The room stretched under the dim light, it's two halves in contrast with eachother.
One side breathed comfort -- rich chairs, soft drapes, and the warmth of a lived-in chamber. The other side reeked of cruelty-- iron chains dangling from stone, racks and jagged tools waiting in silence. Luxury and torment stood divided by shadows, as if the room itself couldn't decide whether to welcome or break a soul.
Inside stood Fredrick directly in front of a man bound in chains to the wall.
"Say Richard, wouldn't life be much more fun if everything just went your way? Everything you ever wanted just falling on your lap whithout you ever needing to do anything." Man a in armour slowly walked towards the wall, each step struck like steel on stone, his smile twisted with anger. His glance filled with ridicule at the man hanging on the wall, hands and feet tied up with chains.
Richard just glared at man with bloodshot eyes.
"Well, who am I even asking, obviously you would know," Fredrick closing the distance grabbed Richard by the neck a mocking smile played on his lips
"always getting the longer end of the stick. Always outshining everyone without much effort. While people like us struggle day and night putting more effort into things than you can ever imagine, just to catch up."
"You wouldn't know! Ever since we were kids you always exceeded everyone's expectations, always hoarding the limelight just for yourself without ever knowing what true effort means. While I, on the other hand made efforts, strived to do my very best. But that wasn't enough to even crawl across your footsteps let alone follow it. Nobody pays attention if you don't have talent. No matter how hard you tried, the sweat and blood, the sleepless night you trained, it doesn't mean a thing if have no talent"
"Is that all? Was that all the pathetic excuse you could come up with?!"
"If you have grudge against me, fight me man-to-man! Why did you have to drag them in it. They did nothing, they were innocent!" Richard fired angrily in somewhat hoarsed voice.
"Do you even hear yourself? Joining hands with those cancers of society, betraying your own land, betraying her highness, killing innocent people, just so you could fuel the pathetic excuse of an ego you have. Just to get back at someone like me?" Sneered Richard
"Some sacrifices are necessary to achieve greatness. People like you wouldn't understand"
"Now just wait for those fools to find her. After the ritual you will witness the birth of a new legend with your own eyes" said Fredrick, his mood lifting quite a bit.
"Well let's just start our little session before the ritual, I just can't wait to see-"
Just then
BANG!!
The door burst open revealing a girl in leather plates armour, long blue hair cascading down to her waist. Looking at Fredrick with fierce gaze as if it would tear him up any moment.
"Free Richard right now! Or you are going to regret ever being born!" The girl shouted pointing an old sword she found in the storage towards Fredrick.
Fredrick not believing his eyes, stayed quite for few moments before bursting out in laughter
"HAHAHAHAHA"
"You really are dumb aren't you? Instead of trying to find a way to escape. You just showed up to my doorstep"
"How dumb can someone be? Even slugs have more braincells than you"
"I alone am enough for hundreds of you. Try me if you dare"
"Heh, what can you do with that dull pointed stick? Poke me?? Hahahaha-
The girl bursted fourth towards the man in a swift coordinated manner.
Steel rang out in the dim light as her rusty blade met with Fredrick's well maintained polished sword.
Clang- calng---
The girl rained down sword strikes one after another leaving Fredrick little room to catch his breath.
The rusty sword now seemed to have returned to it's glorious days under the girl's relentless fury, gleaming with every strike as if it remembered the taste of battle.
A downward slash parried his guard, a sudden twist knocking him off balance. She stepped in, her footwork sharp, striking at the joint of his armor where the plates met.
Fredrick staggered, raising his sword too slow, and she pressed the advantage — a feint to the left, then a swift cut to the right, driving him back step by step. Each strike landed with purpose. Then a swift kick to the torso sending him flying a few meters back.
"You have done it now!" Fredrick getting pushed back by the girl couldn't hold back his anger anymore.
He swiftly pulled out something and gulped it down.
ARRRGHH--
His muscles started to bulge at a rapid speed, armour bursting off his body as it grew in size. Fredrick now stood at more than 2 meters in height his arms thick as logs, skin tough as iron. He no longer resembled a human being anymore.
His dashed towards the girl in heavy footsteps no longer considering her as a threat. He lifted his log like arms to slam down at the girl at a rapid speed which seemed impossible for his huge size.
Bang-
The floor shattered with the impact.
The girl dodging at a hairs breath, continued her ongoing slaught. But the rusted sword couldn't penetrate his thick skin.
"Tsk, if only I had my sword with me.."
The girl muttered in frustration.
(I can't hold on for long without mana, how long will it take him?)
The girl's eyes wondered as if searching for something.
"You peaky little insect! die!" Fredrick again charged at her mindlessly, but this time she couldn't dodge as she wasn't paying attention. The blow sent her flying across the room stopping few centimetres ahead of a wall.
(What the heck is he doing ? I can't last more than few minutes at this rate) She grumbled internally, few drops of blood could be seen at corner of her lips.
Then, as if to answer her very thoughts a low shout answered, "everything is ready, quick!"