SWNOVELXO Chapter 11: Magic
The knight was the first to make his move, drawing his long sword and swinging down at the bandit's head hard. An outrageously loud ring of metal pierced Eric's ears, the bandit had drawn his sword and raised it above his head in one hand, totally stopping the knight's strike. He flicked his wrist, sending the tip of his sword flying towards a gap in the knight's armor, just below his arm pit. The knight jumped back just in time, his opponent's sword leaving a deep scratch in his armor.
"So, now you've seen what I can do, will you give up?" The bandit spoke.
"Not on your life."
"Perhaps then, some introductions. My name Jes'ran Von Veldsvar, fifth of his name, rightful lord and ruler of the city of Veldia, in the honor of my name I challenge you to a duel."
The knight's men burst out in laughter, heckles and jeers rang out from them, some went as far as to clutch their stomachs in pain from their laughter, even in front of this nightmarish beast, his claim was just too outrageous. The knight didn't so much as smirk. His face, while already serious, showed the hint of fear in his eyes at the claim.
"My name is Davin. Captain of the third section of the eighteenth platoon in His Majesty the King's Army. I grew up in a slum."
It was then Eric realized he hadn't heard Davin's name yet, maybe he thought he wasn't good enough, maybe he just didn't want to build a bond with a prisoner, but this was the first time he had heard it.
"Hmpf, very well." Jes'ran grinned through closed teeth.
With a grunt that was more akin to a bark, he leaped forth, thrusting his sword at Davin's forehead, who just managed to lean back and parry it, being sent off balance. A slash shot to his throat, the distance was off, leaving just a shallow cut underneath his Adam's apple, another centimeter and he'd have been dead. His eyes widened in shock. Davin threw a looping cut upwards towards Jes'ran's chin who in turn, tilted his head back an inch. Davin hit nothing but air.
With a bell-like ring, Jes'ran's sword smashed into Davin's right-hand gauntlet, the strike carried enough force to make his hand numb, had it not been for the quality of his armor, he'd be missing his fingers. A series of snap-cuts followed, all aimed at Davin's neck. Each one carried unimaginable force for cuts thrown with just wrist extension, Davin had to use as much of his focus as he could to parry with perfect structure, lest Jes'ran's blade blow through his guard and cut his neck apart. All of this force with just one hand was a feat that Davin couldn't believe, he was astonished. He was on the backfoot without question, he knew that any minute now he'd be killed.
"NOW!" Davin screamed with all his force and like men possessed his soldiers sprang into action.
They drew their weapons, a series of swords and maces and charged towards the magical fiend, A soldier Eric didn't know ran straight to him and swung his messer directly at his skull, with the flick of Jes'ran's wrist the solder's sword went flying out of his hand, followed by his hand, then his arm, then his head. The entire exchange took less than a second.
But the men did not waiver, a fully armored soldier swung a two-handed mace directly into the creature's chest plate. It made a noise like a gong as it deformed around the maces head. Sven followed up with a thrust of his longsword into his shoulder, eliciting a roar of agony that rumbled Eric's eardrums. He jumped back an impossible distance, all the way to his horse and one of his unconscious men.
"So, even this isn't enough to defeat this many trained men at once… No matter." He raised his longsword and plunged it into the back of the unconscious bandit's head, "I always have this to fall back on."
A red mist wrapped around his sword and up into his body, he took a deep inhale into his nose and the mist flowed into his airways. The veins in his arms bulged even further and his jittering eyes began to twist and contort into cat-like pupils, his iris turning red. He turned his sword around, gripping it by the blade in mordschlag grip. He kicked off the ground in a dash, sending a cloud of dust up into the air. In the blink of an eye, he was directly in front of the armored knight. He didn't even get a moment to react before Jes'ran slammed down his sword like an ancient tree falling to the ground, caving in his helmet, and his skull, with a ring and thud, he fell to the ground limp. Jes'ran's beast eyes flicked towards Sven.
"You."
Another dash coupled with the spin of his sword into the correct grip, this time in both hands instead of just one. An unimaginable flurry of attacks followed, crashing into Sven's sword time and time again as he struggled to parry. Just as Sven was about to be completely overpowered, Davin thrust his sword at the monster's head, who ducked just in time to avoid death. He swung his sword with all the strength in his body ad Davin's chest. It smashed into him, chipping the sword but, in an impossible feat of strength, cracking and bending the steel armor. Davin was lifted entirely off his feet and onto his back from the strike. Two men jumped over his body, arming swords drawn, they sprinted to each of Jes'ran's flanks and struck in unison, he parried one but felt the other dig into his right arm. He shot out his left arm with as much force as he could muster, the tip of his sword puncturing the soldier's neck. He rushed in that direction, spinning his body and sword around in defense of a strike he knew would soon be approaching, corpse still hanging limp at its tip. Indeed, the attack came and embedded itself in his corpse-shield's head.
He bent his knees and jumped into the air, over another horse and landing with his boot directly onto another bandit's neck. Enveloped in red mist once again, he became more beastly still, his hands growing thick claws from their tips and his teeth growing into needle-like fangs. The wounds he had sustained stitched themselves closed with strands of red flesh whipping in circles until they formed thick scabs on his skin. He shrieked in a tone no man had ever made before and the soldiers felt an incredible weight on their shoulders. Eric's mind flashed a memory, a blurry, barely comprehendible memory from his fight against the orcs. It was the same type of magical ability, an intimidation roar. Eric had, for the duration of the battle, stood in stunned fear.
"This is… possible? What the fuck."
His hands gripped his axe so tight his knuckles turned white. His knees shook and his eyes refused to blink, fearing a moment of darkness would turn to an eternity. He watched as Davin scrambled to his feet and readied himself again, Sven and all the soldiers stood just as ready, falling into a rehearsed formation, they had lost two men in a matter of terrifying seconds each, but they were still far superior in number and were determined to use it.
"You can' beat me, children. I am far, far older than you know. Far stronger than you will ever be," His voice sounded like his vocal cords were steel cables. Sharp, grating undertones ran through his voice, "I'll give you all one last chance to surrender, otherwise… I will kill all of you."
The soldiers said nothing, they just held their weapons ready.
"Well. Can't say I didn't warn you."