94 The Medusa Touch Part 2 (2/2)

Azuma shook his head. ”I didn't miss.”

I sighed heavily. ”I figured.”

Our dance of death came again, but this time it was infinitely harder to dodge, block, and parry with my eyesight as bad as it was. Still, I managed it almost like it was a miracle. No. I should have more confidence in my fighting experience.

Somehow, I just knew how to react to each thrust and each swipe of his spear whenever it came. I could even dodge the kicks and punches he was so adept at dishing out. Although it wasn't perfect. Six times out of ten, a glancing blow would connect with me, sending pain shooting into my body.

Yet, despite the new bruises and cuts that appeared all over me, none of the fatal attacks hit. It was like some primal instinct was forcing me to work extra hard whenever death came knocking—and in this brief clash that lasted seconds, death came knocking loads of times.

Eventually though, after my fourth or fifth successful dodge of a spear shot aimed at my head, I felt a strange stirring inside me. It was as if there was another me in my mind asking me just how long I was going to run around like an idiot. I could hear myself ask, Why aren't you attacking? to which my conscious mind answered, Because I'm at my limit!

Azuma's spear finally struck home. It pierced deep into my left shoulder, cutting through the leather fabric and breaking the skin underneath it.

I pulled away from him half-screaming in pain.

The surrounding onlookers roared. Some cheered for their master. Others groaned for their wounded commander.

I felt the blood trickle down my arm from the hole on my shoulder. Sweat coated my back. My chest heaved. Still, my mind wouldn't shut up. It continued to speak words of encouragement. No, it was more like a taunt as the imaginary voice had changed to someone I really didn't want to hear inside my head—Luca.

Why not go past your limits? Imaginary Luca whispered.

Varda's chirpy tones followed up with, You can do it, Commander!

Then it was Qwipp's saying, Breakthrough, muddamit! Words mirrored by Edo's deep baritone voice, Breakthrough, idiot!

Finally, words spilled from the imaginary voices in my head that started out in Ashley's familiar low whisper, Push past your limit and gain new strength , ending with Aura's almost lyrical voice, You can do it, Dean. I believe in you!

Hearing all their voices in my head, I was prompted to say out loud, ”I must be going crazy...”

Suddenly, I felt heat explode out of my right wrist, and as I glanced down, I saw a soft glow rise out from Aura's golden bracelet. Afterward, a refreshing warmth climbed up my arm and into my chest, burning through my fatigue and slowly clearing the blurry haze from my sight.

”Dean!” Aura yelled. The real one. Not the girl in my head. ”Watch out!”

Her dire warning was easy to understand as Azuma had just launched himself toward me, his pale face filled with the determination to end our officer's duel. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

Breakthrough! The voices in my head screamed at me.

I stepped forward, my falchion raised high.

Azuma's spear streaked toward my electrum chest plate. No doubt, it could pierce my armor and skewer my heart, but I wasn't worried. I was filled with confidence that I was either about to do something awesome or learn too late that I'd gone insane right before the moment I died.

Breakthrough! The whispering voices called. Ashley, Edo, Varda, Qwipps, Luca, and Aura. Go beyond your limit!

Azuma's spear was mere inches from me now.

”Breakthrough” I yelled myself the fire in my eyes came back. It glowed with a fierce but obviously temporary light as I could already sense the haze creep at my edges, seeking to return me to darkness. There was only one thing left to do. ”Basilisk's Eye!”

As Azuma's spearhead had just scratched the surface of my chest plate, there was no time for a chant. Instead, I summoned my fairy gift by screaming its secret into the sky—and I was rewarded with that familiar searing heat burst out of my sight, showering Azuma with a pressure that I felt was much stronger than the earlier Basilisk Eye .

Azuma's body stiffened for only a moment before he himself broke through my power, but that moment was all I needed.

While my vision darkened even worse than the blurriness of a minute ago, I dragged my falchion down with both hands and sent it crashing onto Azuma's right shoulder. My sight vanished into blackness, but I smiled despite it because I could feel my shadowblade cut through metal and into the flesh underneath. In that final, desperate moment, I had finally cut down my rival.