NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: Wounded
Back to Orion confrontation with the gang
With unwavering confidence, Orion commanded Zoser and Lena to fall back: "Go now. I'll deal with these alone."
Before the gang could react, Orion charged like a tempest. Moonlight glinted off his blade as his first strike sliced through a thug's shoulder. The man collapsed, screaming, his blood staining the dusty ground.
"Don't let him win!" bellowed the gang leader. "Attack him—*together!*"
Three men rushed Orion at once. He deflected the first strike, sparks erupting from clashing steel, then twisted to dodge a dagger aimed at his back. Still, one assailant nicked his thigh, drawing a thin line of blood.
Unshaken, Orion turned the fray into a display of lethal precision. His sword arced through the air, piercing an attacker's chest with a visceral *thunk*. The man crumpled, lifeless.
The remaining thugs faltered, but their leader roared, "He's *one man*! Kill him!"
Another swung a crude wooden club. Orion ducked, spun, and cleaved the weapon in two. The blade's momentum struck the man's skull, felling him instantly.
Fatigue began to weigh on Orion. Seizing the moment, a thug lunged from behind—but Orion whirled and drove his sword through the man's heart. Wide-eyed, the attacker slumped to the ground.
Only the leader remained. He glared at Orion, now bloodied but unbroken, and sneered, "You're strong… but exhausted. I'll finish what they started!"
"Try," Orion replied, icy calm.
The leader surged forward, sword swinging wildly. Orion blocked the strike, staggering backward, then pivoted to evade a second blow. In one fluid motion, his blade pierced the leader's side.
The man crumpled, gasping, his eyes brimming with terror. Orion loomed over him, sword raised. "You chose the wrong path," he murmured. A final strike silenced the leader.
Breathing heavily, Orion stood amidst the carnage, his body battered but triumphant. He wiped his blade on a dead man's cloak and turned toward the moonlit meadow where Zoser and Lena had fled. Softly, he whispered, "I hope they found it."
As the moonlight trickled through the twisted branches, Orion staggered toward the meadow. Leaning heavily on his sword, his steps were labored, and his battle wounds still bled. When he approached, his gaze fell on Zoser and Lena.
Zoser knelt before the Lunar Herb, staring at its mysterious glow, while Lena stood nearby, clutching a small pouch and scanning their surroundings cautiously.
"You found it…" Orion said weakly as he drew closer.
Zoser flinched at the sound, then turned quickly. "Orion! You're okay!"
But Lena, ever watchful, eyed him with concern and said, "You're bleeding. You shouldn't have come in this condition."
Orion gave a faint smile. "I had to make sure you were safe." He then gestured toward the herb. "Don't waste time. It needs to be preserved properly before it withers."
Lena nodded and pulled out a small leather pouch engraved with ancient symbols from her bag. "This is where we'll store it."
Zoser stepped forward hesitantly, his eyes reflecting doubt and fear. "How do I pick it? What if… what if I mess it up?"
Orion, now seated on a nearby rock and wiping the sweat from his brow, replied, "Be gentle. Hold it by the stem carefully, and pull it slowly. Don't hesitate, but don't use too much force either."
Zoser took a deep breath and extended his hand toward the herb. He felt an odd warmth as his fingers touched it, almost as if it were alive and aware of his presence. With deliberate care, he pulled the herb from the ground. Its glow flickered briefly before stabilizing.
"I did it…" Zoser whispered, staring at the herb in his hand.
Lena quickly approached him and opened the leather pouch. "Put it in here, gently."
As soon as the herb was placed inside the pouch, a faint light shimmered from the engraved symbols, as if confirming its protection. Lena sealed the pouch tightly and tucked it into her bag.
Then she turned toward Orion, whose pallor had worsened. "You need to rest, Orion. We can't move now with you like this."
Orion gave a faint smile and replied, "Don't worry about me. Just make sure the herb reaches the chief's daughter."
Lena retorted sharply, "No one is leaving without you. We'll rest here until dawn. Then we'll move together."
The three of them sat together in the quiet meadow. Zoser gazed up at the sky with cautious optimism, Lena checked the pouch to ensure it was securely sealed, and Orion surrendered to a brief moment of respite, determined to regain his strength for the journey ahead.