Chapter 7: Flaming Sword
From the moment he had gone on the attack, Blake's heart had begun beating thunderously and it was only after he sliced off his opponent's head and now faced the three remaining opponents that it calmed down a little.
Looking at the three men, Blake was still contemplating his next action when he felt a hard stare on his being, this stare coming from the kneeling man who was looking at him with a glint.
Sir Felix was a knight and when Blake saw the dangerous glint the man threw his way, he knew that despite being on his last legs the old soldier was ready to go into action and that he had to be ready to use the opportunity to either flee or join him to get rid of the enemy.
A second after the glint came, Felix exploded with strength and mana, the man standing up with powerful momentum and swinging his blade at the men before him and while he did that, Blake who was to the side and had already calculated that his best option for survival was to help the knight vanquish the enemies also kicked forward, and though by the time he arrived close to the enemy, Felix's charge had already been stopped by one of the men with a sword, it did not bother him as he immediately performed a skill.
[flaming slash]
The sword Blake had picked up was a normal steel sword of good weight, but as he invoked his skill, the sword's blade became set ablaze with fire and Blake not hesitating even once swung it at one of the men who had moved to engage him.
The man had raised his sword planning to block Blake's attack, but when Blake's flaming sword collided with his, it sliced through it like it were butter and then proceeded to also slice him in half.
The second Blake's flaming slash skill ended, he felt a strong weakness hit him from within but remembering that he was still in a battle Blake ignored this feeling and focused on eradicating his remaining enemies, most especially the one who had actually been able to stop Felix's strike.
With a fluid motion, Blake reached for the head of his still standing opponent whom he had just cut in two with his left hand, grabbed his head and then with a shout yanked his upper body from his detached lower body and not minding the shower of blood that fell onto him and he flung the body with all his strength at Felix's opponent and then narrowing his eyes quickly followed after or at least attempted to because just as he took a step forward, a sword came swinging for his head and he had to cancel his offensive plans and go on the defence.
With haste, Blake raised his sword and blocked the swing and though he found himself able to comfortably hold back the blade of his opponent, the speed and fluidity with which the man pulled back his sword and then sent it sailing back at him left him on the back foot and retreating.
As Blake took a few steps backwards, from the corner of his eyes, he saw the half-body he threw had collided with Felix's opponent and felt relief when he saw that the knight was able to use that opportunity to slash his swords through the left side of his opponent.
"Nice, "Blake thought focusing back on his opponent and being a little reassured that he wouldn't be ganged up on by two people anytime soon,
Seconds after a few clashes with his opponent and finding himself continuously on the defence, a worrying thought couldn't help but cross Blake's mind.
"Could he be an aspiring swordsman," Blake thought but then he remembered the stringent requirements behind such a class and shook his head.
"No, he should be an aspiring paladin, one really skilled with the sword."
"+20 points to my agility" Blake thought and with that, his clashes became a bit more favorable, but minute later, though Blake could at least more easily perform the necessary twists and turns that helped him face his opponent he could still see no way to win the duel he had become embroiled in.
"What advantage do I have over my opponent": Blake asked himself as he leaned to the side and dodged a downward swing, but then just as was getting ready to raise his left hand to block a hook which his opponent had thrown, a light bulb went off in Blake's head.
"I need to be bolder, I'm stronger and should not be afraid to receive a bit of damage," Blake thought and gritting his teeth he let his opponent's punch hit him, and then a second later also punched his opponent as hard as he could
Of course, though this hit of his didn't send his opponent falling to the ground like the first man he had killed, its surprising nature stunned his opponent and had him take a step back, and letting out a shout, Blake swung his sword at him with all his might and as fast as he could, even setting it ablaze despite the stinging pain that erupted from within him.
Though this time the flames on the sword were less intense, when the sword came in contact with his opponent's blade which the man had been able to bring up, it sliced through it, facing just a bit of resistance and then took off the man's head.
Breathing heavily, Blake spent no time celebrating his victory and instead looked to Felix and seeing the man standing upright and looking at him with an impressed smile, Blake fell to his knees clutching his stomach with a pain-filled expression and then despite how much he tried to stay kneeling he collapsed to the floor a system prompt flashing just as he passed out.
[Ding! Warning the host is out of mana]