125 Duel (2/2)

\”Bruce Lee?\” I guessed. \”Thanks… not that I get it.\”

He placed a hand on my shoulder.

\”You've been training very hard these past few weeks on learning a single thing. You may only be able to use it for a moment but that's all you'll need,\” Azuma explained. \”Watch for that moment, and when it comes, show him how you've grown, Dean.\”

\”That really does help, you know,\” I said, smiling back at him. \”Get going. I got this.\”

When Azuma had finally left my side, Garm asked, \”Are you done with your pep talk?\”

I nodded. \”Let's do this already.\”

The honest truth, I was certain Garm was more powerful than me by several degrees. That was no question. But if it was just a matter of stopping a single strike, well, I had a reason to be relatively confident, right?

Garm's soldiers moved together to form a loose square around us, leaving my back to my own comrades.

\”Good, time to see what all the fuss is about.\” With that final word, Garm unleashed his killing intent, and it was like running headfirst into a brick wall, huge and indestructible.

I endured it by the skin of my teeth, although the warning bells were screaming inside my head. My feet dug into the ground, I gritted my teeth, and then I too let out a killing intent that I'd been honing in training for a while now.

While Garm's own force was an unbreakable wall, the intent I'd envisioned was that of a single blade, like a knife in the dark, thrusting forward for maximum penetration.

Believe it or not, I saw the great general's flinch in surprise, which was liberating to see considering he'd already caused sweat to pour down my brow just by his intent.

Then, with zero warning, Garm pushed forward, his blade folding back above his head in what was likely to become a downward slash filled with all the power a single arm of his could make.

There were seconds between us—seconds for me to make use of the hint Azuma had given me.

Alone, I didn't have enough raw power to block such an attack, but with a little help from the spirits, I just might be able to endure it.

\”Spirits, give me strength!\” I roared.

Not exactly the poetic mantra I'd first envisioned, but it did the trick as the intention was clear in those four words. Also, I'd pretty much remembered the feeling already, that pull in your gut as something otherworldly brushed your cheek.

Electricity crackled at the edge of my shadowblade, a bluish light that exploded outward and rotated along with the edge, giving a clear visual of the falchion's oscillation.

Not a moment too soon as Garm had stepped into range. His greatsword came swinging down.

With both hands, I raised my sword in an upward slash because I didn't think blocking it would have been enough. I needed to meet his shadowblade with my own momentum.

Our shadowblades collided in midair. There was a boom. Then the pressure from our forceful collision spread outward, bringing with it a numbing electrical pain that had no doubt come from the spirits dispersing from my falchion.

I whispered thanks to them even as my arms felt numb. That single attack took all I had.

I glanced up and saw that Garm's greatsword had been blown back. His face was livid. I doubt he'd expected such a riposte from me.

\”Too bad, boy,\” Garm hissed. \”I never said it would be just a single strike.\”

Garm's sword slowly began its descent.

I tried to lift my arms to block but they were numb from the shock of Garm's previous attack. They were practically useless now.

Shit, I'd miscalculated. The dishonest bastard had no intention of honoring my request. While these frustrated thoughts floated to the surface of my mind, Garm's shadowblade inched toward me in unbearable slowness. It was like I'd been given time to reflect as death charged down at me.

\”Dean!\” I heard Luca yell.

I heard the drawing of weapons.

They would not make it in time.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a war hammer cut through the space between me and Garm, forcing the great general to pull away.

Then, as if by magic, the flying hammer zoomed back the way it came, right into the hands of the dwarf who'd tossed it.

Both Garm and I gazed at the dwarf with opposite feelings. If Garm's was annoyance, then mine was definitely one of relief. I honestly hadn't expected him to arrive in time.

\”That'll do, Garm. You've scared the boy right and proper.\” Great General Grimthorn stroked his braided black beard like a villain in a cartoon show. \”I'm here with orders from the Patriarch to assist you in the west.\”