Brothers (2)

"High-Silver, hardly any combat experience, outnumbered... Your mythical weapons aren't enough to bridge this gap Lee, you're fucked."

Malachi taunted, red longsword in hand as he slowly stalked towards his youngest brother.

Levian stood there, feet planted and hands grasped firmly around his two-handed mace. The White Orb at its end glowed bright like a torch.

He remained silent.

"No words?" Malachi shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Then, the man vanished, or at least appeared to.

He reappeared in front of Levian, swinging his longsword in a vicious overhead arc. The blade glowed red as it tore through the air.

Fast!

Levian raised his mace above his head, bracing it with both hands; however, as the two collided, he swiftly realised that having 6 defence was not enough to defend against Malachi's strength.

A sharp pain shot through his right wrist, and he was sent sliding backwards along the grass. He dug his back foot into the ground to stop his movements.

Levian's system pinged.

[Life Force: 190/210]

Malachi stared his brother down, a mocking grin on his face as his blade hung limp beside him.

"20 life points down just from blocking? Adam hasn't even gotten involved yet, and you're already fucked!"

Levian gritted his teeth through the pain. Just from wiggling his fingers, he could tell that something in his hand had been fractured.

Just like that, I'm at another disadvantage...

And what is that red sword? Is it some sort of legendary?

Then, Malachi dashed in again, swinging his weapon upwards in a lazy one-handed grip.

Levian expected this strike to be easier to defend. He tried to parry, but was once again overpowered.

He was sent sliding once again, guard broken and right hand aching.

This time, Malachi didn't stop. He continued to rush forward, swinging his sword like a piece of wood with no technique.

And yet, Levian could do nothing but defend as he was pushed very and further backwards.

Adam continued to watch from the back, unmoving. He expected not to have to get involved, as even with Malachi playing around, Levian had no chance.

THUD

Levian was knocked onto his arse, as Malachi barged into him with his shoulder between attacks.

He looked up to find his older brother's weapon raised high.

If he didn't act now, it would be over for him.

Levian had to think fast.

His current available skills were 'White Eclipse', an elemental skill that allowed him to launch a giant sun from his weapon, and Rain of Jericho, a personal skill that would make arrows rain from the sky.

His opponent was too close for him to use either of them.

And so, Levian willed his weapon into his soulspace, and in the same moment, he summoned Nyx, into his hand.

The decision made his brother falter in his movements, though only for a moment.

But that moment was long enough.

Levian activated one of Nyx's skills.

Fade Between Realms!

The world around him became black and white.

His hand still ached, but he pushed himself to his feet whilst gripping onto Nyx with his left hand.

He watched as his two brothers looked around in disbelief, confused as to what was going on.

Malachi shouted something, face angered and worried, but all Levian could hear was a muffled voice.

A smile crept onto his face, as he counted down from six.

Six seconds was all he had to position himself into a place where he could turn the tide of the battle. As he counted down, he also created a plan to best utilise Nyx's skills and talents.

Levian hadn't been able to test it before, but Nyx was equipped with a unique talent named Nightbloom Reap.

Nightbloom Reap ~ Critical strikes leave a shadow on the target. If the target fails to land a hit on the wielder within five seconds, the shadow pierces their heart with absolute precision.

With Fade Between Realms' guarantee to turn the first strike after reappearing into a critical hit, that meant that the two paired together could lead to a possibly fatal blow.

All he had to do was make sure that his first strike landed. If it didn't, his brothers would both sense the danger and decide to finish him off quickly, using every skill they had in their arsenals.

I have to make these six seconds count!

Levian watched as Malachi's eyes darted around. He wasn't sure whether Levian had fled, or had used some sort of stealth skill to try and land a stealth attack.

Since Levian was outnumbered and had already received a beating, he had assumed the latter. It was much more likely for Levian to run than to try and fight.

This worked to his advantage.

Whilst remaining guarded, Malachi risked a glance back towards his brother Adam. Then, his mouth opened to say something, right before Levian appeared behind him, Nyx's blade of the quiet star swinging viciously towards his neck.

Malachi's eyes went wide, and he knew it would be faster for him to dodge rather than block.

He turned and leaned backwards, just in time for Levian's swing to glide past his neck, whooshing through the air.

Malachi smiled, thinking that he was safe, but it wasn't over.

Levian followed through, flipping the longsword and holding it by its blade. It cut into his hand, drawing his own blood, but then he thrust it forward, crashing into Malachi's stomach with a thud.

The large man stumbled backwards, only for a few steps. He then looked down at his chest in confusion.

"A pommel strike? Hardly enough to do any damage—"

His words were cut off as a dark shadow suddenly loomed over him. The sun had already begun to fall, but this figure brought forth even further darkness.

It was a misty figure with no clear form, except for the thin sword that it held constantly behind Malachi, ready to pierce through his back and into his heart.

Levian stared at the figure, taken aback by his own skill.

"The Nightbloom Reaper..." he muttered in awe.

The skill did not require that the landed strike be powerful, or even draw any damage.

As long as Nyx struck the opponent, the strike would be critical, and Nightbloom Reap would activate.

Malachi would now have five seconds to land an attack on Levian, and if he failed to do so, then his heart would be pierced.

Having never come across such a skill, Malachi had no idea of this fact.

The man's eyes went wide, and he continued to turn around and swing his blade, in a futile attempt to strike at the reaper.

His weapon passed through harmlessy, as though striking a cloud.

"Adam... help! Get this fucking entity away from me!"

"Malachi, calm down," Adam said calmly. "Levian, let's talk this out and try to—"

SHRRRKK!

Both of their eyes turned back towards Malachi.

The Nightbloom Reaper was no longer there. Only a black shadow sword that entered through their oldest brother's back, and exited out of the front of his chest.

Blood sprayed onto the green glass, and Malachi stood there, mouth agape and eyes bulging from their sockets.

All that could be heard was the sounds of the man gurgling on his own blood, as his hands reached for the sword.

It was futile.

Moments afterwards, Malachi fell face-first into a puddle of his own blood.

[Malachi Bladeblessed]

[DEAD]

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[Breakthrough! High-Silver >> Low-Gold]

Suddenly, everything had changed.

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