CHAPTER 26: ICE VS THUNDER (2)

"How do we do this?!"

While Telestal and I are creating our path through the monsters to the commander, he seems to be hesitant about fighting the guy. Well, he must have seen his big attack when we were outside so I can understand. But more importantly…

"Haoo!!"

"Gii!! Gii-"

Those monsters are harder to fight during the night. The sun hasn't fully settled yet but it is already harder to guess which way they will strike. He did train me to fight me without relying on my eyes but still, with those things that don't seem to think when they are fighting, it is something else.

Thankfully, their red eyes are a good indicator of their position. At least with that, I can tell where they will strike based on how their eyes move. But it is asking a lot from me.

"Don't try to fight them for too long!! Just stall for time while we evacuate the people!"

This guy…He is thinking about the evacuation as well right now. You really have the talent to be a leader, Telestal. Unlike me…

I leave him and continue ahead, cutting through the barrier of monsters. Then I run towards the pillar of ice from earlier. I don't have my chain so the battle will be a bit harder. Though, it won't really be of use against the commander.

The monsters on my way don't pay much attention to me. Once again, it seems their order or whatever is driving them makes them follow a clear path. I pass by some of them without trouble and finally, as I reach the pillar, the view isn't funny. A lot of people are encased inside the ice. Their faces, their mouths opened…I can somehow guess how painful it must have been.

"Do you enjoy this?" The commander is sitting before that pillar, watching it silently.

"I wonder as well. I have tried to think about this countless time now, but it seems I can't find pleasure in this."

"Maybe because those who were the targets of your revenge are dead already."

"Perhaps. It would explain that void I feel." He stands up and I can feel the presence of his assassin in the area. So it is going to be two vs one then. I better be extra careful.

When the commander turns to me, he is holding his sword in his demonized hand and it looks more ominous than before. His cold dark aura is released and the air immediately gets chilly.

I take the first stance and the flames come, creating a whirlwind around me that counter his chilly aura. He must certainly has doubts about the fact that I can use both fire and lightning. It would be good that a lightning bolt strikes him while I attack, that could make him believe otherwise and help me with my strategy but let's not count on what I don't have. I can only rely on what I can use.

"And my aura is the best starter I could get!" I release my new aura and I can feel it. It is different from the dance of fire. There is a fire spreading inside my body, I feel hot all over. This is not like earlier. "Waouh." I could have never imagine it was like this.

"So you have even fully awakened your aura…You are a veru peculiar hero." The commander pounces on me with those words but right before he can reach me, a spark appears between us and lightning strikes him.

"Argh!!!" It is so fast he doesn't get to move anything to protect himself. Well, I guess I should thank the spirit of fire. That was very well done.

I jump back and shift the position of my neck right before the assassin attacks. Her blade runs right above my ear and I can feel the same cold as the commander's aura coming from it.

"Not again!! Dammit!" She starts a series of hard-to-avoid attacks, always using trying to get on my dead angles, but so long as you will desire to kill me, I will be able to tell. Even if it is for an instant. He taught me that for too long.

I can see the commander who is still dazed from the hit just now. His skin is charred here and there as well. It was a really good hit that clearly gave me the advantage. But I can't finish him because if you.

"Do you love him or something?"

"W-what?" To my surprise, the assassin woman is staggered by what I just said. Seriously? How come it is so easy to guess people's feelings?

I used that instant she is staggered to strike her, piercing through her stomach.

"Uagh!" She screams while releasing a mouthful of dark blood of her mouth. I kick her as hard as I can to send her flying into the building then I rush to the commander but sadly, the guy is already holding his sword, ready to strike like never before.

"Haaa!!" I barely get the time to dodge that he splits the ground open, releasing an advancing spike of ice that goes and destroys the building behind us.

I manage to strike his wrist but my sword bounces off. He has reinforced his human side with ice.

"Tch!"

"What did you think?!!" He swings his sword again and ice appears, filling the place. "You thought that I was weak as well?!!" Another swing, another pillar of ice. "Just like him!! Just like that fucking piece of shit hero!!!"

It seems the lightning strike awoke some pretty bad memories inside him. He isn't himself; he is not eh overconfident and calm bastard I was fighting earlier. Oh, well, it is not so bad, I can bring him to the castle now.

I dodge another attack then I start running away from him.

"Ahaha!! So you aren't like him, huh?!! You are but a coward!!"

"And you were weak so why act all tough?"

"You…You fucking heroes!!"

He starts follow…pursuing me and we run around happily around the town while he destroys some buildings here and there. Some monsters and soldiers also get killed on the way. I don't see Telestal anywhere though. I wonder where he went. If he goes to where we were fighting, I hope he will kill that assassin, I didn't have the time to make sure she is dead. You must always finish what you start, else, don't start anything.

***

When we reach the area around the castle, I find Emilia and her knights still fighting the monsters. I hear the sound of Sarah's lightning spear on the side as well. I suppose everyone is here. When she sees me arriving, Emilia immediately understands.

"Everyone!! Evacuate!! Hurry up!!"

They all disperse as fast as they can and seconds later, another swing of my guy creates multiples spikes that cut through the monsters and some knights that couldn't leave on time.

"Chris!!"

"Damien!! No!!"

Sorry but you can't make eggs without breaking them. I stop at the gates and use the dnace of fire to receive the commander.

"Stop running like a coward!!"

"Okay."

The first stance counters his next attack, making ice scatter all around us. I think my aura is somehow amplifying my attacks. The second stance counters him again. This time, it is easier for me to exchange blows with him.

I manage to kick his stomach with the fifth stance and it even set him on fire. But that fire is extinguished the very next moment.

"This is nothing!!" His next swing is way faster, coming from the side. The sixth stance is a straight attack using my knee and a punch, should I dodge then and restart then?

Wait, can I not just…By the time I have finished thinking, my body has already moved in reaction to the incoming attack, I use the sixth stance while pivoting to avoid the blow and I am sure anyone watching would think I just did something really weird. Still, not only are the flames still present, I have also managed to dodge his attack.

"Interesting." I am not sure how I did it but it is really interesting. I should try to remember the feeling I had just now.

"All of you heroes…All of you are low life scums. You come to our world, you spread your name and fake achievement, only to steal what we hold dear, pretexting it is in the name of justice! In the name of that shitty god!!"

Warren's cold aura goes completely berserk. Everything that is near him turns to ice.

"Gao-"

"Gii-"

"Giii-"

Even the monsters become frozen meat. Though, to my surprise, I notice some of them turn into smoke, just like when we kill them. Why? What happened?

"But I will never!! I will never forgive you!!"

He raises his sword above his head and leaves himself wide open. There is a good ten meters separating us so this is going to be the same as last time. I use the other stances while coming to him and when I am up close, his sword comes down once again. At the same time, lightning envelops my arms but right when we are about to collide; another spark appears between us. Once again, thank you, spirit of fire.