Slick Surprise
***
Military Base, Sar
"I've been working on something, Antoine."
Within the barracks' filing room, two men stood quietly, shuffling, reshuffling, and sorting. A calming, comforting quiet erupted from the silence.
"Really?"
Antoine stared at the papers, answering briefly.
The room was built in a manner where the middle was empty, besides a wooden table and four desks. The walls were covered in filing cabinets.
"Look at this."
The man who had resided in the room along with him pressed a paper into his back.
Antoine Unahar did not turn around. He reached over, momentarily feeling the man's bony hand, before snatching the paper out of his grip.
"What's this, Luren?" Antoine asked, momentarily skimming through the words on the paper.
"Enemy documents," the elf man spoke slyly, grabbing it once more and waving it in front of Antoine's face. Antoine remained unamused.
"…"
"This guy is seriously a wonderful person."
"You can talk about your enemies in such a praising way?"
Paying no mind to Antoine's remark, the elf continued.
"78 confirmed kills. How do they even confirm it?"
The number had sparked interest in Antoine.
"Read it out. I only read the description and saw the illustration."
"This guy's fast. Really fast. With the way they're describing him… I think even I might have some trouble with him."
"No way."
"Fast—no, faster than lightning. Golden Coward is an odd name, though."
"…"
"A bounty book would be really nice. Motivational at the same time."
***
— This is the Golden Coward that Luren spoke of. He's fast!
Antoine's heavy axe sank into the ground. His eyes grew limpid and wide, scanning his surroundings.
— Here!
He spun quickly, managing to catch Jisvo within his movement.
His shin collided with him.
"… Close."
As the smoke cleared, it was revealed that Jisvo's forearm blocked the strike.
Jisvo grinned.
He held his sword with an ice pick grip, slashing upward.
The strike left a dent in his armor.
[Cast: Lightning Flashstep]
Just like that, in the blink of an eye, he was gone, leaving only a charge of lightning lingering in the air for milliseconds.
— If I'm not careful, I'm sure I'll lose my life. Even with this elemental weapon, I'm still struggling.
Clash!
The sword and axe met again.
Clang!
Again.
Cling!
Sparks flew.
[Spirit Cast: Triple Wind Claw]
Wind began to gather at the tip of Antoine's Gale Harbringer.
Fwsh!
It left three marks, instead of the expected one.
The mana-enhanced strike shattered Jisvo's already brittle sword into several pieces.
Before those pieces could fall onto the floor, Antoine struck again.
[Cast: Typhoon Crash]
Wind gathered again.
He changed his footing, holding his axe tightly.
"Hargh!"
He swung horizontally.
Bsh!
Sand, dust, and blood rose into the air. Creating a mist of different particles.
"The smell of war… is intoxicating…"
Antoine sighed.
"I know."
[Cast: Tempest Daimon]
Thunder crackled.
An injured Jisvo stood behind Antoine, holding his shoulder. Lightning surged around his body, acting erratically.
Antoine quickly swung his axe around, trying to catch Jisvo, an agitated expression staining Antoine's face.
Jisvo was nowhere to be found.
— Damn it… did he get faster? It doesn't matter. He has no weapon.
Antoine's jaw clenched.
— He's predictable.
Clang!
With mana covering his hands, Jisvo's electrified hands acted as weapons.
"I could've died over there. You're strong. But slow," Jisvo mocked, blood still leaking down his forehead.
His white curly hair was stained with blood.
[Cast: Gale Cut]
Antoine attacked with the sharp tip that resided at the end of the axe.
Jisvo pushed upward, sending the wind to the sky.
Fwsh!
The intended strength was enough to clear the skies, leaving a hole in the dark clouds.
Jisvo quickly counterattacked. His attacks were lightning-charged.
He swiped hastily, each strike overwhelming Antoine's guard and putting him in a losing position.
[Cast: Tornado]
Gusts of energy pushed Jisvo off.
— Not only is he physically strong… but his mana is strong as well.
Jisvo noted as he gracefully landed.
[Cast: Gale Burst]
Antoine pushed sand into the air, clearing the distance between them in a short time.
Clang!
Jisvo's hardened guard was not enough to protect him from the shock of the blow.
The strength sent him farther away from the shore, into the ocean.
"Ack!"
He landed on his bottom.
Antoine slowly marched forward.
— A strike like that… how many bones did I break? I wonder…
"You can't seriously be this stupid, right?"
Jisvo laughed.
"Huh?-"
He dug his fingers into the soil.
[Cast: Thor Bolt Pulse]
Waves of electricity rippled.
"Salty water like this… It's perfect!"
The surges of electricity increased.
Antoine subconsciously released the axe, his grip loosening. He felt his body stiffen.
— Damn it!
The water grew hot to the point of near-boiling. With the remaining strength that Antoine could muster, he moved his lips.
"V-voqrut… I call on you!"
[Spirit Cast: Sync]
His orange eyes grew blue. Grey hair turning white.
Splsh!
He jumped out of the water.
. .
Center of the Island, Undisputed Territory
"The docks have been… a-attacked?" Isalda stammered.
The information had just recently been relayed to her. The entire base was in array, as changes in plans were formed.
It was a full-scale invasion. Unexpected. Anore was lured into a false sense of security.
By foot, it would take around a day or so to reach the other side of the island.
By horse, it would still take a long time.
With these facts looping through Isalda's head, she came to a single conclusion.
"Take me there now!" she said, standing in front of Oscar.
Isalda was impressively strong. There was no one she feared.
Yet, as Oscar glanced at her, he noticed the shaking of her legs.
"I was planning to do the same thing," he said, as he slid his odachi into his sheath.
"But, I couldn't go along. It would make more sense to carry all the people I could."
Isalda didn't really care that much. She grabbed anyone.
[Cast: Grand Frost Dragon]
The dragon manifested, with a few errors. Oscar could not focus completely.
Oscar, Isalda, and Bastle boarded the dragon, immediately taking flight.