NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: The Green Moon
Himura Satō
Quickly pulling out my long blade, I slash at the flying creature. The creature's body was surprisingly frail but there were a lot of them, more than a hundred by the looks of it. "Welp, might as wel–" As I was about to comment something, another assaulted me with its claws but I managed to bat it away from me only for another to go for my throat.
Oddly enough, I feel that tingling sensation again but it quickly disappears as I move out of the way. The creature flies up and rushes into another armed man, the creature I batted away tries to do the same but I stomp on its head, killing it.
More and more seem to swarm me so I swing my long blade killing maybe three. I could not tell as I was already exhausted. Haggard and slumped against a building, I watch as another flies towards me but just barely, I move out of the way.
I'm tempted to unequip my gauntlets but I don't have time. My sleeves were folded up above my forearms and I did not trust the wrapping I had to cover me. My feet were heavy as if I was carrying stones for boots. "Haah…haah…haah…"
As another twenty rushes towards me and the others on the street. In that moment stone bricks hit enough of them to disperse. Looking back, men and women wearing brownish cloaks and staffs fitted with brown gems, the same as the one I have. With their off-hand, they raise their arms slightly the bricks that made up the roads float up. They thrust their staffs up in the direction of the flying creatures and in response, the bricks flew at high speed.
Many of the bricks missed but the men and women held their staffs with both hands and with precise movement, turned the bricks around, and then they moved their staffs in a sweeping motion which then hurled into the flying creature's brain.
The bricks stood still for a moment but they then pulled on their staffs back which recalled the bricks back to their sides. I stand up, my stamina somewhat recovered. The mages, if I am not mistaking it, disperse into different areas of the city.
Thanks to them I was finally able to think for a short while. Looking at a nearby gate, there were people wielding spears stabbing the creatures beyond the wall, and all around the streets were men and women fighting the flying creatures, some getting killed.
The sight made me want to vomit, but staying expressionless, I ready myself. "I know it's been years but how am I this shit at sword fighting? Have I forgotten the different types of attacks, the maneuvers, the stances, and all the million things that should be embedded in me by now?" I said, frustratingly, "I know it's been years and I'm not exactly fighting people, but my experience should at least help me not die and most importantly, conserve my energy."
A creature flies towards another man, pinning him down but I intervene by kicking it away. As it flies, I move my entire arms, heavily slashing down, cutting it in half. Another creature flies towards me with another one behind it.
I align my arms and blade in a downward diagonal then, I push my forearms forward, cutting the torso deeply. And with a quick pull, the blade was just above my right shoulder, the blade behind me and the pommel aimed at the following creature.
Thankfully, these creatures are stupid enough to not care about my telegraphed attack. "I should have telegraphed a downward slash instead to trick them…if they weren't stupid that is," I remark. I stun the creature with the pommel but it was very close to me so I take one step back with my left foot while raising the handle with both hands, and at the perfect moment, I slash downwards.
The long blade rests near my lower torso, aimed slightly upward. I thrust my blade into another creature, going halfway through the blade before dying. I cut the air to push the body out of my long blade.
Three more creatures rush me. I flick my wrist and slice the side of the neck of the first creature. I put my right leg on it and crushed its skull. For the second one I cut vertically then for the third, I push the handle towards its chin and while stunned, a bolt shoots through its chest.
I hop back then dash forward. My arm is like water but at the perfect moment, I harden it as I slash in a downward right diagonal, moving not just my arms, but my entire body as well. I catch my breath. With that attack, I was starting to feel myself again. My entire body feels softer like dough.
Previous experiences were useful but I moved like a robot and with dynamic enemies like these, I forced myself to slowly modify those techniques just to win. I was starting to enjoy myself, not the act of killing, which was disgusting but the fact that I had to improve to win.
No drug could ever replicate the elation I feel when I improve even for something minor. Swordsmanship was starting to become free-flowing, just like whenever I wield my switchblade. "Part of the reason that I started preferring knives to swords was because of the feeling flow that I feel, like water in a river for example." But it seems, I was mistaken to dismiss swordsmanship as a blocky fighting style meant for only fighting people.
I cut my line of thought and look back. The man I saved earlier was on his knees, crossbow in hand. We nod to each other, and he reloads his crossbow as I dash forward towards more flying creatures. Putting my blade inside the scabbard, I continue to run.
Another creature beyond the walls rushes me as the gate is breached. I push the handle down slightly, and the attachment of the scabbard moves in response. I stop in my tracks and slash it with one hand lightly, even when my entire body supports that attack.
With the blade above my head, I take my left hand and hold the blade with both hands, then slash his face downwards, sliding my left foot back. Blinded, it tries to grab me with both arms but I slide my left foot further, dropping slightly, dodging the attack.
I slash his throat horizontally but it gets stuck. I then quickly place my left hand at the halfway point of my blade and continue the slashing motion, cutting deeply enough that the creature falls to the ground. I dodge its blood and body. "Haah…haah…haah…"
I wipe the sweat off my face. If I have to guess, it's been less than ten minutes since this green moon appeared. The next moment, a dome-like shape barrier appeared over the city. Above the dome, a magical circle glowed slightly before disappearing. The green hue that was over everything was gone and the color returned to normal.
The monsters outside the dome bashed at the mysterious barrier but nothing happened. The ones still inside were killed by people clearly stronger than me. Behind me, there was a light that I could not help but stare at. Atop of the tower was the source of the barrier but the light was blinding so I could not see who it was.
The light felt calming like a fire of a hearth. The people sighed in relief. There was no shout of victory or cries of loss, just relief. I found myself sighing as well, looking at the green moon, I wondered about the fates of other cities yet right now, I know nothing of this world but there is one thing I'm certain of. "Just for tonight, no monsters will ever assault us again."