"Come on, General," Claus grinned. "You've killed for less. Let's see if that sword of your's cares about collateral damage."
"Don't tell me you've suddenly grown a conscience."
Gus was struggling to breathe. Every gasp felt like forcing air through a thousand barricades. He thrashed helplessly, kicking Claus with his only functioning leg.
"I've always had a conscience, Claus," Baldwin said. "You just never noticed. And I know you have one too—which is why you won't hurt the boy."
"Who knows, Baldwin? Prison might've changed me," Claus smirked.
"It hasn't. If it had, you'd have killed the boy the moment you got your hands on him," Baldwin replied coldly.
"Perceptive as always, Captain Baldwin—sorry, General Baldwin," Claus sneered. "Too bad your perception is flawed."
He tightened his grip on the boy's neck.
"Wait," Baldwin instantly called out "Alright, tell me what you want, just let the boy go."
"Oh, has the great General Baldwin finally decided to negotiate with common criminals?" Claus said with an amused and sarcastic tone. "I don't need anything from you Baldwin, the kid must go, He's responsible for the deaths of those two officers." Claus said pointing at the two dead soldiers on the ground.
"You and I both know that's not true." Baldwin exclaimed. "You killed those men."
"Only because the kid alerted them" Claus said to the general. Then he brought Gus's ear near his mouth and then said, "Isn't that right, you brat."
The heavy breathing that Gus was previously doing had turned into silence. His face flushed purple, veins straining beneath the skin. The intense pressure Claus had increased made sure that he couldn't breathe. When Claus brought Gus near his mouth; Gus knew he had to do something he had to act. It was his last and only chance. He felt a rush of energy inside his body. Adrenaline surged through him. He went through every possibility he could in that instance. 'This could work' he decided.
Gus inserted his hand inside his pocket. He could feel his fingers grab on to something and SPLURT** Claus let Gus go as he felt an intense pain in his eye. He touched his eye to feel the blood flow out.
Gus gasped for breath as he feel to the ground. He immediately rolled a few times from his chest to back to move as far as he could get away from Claus. Then He tried to rise but failed, his mind and vision fading to black.
A few seconds ago, Baldwin could see Claus taking the kid near his mouth to say something to the kid. The kid's ear was pressed close to Claus's mouth. The small kid moved desperately trying to get away but failing miserably. Then, just for a second, he saw the kid relax his hand and slowly reach into his pocket and take out something. Baldwin could not discern what it was, but he could see it was sharp. Then as is it were a lightning bolt the kid, stabbed Claus in the eye. Claus flinched and dropped the kid as panic ensnared him. He staggered back for a moment holding his eye.
This was it; the only chance Baldwin would get. He slashed Urumi as it reached clauses neck. Baldwin tried to pull Urumi back but failed. Claus had instinctually used Ki to protect his neck, head, heart and abdomen. Baldwin retracted the blade coiling around Claus's neck using his Ki. The force the retraction caused Baldwin to close the distance between Claus and himself in one long jump.
Baldwin tried to kick Claus on the knee to throw off Claus's Balance; but Alas, Claus had already recovered his composure, Claus applied Ki to his knee as Baldwin hit it. Claus then held Baldwin's wrist, which held Urumi. Baldwin used the Claus's knee as a foothold to kick Claus on the jaw, Claus staggered a bit.
He took a step back, removed the sword from his neck and brought both his arms to his face. He had taken a boxing stance. The pen that was stuck in his eye was just too deep and needed to be removed surgically. Claus could feel the blood drip from his eye socket. He left the pen stuck in his eye, and hence did not stop the blood flow from his eye.
'I cannot fight him with Urumi, its cut's too shallow and Claus can predict my moves from experience of fighting with each other for years' Balwin concluded. He dropped Urumi and raised his fists in a fighting stance.
