Skill-Less Swordsman

We continue walking in the now run-down and decrepit sewers, the only light now being the soft glow of the luminescence moss scattered across the sewer walls.

At this point we have been walking for close to an hour now since having fought that last patrol. Since then, we have come across numerous simple traps and patrols, somehow being lucky enough to avoid them all.

Recently the patrols have begun to slow down, with us not having seen one for at least the last twenty minutes. Though this only causes Uncle Moren and the two bodyguards to become even more alert for some reason.

“Hey, why are you guys still so on guard? We are obviously past the worst of it.” I say somewhat quietly.

“Shh! Goddamnit Rowan! I’m almost positive they got an idea of where we generally are. Must’ve been some sort of magical trap that we couldn’t detect.” Uncle Moren quietly hisses.

“Why wouldn’t we see more patrols then?”

“They’re taking their time with it, slowly shrinking the perimeter around us, squeezing us like we’re prey constricted by a snake. I’m almost certain they’ll have at least a few tier 5’s and 6’s with them, maybe even a tier 7 or two.”

Uncle Moren stops and pulls out a map of the sewers before ordering us,

“Alright here’s what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna pick a direction and start running that way as fast as we can. If we’re lucky, we’ll reach that edge of the perimeter they set up before the other patrols are to close together.”

He pauses briefly to think and continues,

“Then we’re gonna punch through fast and hard while I use the last charge of the signal disruptor to delay reinforcements. Hopefully by the time the rest of the patrols realize what happened. we’ll be far enough away that it won’t matter. Everyone got it?”

We all nod.

“Ok good, now lets get moving.”

Immediately after Uncle Moren says that, the Garut picks me up and heaves me over his shoulder like a potato sack.

“Hey what the hell man!” I exclaimed in surprise.

“You’re too slow.” He says in his usual curt tone before immediately sprinting off behind Uncle Moren and the older man. How the large waisted Uncle Moren and old boned Gael are moving that fast is anyone’s guess.

With the blistering speed I, and the rest of the group are traveling, I quickly realize I don’t know Uncle Moren’s tier, let alone the two bodyguards. I’ll have to ask them when we get out of here.

After about five minutes of full speed travel, we make an abrupt stop, causing my head to spin wildly. I quickly recollect myself, though.

“Jeez not even a warning?” I groan as Garut sets me down on my feet.

“They are directly ahead, I hear about twelve or thirteen. Some higher tiered officers to be sure, based on the uniformity of the footsteps. Rowan, I’m leaving any tier 1’s to you. Assuming this is two patrols combined with some higher tiered guys, should be about two of them. No more than that though. Think you can handle it?” Uncle Rowan asks.

I nod confidently.

“Good, because we won’t be able to help you out if you get in trouble, depending on how many officers there are.”

Rowan looks at Gael before continuing.

“Gael, you, obviously, are going to be taking on whoever the highest tier is there. Garut and I are going to split the rest in half. Hopefully we can take our guys down in time to help you out, but its not likely if they have a few tier 5’s on their squad.”

Gael nods seriously.

“Alright I’ll press the button directly before the engagement, we’ll need the full five minutes on this one, so move as fast as you can.”

Garut then quickly picks me up again, before sprinting full speed alongside the other two members of our group.

After about 30 seconds of running, the patrol comes into view. They are shocked when they see us, barely having enough time to put up a semblance of a defense to our ambush.

Garut, for the first time, pulls out his axe and cleaves it towards one of the more unprepared members of the group while still carrying me. The strike connects, leaving his axe stuck in the chest of the unfortunate soldier.

He sets me down and continues to press his advance towards a few soldiers on the left, though they are ready for him.

I look around at the rest of the fights going on.

Gael has seemingly split into five copies of himself and is engaging what looks to be some sort of senior officer. The fight is almost impossible for me to keep track of, but it seems like Gael’s winning, though I have no clue what is going on in the heads of such high level people.

