Chapter 12
Chapter 12: The Clash with Khetar
ShadowBlade charged towards Khetar, his blades gleaming in the harsh desert light. Khetar, the Mummy Blader, launched himself forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. ShadowBlade raised his swords just in time, parrying the strike with a grunt of effort. The force of the blow pushed him back, but he quickly regained his footing.
- 70 HP
Khetar didn't relent. He followed up with a series of swift strikes, each one aimed to break through ShadowBlade's defenses. ShadowBlade's arms ached as he blocked and parried, his mind racing to find an opening.
"ShadowBlade," Khetar called, his voice echoing in the night, "do you truly believe you can stand against me? I am a sword expert, and you are nothing but a dog."
"You talk too much," ShadowBlade retorted, his voice steady despite the burning pain in his arms. "Maybe if you put more effort into your strikes, you might actually hit me."
Khetar's eyes gleamed with malice. "You can't keep this up forever. Soon, you will fall."
ShadowBlade remained silent, his grip tightening on his twin blades. He knew that this fight would be the greatest challenge of his life. Khetar was not only skilled but also arrogant, blinded by his own ego. ShadowBlade's only chance was to exploit that arrogance.
With a sudden movement, Khetar launched himself forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. ShadowBlade raised his swords just in time, parrying the strike with a grunt of effort. The force of the blow pushed him back, but he quickly regained his footing.
- 70 HP
Khetar raised his blade high, preparing for a powerful overhead strike. ShadowBlade saw his chance. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow, and countered with his own attack. His blades flashed in the moonlight as he unleashed his double slash, aiming for Khetar's midsection.
-30 HP
Khetar was quick to react. He brought his sword down in a dark slash, meeting ShadowBlade's attack with a clash of steel. The impact sent a shockwave through both of them, but neither warrior backed down.
"Impressive," Khetar admitted, a hint of respect in his voice. "But not enough."
With a roar, Khetar activated his fear aura. A wave of dread washed over ShadowBlade, threatening to paralyze him. But he fought against it, using his sheer willpower to keep moving. He couldn't afford to be intimidated.
- 50 HP
Khetar pressed his advantage, his strikes becoming more aggressive and relentless. ShadowBlade was forced to retreat, his mind working frantically to keep up. He knew that he couldn't win by brute strength alone. He needed to use his surroundings.
As they fought, ShadowBlade maneuvered closer to the rocky outcrops at the edge of the arena. Khetar followed, his attacks unwavering. ShadowBlade feigned a stumble, drawing Khetar closer. When Khetar swung his sword, ShadowBlade dodged and kicked up a cloud of sand, momentarily blinding his opponent.
Taking advantage of the distraction, ShadowBlade launched his triple slash, his blades cutting through the air with precision. Khetar managed to block two of the strikes, but the third one slipped past his guard, grazing his arm.
"Triple Slash!"
- 50 HP
- 47 HP
- 62 HP
Bleeding Effect: - 50 HP per second.
Blood drips out from the body of Khetar.
Khetar snarled in anger, his arrogance slipping. "You dare wound me?"
ShadowBlade didn't answer. He knew that his victory depended on keeping Khetar off balance. He continued to dodge and weave, exploiting every opportunity. But Khetar's skill and strength were formidable, and every mistake ShadowBlade made was punished harshly.
As the battle wore on, ShadowBlade's movements became slower, his wounds and exhaustion taking their toll. Khetar, though slightly injured, still stood strong, his attacks as fierce as ever. ShadowBlade's vision blurred, but he refused to give up.
In a final, desperate move, ShadowBlade activated his most powerful skill: Death Cross. He crossed his blades and charged at Khetar, putting all his remaining strength into the attack. Khetar met him head-on, their swords clashing with a thunderous sound.
"Death Cross!"
- 350 HP
The impact was devastating. Both warriors were thrown back, landing heavily on the ground. ShadowBlade struggled to rise, his body screaming in pain. Khetar slowly got to his feet, his eyes locked onto ShadowBlade.
"You fought well," Khetar said, his voice devoid of mockery. "But this is the end."
ShadowBlade knew he couldn't continue. His body was battered, his HP running low, his strength nearly gone. But he forced himself to stand, facing Khetar with unwavering resolve.
Khetar approached, his sword raised for the final blow. ShadowBlade met his gaze, a faint smile on his lips. "It was an honor," he whispered.
"You were a worthy opponent, ShadowBlade," Khetar acknowledged, his blade descending.
