89 Clash of Steel (2/2)

And while many of Azuma's cavalry was able to follow their leader's actions, there were some who couldn't get out of the way fast enough. They smashed into Aura's flame shield like flies on a moving car's windshield, with the molten lines lighting up after each hit.

The scent of burned flesh made my nose wrinkle. ”Coming through!”

Azuma lost five riders in that first charge. Seeing how few there were of them, it would have been my victory. Only, I'd lost more than a dozen riders myself in that first run.

Once I was through their cavalry, I glanced behind me and watched as Azuma—his stupid magical spear back in his hand—pierced through the last centaur in my cavalry's line. His soldiers were no less skilled. By the look of the bodies lying in their wake, they'd each slain at least one of my centaur soldiers. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

As if to add insult to injury, the flame shield sputtered weakly. The flames at its tip fading as the molten lines that formed it dimmed. It seemed the spell had caused enough injury.

”How long has it been?” I asked.

”We're past the three-minute mark,” Aura said. Her voice was urgent. ”You've got a minute and a half, maybe more, before Fiery Blessing runs out.”

”Alright,” I ordered through gritted teeth. It was frustrating to admit that I might have the quantity but the enemy clearly had quality. We're going again!”

I turned my swifthart around for a second charge. My soldiers followed after me.

Azuma and his soldiers also turned their swiftharts around for another pass at us. It was on like Donkey Kong.

Beneath me, Myth Chaser's powerful legs stomped through the wet earth, bringing me ever closer to the next clash of steel.

They were fifteen yards away.

On my left, Aura launched a firebolt at Azuma. He just cut it in twain with his spear. Deep down, his skill impressed me, and I wondered if I could ever do something so cool as to slice a fireball in half like that.

The enemy cavalry was ten yards away.

My back felt sticky with sweat. My forehead glistened with the stuff.

Five yards away now. Azuma's spear tip gleamed under the light of the golden moon. OR was it a red moon now? I wasn't sure. All I could see was red.

I pulled my sword arm back and readied myself to swing my falchion forward as fast as I could.

Six feet between me and possible death. That spearhead was looking really menacing—the man wielding it equally frightening.

Then, suddenly, without warning from either of us, Azuma and I pulled our mounts back at the last minute, forcing them to veer to the side and allow us to launch a deathblow at each other.

The clashing of our shadowblades sent a loud and grating shriek across the battlefield, and all who passed us couldn't help but glance our way. They all knew what was about to happen. It was the tried and tested tradition of military officers fighting in single combat.

As my falchion's shadowblade pressed on the black polearm of his spear, it gave us a moment to exchange words.

”You're finally here, Dean Dapper,” Azuma said in a tone that suggested I'd made him wait.

”Sorry, I've been busy while you were lounging away somewhere,” I answered back.

The pressure on my sword was huge, and if it wasn't for Fiery Blessing, I might not have had the strength to withstand his push.

”I assume you're here to keep your word?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

”Yes-yes… I'm here to kick your butt and free you from your prison as promised,” I answered through gritted teeth.

”Good, good. It's not bad… wanting to challenge the impossible,” Azuma laughed. The laughter died quickly and was replaced by a menacing glare that carried with it the most intense killing intent I'd ever felt in my life. ”I hope you think nothing less than killing me will get the job done.”

I was so taken back by his murderous stare that I nearly broke the bind that held our weapons together. That would have been a very fatal mistake. Luckily, sense hadn't completely left me.

After taking a quick breath, I mustered my own killing intent and sent it back to him in a forceful shove of my falchion against his spear.

”Don't worry. I'm here to bring the pain…” better watch out, because if you haven't heard, you're not immortal anymore.” I don't know why, but I believe I was grinning this.

Azuma mirrored my grin with one of his own, and plastered on that emaciated face, his was certifiable gruesome. The kind you see in serial killer movies.

”Good,” he whispered so that only I could hear him. ”Finally, it's a proper duel to the death then.”