Claus was puzzled as he watched the General drop his weapon. 'Baldwin isn't an idiot he has something planned.' Claus thought. Claus readied himself as Baldwin closed the distance. As soon as Baldwin was in range Claus threw a left Jab at Baldwin's face. Baldwin used his right arm to block the jab. Claus could fell that Baldwin had coated his arm in Ki, but he had done the same so he decided to brute forced his way.
The pressure Baldwin felt colliding his arm was more than he predicted. He twisted his body to the left outside Claus's punch. Then he grabbed his left wrist with his right hand and used his left hand to throw a punch aimed at Claus's neck. Claus dodged the punch by tilting in body to the left. He used his right arm to swing at Baldwin face.
Baldwin opened his right fist and hit Claus's elbow and changed the direction of the punch. Baldwin manoeuvred both of Claus's hands and pinned them beneath his shoulder. Then Baldwin punched Claus in the chest.
Claus could feel Baldwin's punch make a hole through his chest. He immediately kicked Baldwin in the stomach. Baldwin lost the grip on Claus's hands and stumbled back a few steps. Claus who felt blood streaming down his chest decided to retreat a few steps behind.
"It's a good trick" Claus said as he coughed some blood "Coating your arm in Ki like a blade. But that's all it is; a trick "
"It's at least better than just using Ki like brute force." Baldwin gleamed in mockery.
Claus felt a bit offended but did not lose his cool. He then used Ki to block the blood on his chest yet could not do anything about the pen in his eye and prepared for round two.
Baldwin raised his hand to his face and again closed in.
Claus changed his stance. He straightened his right arm perpendicular to his chest and kept his left in a fist on his waist. Then he threw a left punch with 2 meters between them. An energy shaped like a punch left Claus's knuckles instantaneously hitting Baldwin in the diaphragm. Claus's skin on his knuckles had broken down. Then, Claus threw a right punch knowing what was to come; Baldwin rolled to the left. But he tripped and fell. He immediately rolled on his stomach as Claus threw another two punches. With every punch Claus's fists lost a bit of their skin. Baldwin got up and ran zig zag towards Claus who threw another Ki punch sending Baldwin few feet back.
"How is that possible?" Baldwin frowned, "Ki disperses as it loses touch to the body, how can you throw your Ki out of your body?" Baldwin asked too surprised.
"I have been only gathering Ki every second in my prison. The poison suppressed my existing Ki increasing its density. I am the phoenix—burned, broken, reborn in prison fire. And now I wield the very flames that tried to consume me." Claus answered, "You can't defeat me, Baldwin." "Face it. Face the reality."
At that moment Baldwin knew that he cannot win alone.
The 10 soldiers that stood behind Claus realized it as well. Till now, they knew that any moment they intervened was to be futile for them. But seeing their general down a strange resolve crept over them.
One of the soldier cried out and started running. Not away but, towards Claus.
Then other soldiers followed suit.
Baldwin could see the soldiers running towards Claus; even though they all knew: the only result would be death. Every instinct in their body shouted at them to retreat but their loyalty towards the General knew no bounds.
Claus could feel the soldiers reach him; he turned behind to fight the soldiers. Baldwin used the moment to run towards Claus. At last ditch effort he called Claus's name as he reached Claus.
"CLAUS!" The general yelled. Claus looked behind as he felt Baldwin's punch. It wasn't a Ki sword punch but just a regular Ki coated one. It hit the pen stuck in Claus's eyes.
Claus could feel it. Every millimetre as the pen dug in. He felt his mind go numb. He could feel his Ki desperately trying fix his brain. But alas, it was a wasted effort.
He felt his death crawling towards him and the only thoughts that filled his brain during his last moments being vengeance upon the Viremont.
"Viremont" The word echoed in Baldwin's ears as his closest friend ex- Lieutenant of the Squad 4 crimson squad Claus the invincible die.
Writer's note
Hey readers! Just a quick heads-up — new chapters will be released only on weekdays (Monday to Friday). There will be no chapter uploads on Sundays, so I can keep the quality consistent and avoid burnout. Thanks for your understanding and continued support!