Melody of War 18

“Crap! This is not what I needed right now.”

Varen was deaf to Chain’s commentary as he flew down the length of Kyte’s spear toward the caught off guard Hero. With Varen’s sword below the shaft of the spear and Kyte holding the spear from the butt with his left hand back the Hero was in no position to defend himself. If Varen were against any other foe he would have surely cleaved them in two with his claymore but Kyte was a Hero and smiling.

“Oh~! Impressive Elcourt but…”

Spinning on his back foot Kyte took himself out of immediate range of Varen’s sword and bolted forward on the soldier’s exposed side as his right foot touched the ground. Transferring his spear to his left with a twirl as he spun Kyte’s right hand was free when he took Varen’s exposed side to land a clean straight punch of devastating effect.

“Crap!”

Shouting out Chain watched as Kyte’s punch threw Varen several meters away before the soldier hit the ground fiercely. Not seeing a choice but to engage the Hero herself Chain dispersed her cape back into the mists from which it formed revealing her own sword upon her left hip. Grabbing the two handed hilt of the weapon so she might draw Chain narrowed her eyes as Kyte turned his attention onto her and twirled his spear about so it was back in his right hand with its tip leveled at her.

“Oh~. Are you up for another round Chainmaid?”

“You’re fighting me Hero!”

“Eh~?”

“No way.”

Chain was significantly more impressed than Kyte was at Varen’s return to the fray but that did not stop the Hero from turning his attention back to his chosen opponent. With Varen coming at him from above with his sword held over his head it seemed simple enough to Kyte to just step back and ram his spear butt first into the soldier’s abdomen. Varen again proved to be a surprising foe though as he suddenly dropped his elbows to his side with all of his strength and struck the spear butt with the pommel of his sword. Again though the Hero’s strength prevented Varaen from so much as being able to budge him but the soldier simply used the leverage of the clash to shift inside the spear and take Kyte’s back. Smiling with utter glee Kyte spun to his right and whipped his spear out behind him to counter Varen who had turned his wrists to drop the blade of his sword down the Hero’s back. Leaning over hard to his left to avoid the counter Varen used the shift in his weight to bring his claymore up in an attempt to sever Kyte’s outstretch arm. He would find no purchase however as Kyte suddenly leapt several meters into the air and twirled about before landing several more meters away from where Varen stood and dropped into a two handed stance with his spear point pointed towards the ground.

“Not bad Elcourt. I would have never expected a humble adventurer to be able to stand against me for so long.”

“No lie. I thought Varen was just an idiot but…”

“I’ll take your compliment Hero, but… Chain is this really the time for your insults?!”

A dumb founded look took over Kyte’s face as Varen turned his attention from the Hero to Chain so that he might yell at the maid. Chain simply offered him a smile as she finally drew her sword revealing the blade that would have better fit a rapier than the hefty two handed grip that she used.

“Oh I don’t know. I’ve always taken pleasure in calling out idiots whenever it’s felt appropriate.”

“Seriously?”

“I believe you might want to take the Chainmaid’s words to heart Elcourt!”

Varen grunted with surprise and concentration as Kyte suddenly launched himself at Varen, the meters between them disappearing as if they had never been. Noting that Kyte’s left hand was the one closer to the spear tip as he charged this time Varen stepped to his left and dropped into a low stance to receive the charge. Kyte gladly played along and ended his charge with a short thrust fully entering Varen’s zone as he did. Springing forward on his left foot Varen made sure to keep his blade below the spear shaft as he turned sideways flying down the length of the weapon. Pulling his left hand away from the hilt of his sword Varen pulled it back to prepare a powerful punch of his own. Naught but amused by Varen’s efforts Kyte played along in his own way instead of risking a block of his spear by his opponent and pulled free his own left hand. Throwing a punch of his own the Hero’s fist met Varen’s and the soldier was thrown off balance as his arm was sent reeling from the impact. Gritting his teeth against the pain and straining with concentration Varen used the Hero’s power against him and brought his sword up from under Kyte’s spear. It was a desperate measure that could never have been executed masterfully but relying on Kyte’s own strength to accelerate the swing the strike stood more of a chance than it rightfully should have. Kyte’s smile was all he needed to show that he was impressed regardless even as he proceeded to make Varen’s desperate attack a waste. Using the recoil of his fist colliding with Varen’s he leapt back just out of reach of the claymore and Varen’s impressive arm length and swung his spear out wide to his right side so it was not a target. Varen fought to counter balance himself so that he could be prepared to defend himself again but Kyte was easily faster and allowed his spear to carry him around into a spin which he stepped forward in as he ducked. Off balance as he was there was nothing Varen could do to defend himself and had his feet swept right out from under him. Falling onto his rear he could do naught but watch as Kyte leapt out of his spin and high into the air, twirling his spear into striking position as he rose.

“This is the end, tall man!”

Reaching the peak of his jump Kyte claimed victory before descending with spear point leading. Watching on with gritted teeth Varen knew he could not get out of the way in time and braced to try to catch the hero with his sword as he descended. The wild look of a victory on Kyte’s face and the look of desperate struggle on Varen’s stood in stark contrast but then it was Chain’s smiling face that was most out of place. The two combatants had all but forgotten about the maid’s presence so when she leapt up to intercept the Hero it was all Kyte could do to reposition his swing to block Chain’s rising strike.

“Sorry. I know this was an impromptu duel of sorts but…”

Chain smiled cockily as Kyte blocked her sword and offered him a hollow apology. In the air though Kyte had no leverage in his dive and as Chain followed through on her swing she demonstrated her strength and threw the hero aside through the air. Unable to finish her statement in the air Chain waited until she and the Hero both landed to finish her statement.

“This idiot here took three hits from you and is still ready for more.”

“Again with the idiot comment?”

Varen questioned as much as commented and complained as he got to his feet with the opportunity presented to him by Chain. It seemed like a bad idea however as Chain promptly elbowed him in the gut.

“Don’t interrupt me you idiot.”

“Seriously.”

Varen gasped out his complaint as he doubled over in pain from the unexpected blow. With Varen distracted Chain turned her attention back onto Kyte and offered the Hero an arrogant smirk.

“Now where was I? Right; this idiot here has taken three hits from you and is still ready for more. My pride just won’t let that go considering you nearly dropped me in one so get ready Hero. The Chainmaid of Soarmont’s Adventuring Company is going to put you in your place.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater