Chapter 44 Caught off Guard

Eric continues to hover above us.

He conjures more energy daggers than before.

His skin glows even a brighter blue.

"Come on then!"

Eric shouts.

The daggers Eric, conjured fly towards us.

Nathan shields me, taking all the daggers in his back.

He whimpers in pain.

"Nathan throw me now!"

I shouted, Nathan grabs the end of my cloak.

Turning around he throws me towards Eric.

Hardening my skin, I clench onto my sword.

Deflecting the daggers that now face me.

His eyes widened, before he could react.

I slash him, cutting his chest open.

Eric falls from the sky.

His body is turning back to normal.

Rushing past him in the air, impaling my sword into the wall.

I sit on the wall.

Looking down at Nathan.

Nathan stands over Eric's body.

An ax flies into Nathan's spine.

Nathan grunts falling to his knees.

Reverting back to human.

Taking the sword out of the wall.

I leap down, a tall bald man meets me halfway.

Using my momentum against me.

He punches through the wall.

"Oof!"

I'm sent flying into the building.

"Sorry kid, can't let you pull that out just yet. You have to wait a little longer to let the magic soak into his back first."

The man said.

His beard was orange, he was bald.

He wore a red flannel and some jeans.

"What do you want with us old man?"

I asked.

"Just a man taking a walk, on a lovely snow day. I saw two bullies picking on a brat that I need alive. So I'll just take both of you in."

He said, turning around to face Nathan.

Picking up my sword, I dash back outside.

The man grips the end of his ax.

Ripping it out of Nathan's spine.

The man would drag Nathan by his collar.

Lifting him up, he would throw Nathan's lifeless body over the vehicle.

His ax sizzles, like a burning rod.

Nathan's blood evaporates from it.

"Beauty isn't she?"

The man asked.

"She is."

Eric said, getting up.

"You're tougher than you look."

The man said.

Eric's wound slowly closes up.'

His aura increases significantly.

Rushing towards Eric, the man punches me in the gut.

"Gah!"

Grunting he smacks me with the blunt side of his ax.

He would then uppercut me, knocking me off my feet.

"Looks like you have this under control, thanks for your help."

Eric said, levitating, he flew away.

The man shrugs.

"You let him get away!"

I shouted, getting up.

I would dash at him.

He slash with his ax.

I stop having no time to dodge, I block instead.

The would man would push me back with tremendous strength.

Stepping back, I slash he parries with his wooden handle.

Staggering, I leap in the air.

He grabs the end of my cloak.

Slamming me back into the ground.

"Agh!"

Grunting, he steps on my chest.

"Sorry kid, you're out of your league here."

The man said.

I throw my sword towards his throat.

He would lift his foot off my chest.

Deflecting the dagger.

I kick back up to my feet.

Getting in my stance.

Hardening my fist, I imbue my fist with pure energy.

Punching the man in the gut.

"Gahhh.."

The man would groan.

He held his stomach growling.

"You used too much power damnit."

He said leaning against the truck.

"You're Shepherd's kid for sure."

He said.

Scoffing, I get in my stance.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you kid."

A bright white light glimmers in the darkness.

It's in the shape of a flame, it's white.

A man comes from out of the shadows.

The man wears a long black leather overcoat.

He has short brown hair, and a small beard.

While his eyes shimmer as the same color of his flame.

Moving like a silhouette, until his foot is imbued with a light.

A flame, he kicks me with that flame.

Feeling the intense heat from it.

I deflect it with my blade.

Slashing at his leg, the blade grazes him but no blood spills.

The man jabs, as flames are being imbued with each jab.

I deflect each of them with my blade.

Dodging one of his jabs, I attempt to pierce his chest.

The tip of the blade doesn't bulge.

"Nice try."

The man says as he smiles.

Imbuing my thrust with energy, he quickly grabs the blade.

Snapping it in two.

"No, I won't let you."

The man knees me in the face.

"Gh!"

The man approached me with a flurry of jabs.

I attempt to deflect them with my hands.

But he's faster than me.

One his jabs manage to hit me across the face.

As the rest are sure to follow.

The man sidekicks my body, as I block.

"You're strong but you lack a lot of experience."

The man says, as he walks towards me.

"What is this?"

I ask, wiping blood off my face.

"It's the debut Shepherd has to pay. Now come on, we aren't finished."

The man says as he gets in his stance.

Dashing towards him everything slows down, he looks shocked.

Punching him with a lot of force built with momentum using my speed.

The man is sent flying across the parking lot.

Dashing towards Shepherd while the giant swings his battle ax.

Shepherd dodges the great ax.

Shepherd notices me, nodding.

He kicks the giant pushing him back towards me.

Leaping towards his face I lifted my knee up as he brushed against.

His entire face.

He groans as blood splatters all over my pants.

Catching myself before I fall completely.

The giant smirks, as he glares at me.

"I like this! GIVE ME MORE!"

He demands shouting at me lifting his boot.

The giant kicks me in the face.

Raising his battle ax over his head.

Shepherd grabs the end of it before he swings it.

They both struggle, but he spins.

"Whoa!"

Taking Shepherd along with him.

Shepherd thrown into a nearby wall.

"It's just me and you again."

The giant says as he stands over Shepherd's body.

Feeling a tap on my shoulder I turn around.

"I'm back for more kids, that was an impressive punch, it's going to take more than that."

He jabs me across the face, catching me off guard.

"Gah!"

I grunt as my wounds slowly heal from the burns.

"Nice sucker punch."

I said, standing up.

The man's fists were lit with a light flame.

Along with his shoes they weren't burning him but me instead.

"Come on, let's continue, we are almost done."

The man gets in his stance.

Rushing at him, he trips me.

Hitting me on the back of my neck.

Everything is blurry afterwards.

I close my eyes, unable to move anymore.