First Night In Camelot

I walked slowly toward the slender knight, vision blurred, my body battered and slashed all over.

My black cloth armor, now torn to shreds and soaked in blood, barely clung to my body.

The knight, with gray hair and fierce eyebrows, looked like a man of noble lineage.

When I was close enough, he turned his face toward me.

His gray eyes, as deep as storms, pierced through me with a bloodlust that almost made me collapse to my knees.

My hands trembled, my legs gave out, and the air around me seemed heavier, as if trying to choke me.

But I didn't hesitate. I couldn't just stand there and watch someone die because of me.

Besides, I was too tired to run… and I had no idea where to go.

Suddenly, I found myself standing between Svend and the knight. Fear coursed through my body, but my eyes didn't waver.

Behind the knight lay the lake—and on its shore, the creature that once struck terror into me now lay split in half, its organs spilling out, its crimson blood dyeing the water deep red.

Finally, the knight broke the silence.

—"You're going to sacrifice yourself for someone like him?" he asked with a hint of scorn.

—"No," I replied.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Svend open his eyes, staring at me like I'd just stabbed him in the back.

I shrugged, feigning indifference.

—"You can kill him if you want," I said, pointing at him with my thumb, a careless smile on my lips.

—"But…"

—"Can you get to him before I slit your throat?"

The knight looked at me, puzzled, as if unsure whether to attack me or burst out laughing.

And then, he laughed.

—"Pfff, hahahaha!"

He clutched his stomach as he laughed, making the moment even darker.

I stood still, staring at him seriously, heart tight, waiting for his next move.

Wiping a tear from his eye, he looked at me again.

—"You've changed, Desmond!"

"He knows me?"

—"Fine! Have it your way! Protect him if you can!"

In an instant, the ground trembled. Leaves, grass—even the water—quivered under the knight's rising power.

A blue aura began to envelop him as he drew a massive greatsword from his back.

The blade was nearly five feet long, but surrounded by that radiant blue energy, it felt like fifteen.

I glanced at Svend—unconscious, defenseless.

"I can still run. I could leave him… I only know his name."

But I was the one who dragged him into this.

No matter how afraid I was, I couldn't build my success over someone else's fall.

That's not what Mom would want.

I let out a long sigh. Gripped my sword with both hands. Planted my feet. Got ready.

Then, the greatsword came down.

Like lightning cleaving the sky, the blow struck with brutal force.

I raised my blade above my head, and both weapons clashed with a deafening crash.

The weight was immense, as if a giant had fallen on top of me.

My legs shook, praying not to snap under the strain. I coughed blood, my nose bled, and I could barely stay upright.

I couldn't step back… I didn't know if Svend would survive.

But I knew one thing:

I wanted to live.

I wanted to see Lucas again.

I wanted to hug Ana.

I wanted to go home—into Mom's arms.

I wasn't dying here. Not yet.

—"AAAAAAHHH!"

I screamed and pushed with everything I had.

Something in my shoulder tore, my ankle gave way—but I deflected the attack, and the blade struck the ground, kicking up a storm of dust.

When the dust settled, I saw the massive gash left behind in the earth and trees.

My sword was cracked—on the verge of shattering.

The knight, relentless, raised his weapon again.

I took a deep breath and tightened my grip.

The air smelled like blood.

Dust floated around me.

Svend barely breathed behind me.

The knight's eyes were a void of death.

Everything slowed.

I charged, my sword dragging against the ground.

As my battered body screamed, I slashed horizontally at his blade before it could descend.

My sword glowed golden at the last moment.

It collided with the blue greatsword in a devastating crash that released a shockwave.

"If I can't overpower it… I'll reduce it."

The knight flinched, his strength faltering slightly.The greatsword was knocked aside, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

But my blade… it couldn't take it anymore.

It shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Shit!"

But it didn't matter.

This was my chance.

I clenched my only working fist and ran at him, punching him straight in the face.

His nose started bleeding.I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes.

I hit him again.

And again.

My body was broken.

My vision fading.

But I didn't stop.

I didn't know if Svend was alive.

All that existed was the enemy in front of me.

A fourth punch missed—he dodged and countered with his steel-covered fist.

A desperate strike that smashed into my nose, shattering it, blinding me.

I staggered back, but didn't fall.

I straightened up.

The knight turned his back to me, reaching for his sword.

"Your sword will be your downfall, bastard."

With one arm limp and my body in ruins, I ran, dragging my legs.

I tackled him, shoulder-first, knocking him face-down into the dirt.

I looked into his eyes. I saw terror.

I punched him in the face before he could shield himself.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

I didn't know if he screamed.

I didn't know if he breathed.

I punched.

And punched.

Again.

My body howled.

My sight flickered.

But I kept going.

I crushed his nose.

Caved in his skull.

Blood and mud mixed between my fingers, coating me like a second skin.

—"DIE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I screamed, slamming my head into him when my arm gave out.

I kept going.

Until nothing was left but an unrecognizable mass.

And then…

A weak voice broke through my frenzy.

—"...Bill… that's enough..."

It was Svend.

I looked at the corpse.

Or what was left of it.

Then I looked up at the sky.

The stars sparkled above the dark night.

My body collapsed with a heavy thud.

—"Hell of a day…" I whispered, closing my eyes slowly.

[You have killed a Knight of Camelot]

[New skill available!]