Chapter 19: Nuadu vs Bres

I appear amidst the first Fomorain rising once more. The war Abhartach had shown to me before, last time I was pulled out before it ended. I feel the ground cry with roars of men and women shedding their blood at war. I feel their cries as they fight for purpose, one to rule and one to be free.

Bres eyes Nuadu, both circling each other, occasionally sizing each other up.

Bres lets out a humourous chuckle and Nuadu reacts with a grunt.

"Always so crass, never one for honour, just like the first time we duelled," Nuadu snarled as he etched himself closer to Bres.

"Honour is for the weak, victory is all that matters and Fomorians have better results," Bres returned arrogantly.

"You share half our blood!" Nuadu growled with disgust.

"That blood makes me weak!" Bres retorted.

Abhartach stands beside me with his gaze fixed ahead.

"I decided it was time to finish the story before we reach the point of no return."

"What do you mean?" I ask curiously.

"It means I see something in you that I see in my old self, something gentle and caring but as strong as Danu Tree roots.

"What do you mean?"

"Watch."

Brigit races towards Elatha, her hair and sword blazing. The giant notices her tearing through all the Fomorians in her path, charging at her.

"Oh, so you're approaching me?" Elatha mutters to herself as Brigit draws closer.

Brigit sheathes her sword as she rides towards her opponent and snatches a spear from a Fomorian soldier, leaving him defenceless. She winds her arm as the spear catches on fire, the flames compress with a whistling sound as the fire becomes a bright blue flame. The heat pierces through the environment around her, burning away the grass near her horse. She throws the spear with a grunt, the spear flies off leaving a shockwave in as it is launched.

The spear glides across the terrain, making a whistling sound. Elatha stares intently at the spear and emits a beam of light from her third eyeball, attempting to destroy the spear before it reaches her. The small object heading towards slows down as it comes in conflict with her eye beam, her divine light.

The spear trembles under the overwhelming beam, Elatha is a giant compared to Brigit, what more a mere spear. The spear crumbles and is indefinitely destroyed, leaving a cloud of dust with an explosion. Elatha lifts the beam and smiles but a second fiery spear flies out of the dust, it flies across faster than its predecessor and lodges itself in Elatha's right shoulder, immediately burning away all the flesh there. The giantess roars as she stumbles backwards from the unexpected pain, "You horrid gnomes!" She sends a slur that would later become something more.

"Resorting to racism now, Elatha? I thought you were better than that."

"Racism is a word used by romantics who wish for the impossible. The strong rule, the weak serve, the strong subjugate, the weak surrender, simple," Elatha retorts, her tone firm.

Brigit roars as she continues to charge at her, this time, nothing in between them to disturb, she has wanted this and she will have it.

Nuadu attacks viciously and swiftly, sending the first strike puts him in the advantage. Bres smirks as he gracefully dodges the blade and counters as fast as the wind such that the Fomorian and Danann around them are disoriented by his movements. Bres' Excalibur aims for Nuadu's ribs, Nuadu speedily pulls back his arm and uses the hilt of his sword, pushing Bres backwards.

Nuadu sighs and focuses once more. He was rash and impulsive. He attacks once more, this time he holds back slightly, Bres dodges beneath his slash and attacks amidst the dodge. Nuadu flips forward overhead Bres and attacks once more, sending multiple slashes at him. Bres blocks and dodges nimbly, like an elegant dance he guides his blade across the ballroom. Nuadu sends his like a predator stalking its prey, ready to pounce and sink its fangs through its throat.

"Not bad, it seems I underestimated you," Bres compliments as he feels Nuadu's attacks aim more true and just as mercilessly as before.

"Hubris has always gotten the better of you," Nuadu retorts.

He sends a strong slash at Bre's side, Bres blocks the attack just barely this time, Nuadu quickly catapults himself up and twirls in the air, sending a sharp kick at Bres' jaw which knocks him backwards. The taste of iron fills his mouth and a Danann behind him shoves him back into the heat of battle.

The two warriors clash, Nuadu attacks relentlessly, I see Bres struggle, this not a good matchup for him, Nuadu has more power, strength and experience as well as his blade that syphons life energy around him in a limited range and converts it into light power. Bres tightens the grip on his sword and roars, "Filthy Danann!"

His sword begins to glow, the blue hilt takes on a bright glow, the light extends to his armour that takes a dimmer glow. Bres goes on the offensive, attacking almost carelessly. He remains graceful, elegant, he leaves a cut on Nuadu's thigh and does not stop his advance. Nuadu blocks two attacks before Bres dashes back and tosses his blade slightly over his head, Nuadu keeps his gaze on Bres, a plot to distract him possibly. Bres leaps and sends a round kick precisely on the hilt of the blade, sending it flying towards Nuadu.

The projectile blade flies too quickly that Nuadu has no choice but to parry, he swings his sword and redirects Excalibur into the ground but the shock of impact damaged his armour. Bres is not far behind as he charges at Nuadu.

"Fool, you are unarmed, I will have your head," Nuadu says.

Bres launches forward and flips consecutively and sends a kick aimed at Nuadu's chest. Nuadu blocks the attack using the blunt side of his dual-edged sword supporting it by its fuller using his other arm and pushes him back. Bres backflips and summons his sword from the ground which surprises Nuadu and leaves a nasty cut on his left arm that runs through his gauntlets into his flesh.

"That's new," Nuadu says as blood drips from his wound.

"There's a lot more to this sword than you know, Danann."

"Who forged that sword?"

"Merlin did, the human gifted with all types of magic but he had help, if only we knew who it was," Bres says preparing to attack once more.

Abhartach's eyes begin to reflect despair as he watches, I wonder how many times he has to relive this experience. Every time he links with someone new and has to retell the story for thousands of years.

"This is when we began to lose it all."