81 The Dread Of The Blade

-Wait, this runt is a student of Lyden?

-Yes, a pain in the ass to be exact.

Esco steps forward and says:

-We are here with the order of the king to exterminate you reaper!

Kiro replies:

-Ohh… you are that bastard who couldn't even get up after fighting me four on one.

-You scum; I will have your head…

Zack puts his hand on Esco's shoulder and continues:

-You and me reaper, we got a score to settle!

-And what about the other three standing?

-They won't be involved, for the sake of Master Lyden and Lyiah this duel shall remain undisturbed by no one.

-Bloodlust

Kiro grins as his eyes turn pitch black, Zack are reminded of the day he lost his best friend and honor. Kiro turns to Cyrian and says:

-Let me handle this, for the time being enjoy the show.

-Just make it quick reaper.

Kiro then turns to Zack and replies:

-Missing your friend, aren't you, don't worry, you'll meet him soon enough

-You bastard!

Zack charges at full speed towards Kiro, aiming his sword at Kiro's throat. Kiro uses his foot to raise dust from the ground, blinding Zack. Kiro uses this opportunity to land a powerful kick at Zack, sending him meters away.

-I haven't even drawn my sword and I already have the advantage, guess that red headed bastard is a terrible teacher.

Zack gets up with difficulty and charges once again at Kiro. Kiro draws his sword and dagger. He uses his sword to parry Zack's attack and his dagger to stab the hand Zack was using to hold his sword. Kiro kicks the sword out of Zack's hand and hits him with the grip of his black scimitar, sending him backwards.

-Come on, was that all that you had?

Zack coughs, picks up his sword from, the ground and then says.

-You leave…..me no choice.

He pulls out a potion from his pocket.

-This allows…me to double my strength for five minutes.

-So much for honor!

-I won't lose reaper!

Zack gulps down the potion, his veins came out of his arms and his muscles got bigger.

"Is this some kind of temporary steroids?"

Zack charges at Kiro at double his speed, Kiro parries the attack and tries to land a strike with his dagger at Zack. Zack dodges the attack and steps back, he swings his sword at Kiro's direction, which Kiro once again parries, but Zack manages to land a kick at Kiro's stomach. The kick didn't do much damage to Kiro, but it did give him the thrill of a duel. Kiro's adrenaline was rushing, it had passed time since Kiro truly enjoyed a fight, even though Zack couldn't match with Kiro in matter of strength and skills despite drinking the potion, it was rather satisfying for Kiro.

-That's more like it

Zack tries to slice Kiro's head in half by swinging his sword, but Kiro dodges the attack and tries to land a powerful attack on Zack, which he barely parries. He didn't notice Kiro slipping his dagger through his ribs.

-Damn…you…bastard.

Zack falls to the ground losing conscience. Kiro raises his foot preparing to finish off Zack:

-Make sure to send your friend my regards down there.

Suddenly, Esco charges at Kiro at full speed, preventing him from killing Zack as he had to dodge the attack.

-Enough of this, I will end you with my hands!

-So this was the honorable one to one duel, bunch of hypocrites, Cyrian on me.

-You got it!

-Time leap!

The time slows down; Kiro throws his dagger at an almost motionless Luna, stabbing her on the stomach.

-You bastard!

The time goes back to normal; Luna sits on the ground screaming in pain.

-Their mage isn't able to cast spells anymore, Cyrian you get the girl; I will take care of this scumbag.

-I'm not that kind of person who hits ladies but if you say so.

Kiro raises his sword to land an attack on Esco, which he barely dodges, as Cyrian charges at Agna with his massive sword.

-I have heard of you, Cyrian the dishonored hero!

-If you have heard my exploits you know that people who cross my path rarely live to tell the tale.

-We'll see about that traitor!

Agna barely parries the attack, she counters the attack using her sword, and tries to counter the attack, but fails as Cyrian head butts   her and hits her with the grip of his sword.

-I wasn't made a hero for nothing princess.

-Shut up and defend yourself!

Agna charges at Cyrian and almost gets him, making a small cut on his cheek.

-Not bad.

-I'll wipe that grin off your face!

Meanwhile, Esco was fighting ferociously, as Kiro dodged his attacks.

-What's the matter bastard?  Cannot you land a single hit?

-Aren't you getting a bit cocky reaper?!

-Am I? Or that tiny ego of yours cannot stand more damage?

Esco swings his sword once more, Kiro parries his attack.

-You actually managed to hit something; I don't even know how you were granted divine protection in the first place.

-You….!

He swings his sword once more, just to get parried again. Kiro kicks Esco on the stomach and then hits him with the grip of his sword, then stabs him in the stomach with his dagger. Esco collapses to the ground and he loses consciousness.

-If you didn't have divine protection it would have made my job a lot easier.

Kiro steps on Esco's throat, Meanwhile Cyrian had the upper hand on the fight; He finally cornered Agna to a tree.

-I won't let myself be slain by a traitor!

Cyrian swings his swords up, but he barely even came close to Agna:

-What's wrong your aim has failed?

Suddenly, a tree branch falls and hits her to the head, leaving her also unconscious.

-Are you done?

-Yes finally, should we finish them?

-With those wounds, they will bleed their life out soon enough.

Kiro then approaches the injured Luna, who still had Kiro's dagger inside her. Kiro grabs his dagger and pulls it out as Luna screeches in pain. He cleans his dagger from the blood and then pulls out of his pocket a small healing potion; he throws it at Luna and says:

-Take this as a gift for keeping my dagger safe for me.

After saying that, Kiro and Cyrian leave, following the path through the forest to the village.