Arc 2: A vigorous first month
Road to a Hero:
Three chances in another world
Chapter 8: Cold Snow on Hot Wounds
Gray tries to run back to the fight, though with the wound over his eye blood keeps dripping into his bruised eye. He takes the arm of his ripped jacket, tearing it off, then wrapping it around his wound as well as his eye. Wiping the blood off his face, he then proceeds to run back to the fight.
Gray {OK hopefully this patched-together plan works, cause we’re gonna die if it doesn't}
Carla is easily fighting Soku and Rosemary at once, just having to dodge both of them. Though Carla's hands are bleeding, she is still able to overpower Rosemary, who continues to get weaker as she goes on. Finally making it back to the fight, Gray immediately rushes to attack Carla. Moving like a snake, she moves around him slicing at his body over and over. Kicking Rosemary to the side, then rushing to attack Soku.
Soku: “GET THE HELL AWAY!”
Soku charges up a powerful wind blast, forcing Carla back. Rosemary goes to attack her, though, with all the strain that was put on her body, she wasn’t able to dodge the swing, getting her stomach slashed, though only lightly.
Gray: “ROSEMARY!"
In a rage, he continued to run.
Gray: "I'LL KILL YOU!"
Carla: “Oh please do try!”
Gray explodes with mana, launching himself at Carla. Since he’s only moving in a straight line, she dodges, kicking him through the window, causing him to fall 3-stories, landing in the cold white snow, slowly turning red with all the blood flowing out of the cuts on his skin. Gray tries to stand, falling to his knees, struggling to breathe. His eyes start to tear up, and grabbing the snow, his internal rage turns to unease and a feeling of dread.
Gray: “Why…WHY DAMMIT!”
Gray starts to sob, unable to stand or do much of anything, falling into the snow.
Gray { I WAS DOING SO WELL! WHY, WHY, WHY!? We were living just fine. I… I WAS FINALLY PROGRESSING. NOW THIS, WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS SHIT. I had nothing, absolutely nothing to do with my life, and they are all I have...I won't lose them...Rosemary, I promise I'll save you.}
Gray tries to push himself up, his muscles tearing, his blood is pouring, and his head starts screaming at him.
Gray: “Please… PLEASE, I WILL NOT SIT HERE, I WILL NOT WASTE THIS! COME ON! IF IT’S THE LAST THING YOU DO GET UP, AT LEAST BE A GODDAMN SHIELD FOR THEM!”
Gray hears what sounds like a bird whistling in the air, swinging over and over. Gray turns his head fully enraged, to see a woman wrapped in bandages, like a mummy. However, it seemed to be her skin that was wrapped around her, standing there staring at him.
Gray: “Is that a damn mummy?”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Anibys: “I am Anibys, leader of the low pillars of justice, a member of the Sect of Anarchy, and you are my goal. I also want you to inform me of the location of Jeremiah before we leave together.”
Gray: “He’s not here and I'm not goin'.”
Anibys: “Look, I know he’s here. So tell me and we will be on our way.”
Gray: “Mind if I strike a deal with you then?”
Anibys: “Go on.”
While this is going on, Edward and Conroy are currently exchanging sword strikes.
Conroy: “Come on! Show me your true power, the warrior's spirit, you’re a Helsing! A berserker, a demi-god! I can see it, feel it behind your eyes, restrained by chains! LET IT OUT SO THE REAL FIGHT CAN BEGIN!”
Edward plays defense, blocking the strikes waiting for an opening, Conroy moving like a snake, bouncing around the walls, and ceiling.
Edward {This is it, a real fight. He’s much stronger than the normal soldier, much, much stronger! He’s flowing around the hallway jumping and striking mid-air like a super soldier, and this is just how the baseline swordsmen should fight!}
Edward starts taking steps, grits his teeth, and then starts to finally swing back. Even though the sword is so heavy, he can still keep up and put Conroy on the defense.
Conroy: “COME ON SHOW ME, SHOW ME A FUTURE GOD OF WAR!”
Edward: “SHUT UP!”
Conroy: “COME ON LET IT OUT!”
Edward starts to lose focus, getting slightly slashed multiple times across his face as well as his body. Starting to move off impulse, the swings of the greatsword picking up in speed. Conroy moves to the side, planning on striking Edward's side. Then Edward swings his sword, cleaving through the wall, like a hot knife through butter. Conroy barely dodges the debris, leaving him open. Conroy blocks Edward's swing, though blocking this heavy blow puts a lot of pressure on Conroy's blade, causing it to crack and sending him flying backward.
Conroy: “There it is! Your fury, to die to a Helsing is an honor. That sword, what is its name?”
Edward: “Its name is Bj?rn, after my late stepfather.”
Conroy: “Wonderful.”
Conroy smiles before extending his arm.
Conroy: “IGNUM!”
A ball of fire is sent from his hand, being blocked by Bj?rn, Edward's sword. And while Edwards defense was strong, he made a mistake. Conroy uses this as an opening, dashing towards Edward. Curving around Edward, then slashing Edwards back. Edward grunts in pain, then once more Conroy extends his hand.
Conroy: “IGNIS!”
Glowing red mana swirled from the air to his palm before quickly erupting out with a stream of fire. The fire hits Edward just as he was turning around, leaving him open In a flash he was burnt and sent flying, blasting down the hallway.
Conroy: “A shame you couldn’t kill me.”
Conroy rushes towards Edward, right about to stab him in the head. Then surprising Conroy, Edward grabs the sword, and it begins to crack under the pressure. Though it slices his hand causing it to bleed. Conroy didn't care, but he couldn't get his sword back. Then, within Edwards eyes, was an anger. A dormant powerful spirit of a warrior using all of their emotions to topple their foe. But Edward held it back, getting kicked in the face and letting go of the sword.
Edward {I couldn't...I couldn't be the Helsing I was supposed to be...to the very end...}
Before anything can happen, a device in Conroy's pocket starts to glow while making a faint ringing sound.
Conroy: “Oh wait sorry, I gotta take this.”
Conroy reaches into his pocket and pulls out the purple, M-like, crest of the Sect. He holds it with his hand, pushing mana within it to open his connection, all while his sword was right above Edward still moving head, ready to attack, but Edward felt absolute no care to block. Feeling defeated, and unwilling to cheat.
Carla: “WHAT I’M BUSY!”
Her voice emerged from the device, glowing everytime she said a word.
Conroy: “Yeah what is it Anibys.”
Anibys: “Stop your fighting! Bring them outside to me. We are making a trade. The safety of their lives for Gray to accompany us and Jeremiah's location.”
Conroy: “Oh, alright then.”
Conroy turns around to Edward, motioning him to follow.
Edward: “I need proof this is real before I come with you, until then...”
He gritted his teeth, standing up and pushing past his wounds.
Edward {I was a real fighter, a real knight, a real Helsing... I could brush off all of this like it's nothing, I just need to use it.}
The rage continued to burn, fueling his strength. However, just as he was about to dash forward like a wild animal, he heard a familiar voice that returned his sanity.
Conroy: “Anibys, they need proof! QUICK!”
Anibys: “Okay then, Gray tell them.”
Conroy leaped backward, with Edward stopping his large blunt blade right before it bashes against Conroys face.
Gray: “IT’S ME GUYS! JUST COME OUT HERE IT’S ALL GOOD!”
Conroy: “Is that good enough?”
Edward: “So, either you die or they die then. Then I have no choice."
Conroy: “Great! Now come on, don’t want to keep Gray and the others waitin'. ”
END OF CHAPTER
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