Chapter 48: [48] Retribution
"Argh!" Caylus screamed in rage as he broke free of the wolf's grip. He lifted his foot to crush its head to a mush, only for it to disappear before he could reach it.
Stark was already closing in with another slash, and Caylus braced himself for the blow, meeting the sword with a powerful strike.
Yet once again—
Bam!
He was thrown off balance, this time by a heavy strike to the back of his knee.
His eyes widened in shock as Stark's blade came charging straight at his head, but at the last moment—
FWOOOSH!
A heavy gale of wind exploded out of his body, curling like a cyclone and blowing everything around him several metres back.
That was when he finally had time to breathe.
Caylus took in a deep breath and rose to his feet, blood dripping down his broken nose. He held it between his fingers and cracked it, pushing it back in place before sneezing out the blood.
"To think you would force me to use my magic." He almost sounded disgusted.
"So you're some sort of summoner, right?" He unsheathed his colossal blade, the sword making a metallic shrill as it left its sheath.
"No matter. Let's try that again…" He sounded pissed.
•••
Whooosh!
Orange flames poured out of Kaeri's staff, the wave of unfettered ruin crashing into the magic shield of the knight she was facing.
They were a terrible match; he could use shields to evade and block her flames, while she had nothing to defend herself against his nasty blade.
Yet, Kaeri felt highly motivated.
For the first time in months, she felt like she was breathing. The feeling was exhilarating—almost intoxicating, even.
Now that she had tasted freedom, she could never let it go, not even if her life depended on it.
"Blast forth and scatter all those who dare draw near, bring calamity upon those who wilfully seek despair, Tidal Rush!"
Once again, fire poured out of her wand, exploding on the shield and pushing the knight an inch back.
Kaeri did not stop. Spell after spell, she unleashed her hellish flames upon the knight, who was increasingly getting frustrated. It was taking so much mana to maintain his shield, and Kaeri knew this.
She would either cook him like an egg or force him to charge at her. And when he did, it would be his own undoing.
But even as she put up a brave, unmoved front, Kaeri was not doing so great.
She was bleeding from a number of cuts and was running low on mana by the second. She had to end the fight soon.
"What the fuck? Don't you ever run out of mana?!" the knight screamed, hiding behind his shield like a rat caught in a spotlight.
Kaeri let her fire do the talking.
Bang!
The shield flickered, seconds away from being decimated. With his entire body slick with sweat and a dwindling mana reserve, the knight let go of the shield and jumped to a roll—
Just as the fire engulfed his previous location.
And then he changed, racing towards her with desperate urgency.
Kaeri turned to face him, sending three fireballs in his direction. The man slowed, his feet screeching against the ground as he allowed momentum, just as the fire came upon him.
Swish!
He split the first fireball in half, the two sides washing past him, then jumped above the second one, before finally reaching Kaeri.
With a maniacal laugh, he drove his blade at her chest, planning to end it all with one single blow, but Kaeri managed to dodge—
Just barely…
The sword sliced through her shoulder, ripping her flesh apart and adding another layer of red to her now tattered clothing.
He had expected her to scream, and yet she just stifled a groan.
Kaeri locked eyes on him and frowned, her eyebrows knitted together as horrific memories rushed into her mind.
He was a face she remembered perfectly well, one of Darell's goons who had tortured her into submission when they first bought her.
In a way, she was happy to face him. At least if she didn't have the honour of ending Darell, she could take it out on him.
But it was easier said than done.
Another strike came at her neck, but she nimbly jumped back, sent a small wave of fire to his face, and then, like a serpent, struck him in the neck.
It was a weak blow, but a blow nonetheless…
"Stay in one place, bitch!" the knight screamed as he delivered strike after strike, yet it was as though Kaeri was always just a second ahead of him.
He had not fully escaped her first attack, and so he was not at his best, but still…
"You're just a mage!"
Swoosh!
His sword came down upon her, digging into her side and drawing blood. Kaeri let out a breathless yelp, her eyes widening as he pulled his blade out and struck again, this time, a stab to her stomach.
Thankfully, she managed to dodge in time.
If not, she would have been dead.
She placed her hand on her bleeding side and screamed, then sealed it closed with fire.
With sweat-glistened skin and shallow breaths, Kaeri made her stand, lifting her wand at the knight. But then the pain rushed into her once more and she stumbled back before dropping the wand.
Her face mirrored her desperation as she hurried to pick it up. Although she did not need one to cast, it helped her conserve mana—
Mana she was currently low on. But before she could get it, an armoured boot found its way to her face, snapping her head back.
The knight scoffed and walked towards her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
She grabbed a handful of sand and launched it at his face, but the knight kicked her in the chest, sending her back to the dirt.
"Hehe, you should have just played your part. Be a good girl and you would have lived to see the birth of a new day."
Kaeri spat out blood, her gaze unfocused.
"I'd rather die!"
The man's eyes darkened as he stepped forward, lifting his blade up into the air. "Then so be it."
Whoosh!
The blade came down with absolute killing intent, the strike in perfect form. But against all odds, Kaeri still managed to escape.
"You cockroach!" He was about to raise his blade once more when the unexpected happened.
The elven girl leaped at him with a speed she was not meant to have, wrapping her slender arms around his neck, her bosom pushed against his chest.
As she leaned towards his ear to whisper, the knight pulled out a dagger to stab her—
But he never got to, because lips were faster…
"Kaboom."