung down his axe.

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“Just die.” Camilla synced the attack, stabbing with her spear. She knew there was no way for the young warrior to dodge both attacks at once. Her eyes widened when Edward ignored her strike, letting the spear pierce his shoulder blade. While the sharp tip went through his back, he turned his body, letting Tatsuo’s axe hit the ground next to him.

‘I can take a lot, but one strike of this man might just cleave me right in half,’ thought Ed, feeling the ground tremble under him. He jumped back with the spear still embedded in his torso.

“Fuck.” Camilla lost her grasp on the weapon.

“Ah… Shit!” Edward grunted, grabbing the shaft of the spear piercing his body. He clenched his teeth and pulled it all the way out the front. He felt his tissues starting to form back the connections, but suddenly he got overcome by the feeling of weakness.

‘Something’s wrong…’ He moved his left arm around, feeling a numbness in his shoulder. Narrowing his eyes, he grabbed the dagger stuck in his body and pulled it out. Some blood splattered on the snow. Edward looked at the blade with curiosity. He noticed the wound in his deltoid wasn’t closing. He glanced at the lanky man. Despite his horrid state, the warrior was smiling at him.

‘Poison? But the edge doesn’t seem to be coated in anything… Can it have something to do with that person’s legend? But how does aura transform into a poison…’? Well I guess…’ Edward didn’t get to deliberate the issue any longer, since the other two Marked were already jumping for his throat. Camilla was now holding a dagger, which Edward wondered where she was hiding, considering her slim bodysuit that made her look like a diver didn’t seem to have any pockets.

Tatsuo held up his axe and smashed it down. Edward was ready to jump back, but apparently the man wasn’t even aiming for him. The blade embedded itself deep in the ground, and large cracks spread out under the snow. It felt like a small earthquake, causing Ed to lose his footing. The warrior must’ve timed it for when his ally was in the air, since Camilla was about to bury her dagger in Edward’s chest. He tried to parry it with his sword, but he managed to only push it away near his collarbone. The young warrior let out a low grunt.

“That’s it… It was very arrogant of you to face us alone, you know?” Camilla smiled sadistically.

Instead of answering, Ed grabbed her by the waist, pulling her in. Tatsuo, who was about to slash him in half, stopped mid swing. “Get out of the way Camilla! You’re fucking useless with your small dagger.”

“Shut up, you didn’t even hit him once.” She pushed away from Edward, twisting the dagger as she pulled it out. “And you! Make yourself useful Evan. I don’t care if you’re wounded.” She turned towards the lanky man with furrowed brows.

“Wow, who made you the boss…?” The man still kept his left hand on the wound, but reached towards another knife with the right one.

Edward was getting ready to finish off the wounded opponent, but the man ran in the opposite direction instead, chuckling while coughing out blood.

‘Huh… Where is he… Shit!’

Where the man was running towards, two groups of warriors were engaged in a clash. And on the forefront of Alexander’s side, Katrina swung her spear, keeping the enemies at bay.

Ed quickly gathered some aura into his sword, sending a golden blade after Evan. Already familiar with this attack, the thin man glanced back, and ducked under the flying arc which dissipated a couple meters further. Edward dashed after the opponent, but stopped in his tracks, bending back as a golden axe almost split his face.

“Oh you’re staying here with us little man…” Tatsuo bared his white teeth. He bent his back pullin up his weapon.

Camilla adjusted the knife in her hand, standing at the man’s side. Edward looked past the duo barring his way. Even if he somehow rushed past them… He would only be leaving them free to slaughter the rest of his allies. His eyes jumped from Katrina’s figure, unaware of the approaching danger, to the two Marked in front of him and to the soldiers fighting on his left.

He gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on the leather hilt of his sword. ‘Fuck,’ he exclaimed in his head.