Dorian got into a fighting stance, prepared for any attack the robed man may attempt. “Let me guess, it was you who set up that little trap for us back at your old hiding spot. Pretty clever if you ask me, giving us a tip that would cause us to walk straight into it.”
The robed man remained silent as he slowly started walking forward. Dorian’s body tensed up for a moment right before the man dashed forward, using what looked like superhuman speed and slashing his dagger at Dorian’s chest. Dorian managed to parry the strike and swung his other sword at the man, who effortlessly dodged the blow. Within the blink of an eye, the man had already moved to Dorian’s right, stabbing the dagger forward. Dorian managed to barely parry the blade, but that was all he could do.
The man launched a vicious and unrelenting assault on Dorian, using pure speed to prevent any chance Dorian had at launching a counterattack. Soon, the robed man had Dorian cornered, nearly pressed up against a wall. How in the world is this guy so fast?! Dorian frantically thought to himself as he suddenly felt a flash of pain in his left hand. Managing to finally use pure force to cause the man to back off, Dorian felt a slow but steady stream of blood trickle down his hand from a large cut. Dropping the sword, he grasped the other with both hands, knowing that if had continued fighting with two, he would have been completely overwhelmed.
This time, it was Dorian who charged forward, using the increased speed and strength to keep up with the assault from the man. From the corner of his eye, Dorian could see a few civilians watching the fight from the entrance of the alley, one of them on a phone presumably calling the authorities.
Dorian swung his sword at the man’s head, who ducked and kicked his legs out to try to knock Dorian down. Anticipating this, Dorian quickly managed to raise his leg up, avoiding the kick, and using the moment to gain the advantage in the battle. Swinging his sword with precise and swift attacks, the robed man was now the one slowly backing away from Dorian, still keeping up with the assault. After dodging another strike, the man saw Dorian’s fist head straight towards his head. Managing to duck out of the way, he raised his dagger to block another strike from Dorian. However, the force of the strike was strong enough to force the dagger out of his hand and onto the ground.
Dorian pointed his sword at the robed man. “It’s over! Now, raise your hands above your head and–”
Hearing someone rush up behind him, Dorian dodged to his left, but not fast enough as the red dagger cut deeply into the right side of his stomach. The other cult member, still bleeding from his nose, had picked up his dagger and was now standing behind Dorian, giving the other man more than enough time to pick up his dagger and beginning his assault once again.
This time, Dorian was at a major disadvantage. The man with the red dagger didn’t strike often, but just enough to force Dorian’s attention away to parry his occasional strikes, giving the other man ample opportunities to strike at Dorian. Soon, Dorian was bleeding from several wounds, panting heavily as he desperately tried to regain his breath while dodging the never ending flurry of strikes. After parrying another blow from the red dagger, Dorian charged forward, knocking the man down again, and allowing Dorian to create some separation. Panting heavily as the two went in opposite directions, the red dagger on the left and the other on his right, Dorian tried to take stock of his situation. There’s still a way for me to win this, however…
Right then, the two again launched their coordinated attack. However, as the red dagger was parried, Dorian could see, as if in slow motion, the other dagger heading straight for his neck. The angle and speed of the strike were too high for Dorian to parry, but as he was about to dodge, he noticed the red dagger had once again struck quickly, right in the area Dorian needed to go.
Crap!!
Bracing for the pain, instead he heard a loud clang of metal as the dagger was parried, and the other man stumbled forward, his blow missing the intended target since Dorian didn’t dodge. Stepping backwards to create separation, Dorian looked to his right, spotting a familiar face standing next to him, sword raised at the two men.
“I thought I’d never see the day when someone would be able to get one over on you.”
Dorian lightly chuckled at Miriam as he tried to regain his breath. “That’s because…I’m trying to…incapacitate…rather than…trying to…go for the kill.”
Miriam glanced at Dorian and chuckled as she looked at the two men, who had now begun to back up slightly. Dorian, who had regained more of his breath, stood next to Miriam. “The guy with the red dagger…is no good in a fight. I can have him gone in seconds and…focus on the other. He’s insanely fast though, perhaps the fastest person…I’ve ever fought.”
“Noted. However, reverse the rolls. Hold off the man while I take care of his buddy. Go!”
Dorian charged at the man and swung his sword with renewed strength and vigor. The man, who was parrying his strikes, tried to get some attacks of his own in, but to no avail. No longer having to worry about another person, Dorian had the clear advantage again as the man was backing up towards the wall. After dodging another blow by Dorian, the man was about to swing his dagger when he saw Miriam’s sword piercing towards him. Dodging the strike, he glanced over and saw his fellow member on the ground, unconscious.
Dorian and Miriam both dashed forward, coordinating their attacks and completely overwhelming the man. Miriam slashed her sword towards the man, who blocked it but, once again, had the dagger knocked out of his hand and onto the ground. Miriam and Dorian pointed their swords towards the man. “By the authority granted by the Drengard government, I hereby place you under arrest.” Miriam said, slowly moving her way forward. “It would be best if you don’t resist.”
The man raised his hands up, before quickly lowering his left arm, a needle faintly visible in his hand. “Wait! Don’t–” Miriam and Dorian rushed forward to try to stop the man, but were too late as he jammed the needle in his neck and injected himself with what they assumed was poison.
His hood had fallen down, revealing a man who looked like he was in his late thirties, black hair, but also black eyes. “Long…live…Nurus…” The man said before collapsing on the ground, blood beginning to pour out from his eyes, ears, and mouth. Miriam quickly reached down and checked for a pulse, confirming his death.
189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu3wIIrVPI
