There's no time to wait here.
Push forward.
I see every angle. Every opening. Every chance and every shutdown.
A mere fraction of movement unfolds my mind.
It's the opposite of moving without thinking. Like at the guild hall.
It's moving while overthinking.
Strike. Blocked.
Again. Again. Again.
The steel of our blades scream from each collision, ringing out to a room full of spectators unable to witness the spectacle.
I must kill him.
Drive the blade forward. Even if I can see it coming, my body isn't fast enough to counter the redirect.
Even while being able to instantly understand and see everything is still too slow?
His shoulder shifted. Unlocked. An opening.
His blade is too high to block a low strike. He can't move quickly enough relative to how easy it is for me.
Spin the blade, push through my right arm and slash his thigh.
The blade cleaves though his flesh. A clean cut.
He jumps back.
Once. twice.
His expression shifts. But he's not afraid. He's assessing me.
He can probably tell I won't last much longer that's why he's drawing this out.
I push forward further. He's just below the stairs leading down from the entrance into the room.
Another opportunity. His side is open.
A clean cut. Not deep but still clearly visible and drawing blood.
It feels like he gave me that opening.
Like he's testing me.
He quickly jumps up the stairs.
???: "Enough playing around."
Every muscle in my body aches. My head feels like its imploding.
Push. Forward.
But after only a step he vanishes.
He's been holding back. This probably isn't even his fastest based on how easy he did it.
So fast light itself can't catch him. He's at minimum marginally faster to be able to pull off a feat of disappearing instantly.
Thump
My head feels heavy. My balance is faltering.
I see him reappear behind me. I quickly snap my body around to face him.
Is he going to strike again?
The strain is getting worse.
The thread is tugging at me. It's weakening from how exhausted I am.
???: "You'll die if we continue. The strain from your thread is too great for an untrained soul."3
Slow footsteps. He's walking toward me.
In front of me.
Beside me.
Past me.
No intention to attack.
???: "You're dangerous now."
Why is he so calm?
I hate it.
???: "Not because of what you are. But because of what you have the potential to become."
I can't move.
My legs aren't responding.
???: "You might be useful later."
Later?
???: "If you survive. That is."
I can feel my consciousness fading slowly. No. quickly.
???: "And if you don't survive. I guess my praise was unfounded."
What…
???: "I will find that of whom I seek."
The world feels like it's collapsing on me.
I can barely hear his final words.
???: "Goodby-
The all seeing eye shutting down?
It's not gentle.
Anything but pleasant really.
I can feel my body hitting the stone. Yet I still feel disconnected.
He's gone by now.
I think.
I think?
It hurts.
I will keep my promise.
He will die.
Next time.
I…
Wont stop.