ShadowBlade lay on the ground, gasping for breath, but his resolve hadn't wavered. Khetar stood over him, sword raised, ready to deliver the final blow. Yet, something in ShadowBlade's eyes gave Khetar pause—a flicker of determination, of defiance, that refused to be extinguished.
He saw his past self from the eyes of ShadowBlade.
"Is this truly the end?" Khetar mused aloud, his voice carrying a note of curiosity. "Will you surrender, or do you still have some fight left in you?"
ShadowBlade gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet. His entire body ached, every movement a struggle, but he couldn't allow himself to give up. "I will fight... until my last breath," he declared, his voice hoarse but resolute.
Khetar's lips curled into a faint smile. "Very well. Let us continue."
With renewed intensity, Khetar launched a series of powerful strikes, each one aimed to end the fight.
- 47 HP
- 28 HP
...
ShadowBlade blocked and parried, his movements slower but no less precise. He knew he couldn't withstand Khetar's onslaught for long, but he had to keep going, had to find a way to turn the tide.
Khetar's sword flashed in the moonlight as he delivered a particularly vicious strike, aiming for ShadowBlade's neck. ShadowBlade ducked just in time, feeling the blade whistle past his ear. He countered with a swift Double Slash, but Khetar easily deflected the blows.
"You are persistent," Khetar acknowledged, his eyes gleaming with a mix of respect and amusement. "But persistence alone will not save you."
ShadowBlade knew Khetar was right. He needed to be more than just persistent; he needed to be clever, to use every advantage he could find. His eyes flickered to the rocky outcrops once more. They had provided cover earlier—perhaps they could do so again.
As Khetar pressed his attack, ShadowBlade retreated toward the rocks, his mind racing. He needed a plan, a way to catch Khetar off guard. An idea began to form, risky but potentially effective. He would need to time it perfectly.
Khetar's blade came down in another dark slash, the force of the blow sending ShadowBlade stumbling back. He pretended to be more injured than he was, letting out a pained groan as he fell against a large rock. Khetar approached, confident in his imminent victory.
After battling for almost two hours. Khetar spoke once again.
"Are you finally ready to concede?" Khetar asked, his voice tinged with arrogance.
ShadowBlade didn't respond. Instead, he waited, his breath shallow, his heart pounding. As Khetar raised his sword for the final strike, ShadowBlade gathered his remaining strength. Just as Khetar's blade descended, ShadowBlade rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the lethal blow.
Khetar's sword struck the rock with a resounding clang, the force of the impact sending vibrations through the ground. ShadowBlade seized the moment, pushing off the rock and launching himself at Khetar. He swung his blades in a desperate triple slash, aiming for Khetar's exposed flank.
Khetar reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. One of ShadowBlade's strikes connected, cutting across Khetar's ribs. Khetar hissed in pain, his eyes blazing with fury. "You insolent wretch!"
- 267 HP ( Critical )
Bleeding Effect: - 50 HP per second.
ShadowBlade didn't let up. He pressed his advantage, using every ounce of his remaining strength. He knew he couldn't outlast Khetar in a prolonged fight, so he had to end it now. He feinted to the left, then spun to the right, his blades flashing as he aimed for Khetar's legs.
- 52 HP
- 48 HP
...
Khetar managed to block the strike, but the force of the blow staggered him. He lashed out with his own sword, and ShadowBlade barely avoided the lethal edge. The two warriors circled each other, each one waiting for the other to make a mistake.
"You are tenacious," Khetar admitted, his voice strained. "But this battle is mine."
ShadowBlade didn't reply. He could feel his body weakening, his vision blurring. But he couldn't afford to stop, couldn't afford to let Khetar win. He focused on his breathing, on the rhythm of the fight, and waited for his chance.
Khetar lunged forward, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. ShadowBlade dodged, using the last of his strength to roll away. As he came up, he saw his opening—a momentary lapse in Khetar's defense. With a cry of effort, ShadowBlade launched himself at Khetar, his blades aimed for the warrior's chest.
- 389 HP ( Critical )
Bleeding Effect: - 50 HP per second.
Khetar's eyes widened in surprise, but he reacted swiftly. He brought his sword up, meeting ShadowBlade's attack head-on. The clash of steel echoed, and for a moment, it seemed as if neither warrior would give way.
But ShadowBlade's strength was failing. His arms trembled, his vision dimmed. Khetar's sword pressed down, forcing ShadowBlade to his knees. He could feel the cold edge of Khetar's blade against his throat, and he knew that this was the end.