The Ascendant Wizard

Morena barely had time to react when the blade tore past her head. She could feel the wind rushing past her skin, and the dirt exploding as the sword landed.

She had rolled to avoid the attack just moments before it landed; if she hadn't, she would be done for. But the man didn't give her any rest, not even a second to breathe; the blade dragged against the ground towards her, aiming to slash her head in one go.

Her dagger caught the edge, sparks flaring in the air from the impact. The force pushed her body, which lay on the ground, sending her rolling further away.

This was unintentionally good for her; she had created some distance and had a moment to breathe, a moment to think.

'There's no winning this.'

The thought was front and centre in her mind, she was certain that no matter what she tried, she couldn't win this fight. The gap between her and the man was just too blatantly obvious; even a casual swing was enough to harm her.

She had to escape somehow. She had already killed the two apprentices, which eased the pressure on her a bit, but the issue was the speed of the man.

On foot, she wasn't able to outpace him; trying to run would only end up with her getting caught and attacked from behind. She had to get back on her horse.

But the man wouldn't give her that chance; she had to distract him somehow.

Just as she was thinking, her eyes glancing around the field for something she could use, the man came pressing down once more.

His blade aimed for her face, her dagger catching the hilt just barely before it could reach her flesh.

But he didn't let go, he didn't pull back, instead the man pressed harder, the edge of the sword dragging down closer and closer to her face. She twisted her body and pushed off, breaking the pressure just before it carved her shoulder open.

His follow-up strike was already coming before she even hit the ground.

She didn't have the strength to block again, her wrist was still aching from the last few attempts. The gap between them was crushing, suffocating, a wall of raw power that couldn't be closed with just skill.

If she tried to meet his force with her own, she would only break her bones; she had to dodge rather than block, but even that was difficult due to his speed.

She forced herself to move, rolling toward one of the fallen apprentices. Her hand shot out, catching the hilt of his discarded blade, tugging it free from limp fingers.

The edge of the blade scraped against the ground as she pulled it into her grasp, hiding it behind her body so the man couldn't see what she had done.

The warrior didn't stop.

He was relentless, his heavy boots cracking the earth with each stride, eyes gleaming with murderous intent beneath the hood. He swung downward again, the force so strong it sent tremors through the ground as she brought her dagger up to block with one hand.

The clash jolted her arm numb, she could hear the bone in her wrist snapping just slightly from the impact, but it gave her the opening she needed.

Gritting her teeth and eating the pain, she twisted to the side, she used the momentum of her entire body to swing the sword she hid behind her back, aiming to get in between the gap in the man's defence.

It was a desperate attack, one that had cost her an arm, but it was the only choice she had; the only way she could make an opening.

The blade caught him off guard, he hadn't noticed her moving it because he was too focused on trying to kill her; but he was still quick enough to dodge the blunt of it.

While she missed her intended target of his neck, she still got him across the jawline, only grazing him, but it was enough to leave a line of red.

For the first time, he staggered back a step, pulling his blade away.

Morena's heart pounded as she couldn't help but smile a bitter smile.

The wound was barely deep, compared to all the trouble she had gone through she had barely inflicted anything; but that alone proved the man wasn't untouchable.

The man's head tilted slightly, hand brushing the mark at his face. When he looked back at her, she could tell that something had shifted. He still hadn't spoken a single word, but from the clear intent he was giving off, she could tell he was pissed.

As she focused her eyes on him, the AI prompted her once more of a warning, of her time limit growing even thinner.

[Warning. Blood loss accelerating. Fracture detected in left forearm. Estimated collapse in four minutes if engagement continues.]

Her jaw clenched.

Only four minutes? At this pace she might die to the man before she had the chance to die to the loss of blood.

But it was helpful information nonetheless, she had to get out of here before time ran out.

The warrior came again, and this time she met him head on, swinging both blades with every ounce of strength she had. Sparks screamed as they clashed again and again, his power hammering against her desperate strikes.

Each time she blocked, pain screamed through her arms, her bones threatening to snap under the strain.

The apprentice's sword bent further with every clash. It was impressive just how much force the blade had been able to take so far, but she knew it was seconds from shattering.

She had to do something before that happened, or she would be done.

She ducked under another wide swing, dirt cutting her cheek as she twisted low and drove both blades up at once. Her dagger skittered off the hardened flesh of his chest, useless against his armor-like body.

But the longer apprentice sword dug deeper, scraping along his ribs just enough to cut through cloth and skin.

Then she saw it, red; the gush of red that came not from her this time, but from him.

She had injured him, it wasn't deep enough to kill him but it was enough to hinder him.

Blood leaked from his side; his arm grabbing the location to stop the bleeding.

She could hear his voice for the first time, a low grunt of pain, just a second before composing himself.

But it left an opening, and that was what she wanted.

Morena twisted, planting a boot into his side with all her force. It didn't send him stumbling, but it was enough to knock him back, just off his feet so she could make a run for it.

Enough to tear free and sprint back toward her horse waiting at the edge of the clearing.

Her legs screamed in protest, the wound in her arm dripping down her side, staining her cloak. But she didn't stop, it was a matter of life and death, and pain was just a temporary measure to both.

She vaulted onto the saddle, clutching the reins tight.

"Move!"

The horse obeyed instantly, rearing before breaking into a full sprint down the road. The world blurred past her, wind stinging her face as she leaned low, urging the animal faster.

For a second, she thought she had done it. That she had put enough distance between them. That maybe, just maybe, he would be left behind.

Then she looked back.

The warrior was running.

Not on a horse, not with the animal he had followed her with to begin with, no. Just his legs pounding against the ground like a beast loosed from its cage.

His strides were wide enough that the distance between them, every step carrying him forward with impossible speed. The gap barely widened, if at all.

Her heart dropped.

'On foot? He's keeping up with a horse...'

The AI chimed again.

[Target speed consistent with Rank 1 Warrior projections. Pursuit likelihood: 92%. Escape probability: below threshold without external aid.]

She snapped the reins harder, her breath ragged in her throat.

Her vision was starting to blur; was it from the speed of the horse? Or was it from how much blood she had lost? She couldn't tell; all she could see were the trees blurred around her, the road twisting ahead. Behind her, the sound of his boots that never gave up.

She couldn't outrun him, and she didn't have the time for a chase, she needed treatment quickly.

Every drop of blood that leaked from her arm made her weaker, every ache in her body pulling her closer to collapse.

She had to do something.

Her eyes narrowed on the path ahead, scanning desperately for something, anything, she could use. A fork in the road, a narrow pass, a place where she could force him to slow down.

The AI provided her details in fragments, scanning the terrain through her senses.

[Upcoming: narrow bridge over stream. Two hundred and sixty meters ahead.]

Her lips pressed, dry from the dirt and air that covered it.

A bridge.

That could be useful.

She lowered herself further against the horse's neck, whispering under her breath.

"Just a little further."