Pride and honor

Archie was in a bit of a pickle. And by a bit, he meant a lot considering he was more than tired, his weapons were worn out and more than anything he had pissed off that daemon who could turn invisible.

But atleast one thing was good, he wouldn't be stabbed in the back because of the foe's wounded pride, it looked like he had already been called out by other daemons for using his stealthy powers and not fighting with honor.

His moves were slightly less dangerous but that didn't mean he stopped using his powers, even worse, the speed of his attacks increased by a lot.

So currently, Archie being the honorable warrior he was, was looking for a way to escape as fast as possible without losing any arm or legs preferably, because he clearly didn't know anyone with special abilities that could grow his arm back.

There was a plan forming in his mind, but for it to succeed, he had to take a gamble and that was currently very dangerous, considering he didn't even know the enemy's full scope of abilites. Who knows what he could or could not do?

But seeing no way out of the predicament, he could only think of one particular way to escape at that point, there really wasn't any other choice for him eitherway.

Thinking of all the steps properly in his mind, he took a deep breath,and gripped the hilt of the sword harder than ever.

Continuing the fight, he moved more desperately as if to end the battle as quick as he possibly could.

Arenes, seeing that grew a bit more confident despite his suspicion of the foe's sudden change.

The sword dance between both continued, with Archie not finding much of a chance to damage the vanishing daemon, yet even Arenes, did not get too aggresive in case the desperate enemy tried to mutually end both of them at cost of his own life.

It lasted several more minutes, until Arenes saw the Human sneakily put his hand in one of the pant's pocket and took something out from there.

Growing a bit wary,he stood away with precaution, but couldn't think of anything that the enemy possessed that could harm him, he had already thrown the empty gun away, and the weird rope weapon wasn't of much use at the moment, with his other hand already tied with the sword.

Seeing Archie do nothing, Arenes went forward to probe, but at that moment, the Human lashed out with his sword held only in one hand.

Easily deflecting the poorly held sword, Arenes went forward to strike, just then his vision happened to notice the Human dropping something from his hands onto the ground.

It was actually the round bullets of the gun, he wasn't able to use many because of the time it took to reload the gun, yet Archie had thrown them to the ground right now,as if to cause the enemy to step on them and slip or atleast slightly falter.

The Daemon seeing that chuckled and said,"Do you think I am a little kid who would fall for such a childish trick? Do not take me for a fool, Human."

He lightly stepped over them with an awkward step, causing his posture to become weird, but it was still enough to give him enough space to stab the childish Human's heart.

And that was what he did, but at that moment, his already red face, darkened a bit as he felt the sword stuck something hard.

The sound was supposed to be of flesh searing against a blade, but it felt more like the blade being hit against wood?

Just when he understood what had happened, his eyes widened at the realisation but it was already too late.

Archie finding his chance, when the enemy's shortsword was still stuck in the wood, he quickly took out the smoke bomb from his pocket and lit it.

Arenes tried to take out his sword, but his surroundings were already filled with smoke, with the morning sun out in the sky.

Getting alarmed, he looked behind him as if he suddenly sensed something, but when he looked back to the Human, he was already running away to one of the entrances.

Meanwhile, Archie was running as fast as he could, with desperation written all over his face.

Making his way to the eastern entrance of the town square, he went outside it, the shortsword still stuck to his chest.

On the way, he still couldn't see anyone outside, it looked like it was either too early or something was wrong which was the reason he saw no one.

Taking a turn, he ran forward a bit more and went into the alleyway,jumping over a small fence.

Yet as soon as he landed, his face paled as what came in front of him was the red-skinned Daemon with a beautifully embroidered flintlock pistol in his hand, it's barrel aimed directly at Archie's head and his finger already on the trigger.

It appeared that, Arenes had picked up the weapon Archie had thrown away previously and also left the bullets there too for the Daemon to use as much as he wanted, which the latter had happily accepted.

Seeing no other way to escape, Archie could only try to jump out of the way while using his hands,so that it wouldn't burst out his brain everywhere.

Suddenly a gunshot reverberated in the previously silent street, causing several birds to fly away from their nests because of the loud sound.

Archie was laying on the ground while grabbing his bleeding forearm, where the bullet had lodged itself deep in his bone.

Staring at the blue sky for a while, he looked at the daemon who was similarly staring at the fallen Human, both trying to discern what was going on in the other's head.

Archie was the one to break the silence first saying,"Haven't you lost already? You said you'd kill me before the sun rises, but it looks like I am still breathing and the sun is enjoying our little duel."

Arenes let out a deep breath and responded in his slow, deep voice,"Indeed, I failed to do what I had promised, but leaving you alive is not possible, this is where your story ends, my friend."

The Human suddenly let out a laugh, so loud as if he had forgotten the pain and stopped grabbing his bleeding hand, letting it rest besides his leg and said,"I was absolutely right when I said your style is more similar to a backstabbing thief than an honorable daemon.

First you couldn't attack your enemy anywhere other than the back and now you also go back on your word, haha, truly a very honorable 'daemonic' move."

Arenes stared at the fallen Human for a bit and wanted to say something,but suddenly he grabbed the gun by it's barrel and threw it with all his strength at the Human's hand which was sneakily entering his pant's pocket.

As Archie cursed while grabbing his hand, the red-skinned foe sighed once more and said,"I cannot believe a single mortal Human had given me this much trouble, but I admire your courage and skills to go against an Ascended in such a state, but alas."

Shaking his head, he went forward to retrieve the blade still stuck on the enemy's chest.

Yet as soon as he reached there, he was surprised to see that the fallen Human had a wide grin on his face and his eyes weren't looking at the daemon, but somewhere behind him.

It seemed like He had wasted a lot of time and had also lured in some trouble with all the sound.

Actually, it was the trick of the cunning Human laying in front of him slowly bleeding out?

Turning around, what came in his view was an Angran around 130 cm tall yet what was most peculiar about him was on of his ear cropped at the base and the way he was glaring at the daemon.

He was wearing a dark-green priest garb with black patterns and behind him were several tens of similar rat-kins in casual clothes behind him staring at them from far.

The rat priest was the only one who approached them with slow steps, his hands hidden in his garb yet the atmosphere was frozen with both of the Ascended staring daggers at each other.

His hands still hidden, the priest asked,"Why has a Daemon partnered with the putrid undying, have you lost your mind or is your kind finally revealing it's true colors and dropping all that honor and pride act?"

The daemon in question put his hands behind his back and answered with disgust written all over his face,"What would you filthy, sewer-dwelling rats understand about pride and honor."

Behind his back without the knowledge of the Angran, another similar shortsword appeared just like the one lodged in Archie's chest, it looked like the Daemon was trying to hide that he had another weapon.

Seeing his chance,Archie quickly screamed at the priest,"He has another of those magical sword hidden in his hand,He wants to stab you in the back with it like a thief!"

Arenes glared at the fallen human for a bit, revealing his hand and turned back saying,"Stay down and wait for your turn,Archie."

It looked like the vanishing daemon remembered his name, which didn't appear as a good sign.