chapter 53

"Got it, but we also need to have a plan ready for fighting any of them that do manage to target us."

Toyo nodded. "Going off both fights we've gotten into so far, we know that their attack speed is far above ours. On top of that, they have a blue sword skill that destroys gear and health almost instantly. We need to make sure not to block that move. If we lose Silverthorne, there's not much chance for us."

Jae held up a finger. "However, their own health is very low. If they get hit by a direct attack it's pretty much an instant kill."

"So we need to make sure that if we are forced into another fight," Toyo concluded, "We're the ones making the first attack. If they get a second of breathing room they'll turn the tables on us."

Jae hesitated for a moment. "But since I'm the one without the weapon, it only makes sense for me to be the distraction while you go for the kill." He met Toyo's eyes before his brother could protest. "Only if things get messy. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but it might."

Toyo stared at him for a moment before flipping his sword, the handle now facing Jae.

"What are you doing?" Jae asked angrily, though he could already guess the answer.

"I'm the one with Acrobatics, and Dodge." Toyo replied matter of factly. "I can avoid attacks better than you can. I can be the distraction while you take them down." He grinned rebelliously. "Only if things get messy."

Jae sighed. He wanted no part in a plan that left his brother vulnerable, but he knew Toyo felt exactly the same. Nothing would get done if they continued worrying about each other so much. Still, he couldn't help but mutter curses under his breath as he took Silverthorne from Toyo's hands. Securing his hold on the weapon, Jae couldn't help but appreciate its expertly fashioned grip handle, not to mention the perfectly balanced weight of the sword as a whole.

"Alright, let's do this."

Toyo went first, peering out from behind his side of the pillar before darting nimbly forward. Following close behind, Jae kept a close eye on the lizardmen around them as they reached the next pillar to the right.

Glancing over his shoulder at Jae, Toyo sighed in relief. "So far so good."

After taking another quick look, the two again sprinted forward and to the right, keeping their legs bent and their backs hunched down as they moved.

Reaching the next pillar without any trouble, Toyo turned once again to ensure Jae was still behind him. It was then that Jae heard the rush of wind ahead of Toyo.

Knocking himself against his brother, Jae forced them both several steps to the side, the blue halberd slashing past the spot they had both been standing a second earlier. Swinging Silverthorne in an arc before him as he advanced forward, Jae realized too late that he had made a mistake. Charging out of the shadows, the lizardman's halberd was already coming back down for another strike. Unable to stop his momentum, Jae braced for the hit.

Before it came Toyo leapt forward, his knee crashing into the monster's face. Spinning from the impact, Toyo broke his fall by grabbing hold of the beast's shoulder and yanking them both backwards.

Jae saw his opening. Redoubling his efforts he brought Silverthorne to the end of its journey, the blade slashing open the monster's chest. Even as the beast struggled against Toyo pulling it backwards, Jae brought the sword forward in a lunge that buried it almost up to the crossguard.

The moment the on death explosion carried it's shards outward, both of them ducked down behind the pillar. Straining his ears as he listened for anything else, Jae kept the sword held high in front of him.

"Looks like your Detection came in handy there." Toyo remarked quietly.

Jae nodded. "Even at such a low level, it was definitely worth getting."

Continuing on, the two managed to sneak slowly but surely past the remainder of the lizardmen until they reached the center of the hall. Crouching as they reached another pillar, Toyo and Jae paused to reevaluate their situation.

"Halfway there." Toyo whispered encouragingly.

"Let's try and pick up the pace," Jae began. "Slowing down will only make-"

A halberd struck him on the shoulder, slamming him against the pillar before he could attempt to move. Diving forward to push Jae's attacker away, Toyo was forced to instead step back as a second monster charged past the first, it's own halberd bearing down rapidly.

His health still draining from the blow, Jae slashed Silverthorne in an upward slant behind him, desperate to halt the next attack. In that same instant the glowing blue halberd came down. The clash of steel rang out across the hall. Twisting his wrist, Jae forced the sword past the halberd and through the beast's neck. As the headless body exploded, Jae turned to help Toyo.

Dodging multiple blows from the second lizardman's attacks, Toyo nonetheless looked to have taken several indirect hits and his leather pauldrons were now gone.

*****

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