Chapter 10 - Derick vs Henry (1/2)

Henry swung his blade at Derick. Digging his lance into the ground Derick leaped up, becoming airborne. He twisted his hand around the lance and flipped his body in the air. Propelling his body towards Henry. Derick kicked Henry's side. Rising an arm to block the kick he staggered a bit.

”That was quite a kick but, there's not enough weight behind it!” Grabbing Derick's ankle Henry pulled Derick along with his momentum and threw him at the fountain. Taking his lance with him Derick made an unsteady landing.

”What, it that all of your power old man?” Jumping lightly Derick initiated the charge this time. Unleashing a rain of jabs Henry raised his sword to block them when another high kick flew towards his face. Henry dodged and tried to counter but Derick had already used the momentum from his first kick to swing around and unleash another high kick. Blocking with his sword Henry grunted under the weight.

”I thought you were supposed to be a lance master, why all the kicking?” Pushing off Derick's foot Henry made some distance between them.

”Why not? Who says a lance master can't learn to kick as well?” Derick twirled his lance in his hand.

”Ok, well how about you show me some of your skills 'lance master'.” Henry inhaled and exhaled, controlling his breathing after Derick's assault.

”Watch out.” Derick threw his lance towards Henry. It was abrupt and fast. Just as the lance was about to pierce Henry he pushed off from his weapon, letting go of it. Derick wasted no time as he went after the weapon less Henry. Throwing out a left punch Derick started to batter Henry with punches. Although he had only one arm the speed at which he used his left arm to punch made it look like he was using two arms. Calmly parrying each punch Henry stomped on the ground and used all his strength to punch Derick's left side. Sensing the difference in his punch Derick stopped and leaped away. The whip like crack from Henry's punch caused the stone path around him to crack like a crater. Derick raised his left arm to try to shield himself from the wind pressure. The wind becoming like blades, cutting into Derick's skin. Cuts on his legs, arm, chest, and face appeared. Though the cuts weren't deep they still stung like a needle prick when he moved. Breathing out a breath of hot steam Henry dropped his arms.

”Well? Aren't you going to fight me?” Raising his arm Henry beckoned Derick to come to him. Teeth gritted Derick charged in again. When he was about three meters from Henry Derick disappeared. Surprised Henry lowered his guard for a second until he saw that Derick had not disappeared but had just lowered himself. Gliding close to the ground Derick shot upward with a sharp kick. The heel of Derick's foot landed on Henry's chin, knocking his head upwards. Stunned Henry couldn't do much except stumble back. Seeing as his strike worked Derick went in again for another kick. Bringing his foot back down on Henry's shoulder Henry fell to his knees.

”Not so strong now huh?” Derick looked at Henry with a smug look in his eyes. There was no response except silence. Derick observed Henry for a while. Seemingly coming back to life Henry sighed.

”Again with the kicking! C'mon, don't hold back or else I won't be able to enjoy this.” Henry got up and patted his knees, rolling his head side to side, cracking his knuckles. ”Come, Dredalia.” With a flick of his wrist he motioned for his sword to come to him. Rumbling the sword rose from the ground and flew towards Henry. Derick dodged the sword and saw as Henry clasped his hands around the handle. The sword changed shape, wiggling like a bag full of animals, then it settled on a form similar to its original form except the blade was cut in the middle, leaving an inch-wide gap in between the two blades. Swinging his weapon Henry looked satisfied.

”Well? Aren't you going to get your lance? Without it I don't think you'll be able to last a few strikes.” Keeping Henry in his sight Derick made his way to his lance, watching for sneak attacks. Henry shrugged and waited till Derick had his lance.

Picking up his lance a familiar warm energy flowed into Derick. Flames bursting from the tip of his lance.

”Come old man.” Derick held his lance in his arm, his knees slightly bent, steadying the new energy in him. Henry shrugged his shoulders.

”Well, if the crippled insists who am I to say no?” Henry flung his sword at Derick. Dodging the flying sword Derick prepared to get attacked but Henry had disappeared.

”Watch well kid.” Henry had appeared from the shadow of his sword. Leaping out of the shadow Henry grabbed his sword's hilt and brought his sword down towards Derick. Using the shaft of his lance Derick managed to block Henry's sword but the pressure behind it caused Derick to be pushed back. ”Come!” Dashing in again Henry attacked Derick. Derick kicked off from the ground and dodged Henry's blade again. As Derick dodged to the side of Henry he thrusted his lance at Henry's chest. Strength surged into Henry's hand and he dragged his sword through the stone path to block Derick's lance. Sparks flew as the blades clashed. At a standstill Derick's lance shot ire out towards Henry. Turning his head away from the blast he got slightly burned on his cheek.

”If that's all you have, it won't be enough.” Henry gripped the hilt with both of his hands and swung his blade upwards.