Uncle Moren is attempting punching his way through soldiers, though it seems to be only marginally successful, seeing as how only one of the soldiers is on the ground. I’ve never seen him fight before, though I’ve heard stories. Tales of the dirty brawler Moren still get told in some of the less respectable bars in the Justice City slums.

Then, I spot my two opponents. One is tall and wiry, with a gaunt, and still shocked, face. I’ll call him tall guy. The other is muscular, a confident smirk plastered on his face, with seemingly no doubt in his mind that his seniors could ever lose. I’ll call him muscles

I quickly run straight at them.

Muscles seems worried for a second, but after gauging my strength, his face contorts into an excited grin. He quickly pulls out two short swords the size of my forearm.

Tall guy looks considerably less excited, and more resolute than anything. He brandishes a spear almost as tall as him from his back.

I go for tall guy first, attempting to get inside the range of his spear. Before I can close the distance though, muscles steps in front of me, bringing a volley slashes with him.

I quickly deflect them as best I can, but the strikes are quick, allowing him to land a few glancing blows on my arms.

As I’m engaging muscles, tall guy attempts to swing around behind me from my left. Before that can happen though, I dive roll right, keeping both opponents in front of me.

Taking the initiative again in an attempt to isolate a fight, I once again try to engage the tall one by getting inside his range. This time I’m marginally more successful in getting close to him, but before I can even try to bring my sword down on him, I see a short sword flying towards my head out of the corner of my eye.

I duck beneath the blow, only to see tall guy already out of my range and backing up. Muscles once again sends strike after strike against me, trying his best to find an opening as the tall one circles around me and pokes at me from afar.

‘I can’t keep going on like this, I’ve got to find a way to take one of them out of the fight somehow.’ I think to myself while parrying slashes and thrusts alike.

A spear suddenly comes flying quickly toward my head, forcing me duck and parry a downward blow from a quick short sword at the same time.

‘Hmm, that was quite an overextension by the tall guy, if he does something like that again he won’t be making it out unscathed.’ I think, mentally preparing a plan.

The potshots and quick strikes continue to pile up small cuts and holes all over my body. This along with my exaggerated heavy breathing, makes the taller one more confident. After a short few seconds, tall guy takes his chance, and widely overextends to try and land a killing blow.

I use this opportunity wisely, quickly deflecting a sword from muscles, and rolling towards tall guy from under his spear.

He realizes his mistake too late, and takes a deep slash to his gut. I follow this up with a quick slash to his neck, ending the man’s life.

Muscles takes a second to realize what just happened, but once he processes it, his face becomes twisted with anger. He doesn’t mindlessly attack, though. If anything he seems even more cautious than before.

We look at each other for what seems like hours, just as I begin to think we’ll be standing there all day, he pounces. Both of his swords go flying towards me, one straight to my neck, and the other at my sword in an attempt to throw off my guard.

The unexpected attack works slightly, making my guard against the swords going at my neck wobbly, allowing him a clean strike to my shoulder.

I retreat slightly, now wielding my sword in one hand instead of the two that I’m used too.

‘Shit, I can’t believe I let him do that! He must’ve put all his AP into agility and dexterity to be moving that fast at his level!’

We, again stare each other down, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

‘Alright time to gamble.’ I think to myself.

This time, I charge at him with a very obvious overhead strike. He very quickly moves to deflect it, even putting both swords into it, as he should believe the fight to be over once he blocks my ‘last ditch strike’.

As my sword falls downwards, I begin to channel my spiritual energy. As I take control of the spiritual energy pervading my core, I will my sword under his guard, thrusting towards his neck. Lo and behold my sword appears exactly where I willed it, with my hand yet again somehow traveling with it.

His face is filled with shock as he tries his best to bring his swords down on top of my thrust, but he reacts too slowly.

My sword enters his neck and exits out the back, and he looks at me, shock and despair all over his face as I see his eyes dim.

I pull my sword out and hear the dull thud of his body hitting the floor, and before I can even begin to recollect my thoughts, everything goes black for the second time in the past couple of days.