The two blades clashed for only a second, the impact sending Aiden stumbling back. Somehow, he stayed on his feet.Gritting his teeth, he regained his balance and lunged forward, swinging the blue ethereal blade at the golem's side.Once again, the golem blocked effortlessly, its massive sword intercepting the strike with ease.
His sword... it takes up too much space. I can't even reach him.
Aiden stepped back, blade ready, scanning for any opening. Before he could act, the golem struck again. A brutal downward swing whooshed through the air, just inches above Aiden's head.
He ducked instinctively, feeling the wind scrape across his hair.Rolling to the side, he barely dodged the next wide sweep that slammed into the ground, shattering the stone beneath him.
He's fast for something that big. If I get caught even once, I'm dead.
Breathing hard, Aiden circled left, waiting for a chance. The golem pivoted smoothly, lifting one sword high while dragging the other like a scythe, ready to slice low.
I can't trade hits. I need a clean shot.
Aiden feinted, then sprang aside and slashed at the golem's wrist. His blade scraped the stone, sending faint sparks, but it did little damage.
Tougher than I thought... great.
The golem retaliated instantly, both swords crashing down.Aiden threw himself backward, hitting the ground hard. He scrambled up just in time to avoid another crushing strike.
Sweat stung his eyes.
If this keeps up, I'll get crushed before I even scratch him.
He braced, tightening his grip, ready for another desperate move.Maybe his eyes... the sockets look deep. Could that be a weak spot?
Aiden rushed forward. The golem reacted, already prepared.
I just need to avoid—
The creature hurled one sword at him like a spear.Aiden twisted at the last second, the blade missing him by a hair.No time to breathe. The golem followed with a brutal horizontal slash.
He dropped low, rolling to the right as the blade tore past.Just as he tried to move again, a shadow loomed overhead.The golem's free hand closed around his right leg like a vise.
Shit!
Aiden kicked and twisted, but the grip was unbreakable.Without hesitation, the golem hoisted him up. Pain tore through his body.Then it spun, flinging Aiden like a ragdoll.
Craash.
His world twisted violently as he flew through the air.The throne room blurred. Agony followed as he realized what was wrong.
Half his leg remained in the golem's grasp.
Crack.
Aiden smashed into a pillar. The breath was knocked from his lungs as he hit the floor like a broken doll.Blood trailed behind him in thick streaks.
Damn it.
Pain drowned out thought. Even as regeneration kicked in, patching up his neck, the worst damage remained.His sword flickered weakly, returning to an orb of light.
The golem advanced, closing fast while Aiden lay nearly motionless.
I can't block anything like this... and now I can't even move.
He forced himself to breathe slowly, fighting through the haze.
That damn window... where is it?! Maybe there's something I can use.
The golem picked up its discarded sword. Without pause, it prepared to throw again.Aiden's heart pounded as the blade drew back, aimed right for him.
"Just open already!" he shouted.
The blue window flickered into existence.The familiar tabs appeared. But it didn't matter — the golem threw the sword instantly.
The blade slammed into the window instead of Aiden, the screen rippling from the impact like cracked glass.
Aiden stared, surprised.
Ro thought it was a shield once... guess he wasn't wrong.
"Close!" he shouted.
The window vanished.The sword clattered harmlessly to the ground in front of him.
The golem hesitated but resumed its approach.Regeneration worked fast, stitching Aiden back together. Still, his missing leg screamed for attention.
He glanced at the floating orb.
Could he...?
I need a damn leg.
As if obeying, the orb pulsed.It morphed into a glowing limb and slammed into his stump, grafting itself onto him.
Pain exploded through his body.He clenched his jaw, fighting not to scream. But the new leg responded immediately.
Before he could get steady, the golem closed in and swung.Aiden dropped under the blade just in time, the edge cutting the air above his head.
The momentum carried the golem forward, leaving its back exposed.
This leg... it's strong.
The ground cracked as Aiden pushed off, soaring into the air.His hand locked onto the golem's back. He clung tight, his fingers tearing against the stone.
"Sword, now!"
The leg shattered into fragments, reforming in his hand as the ethereal blade.His wound reopened instantly, but he ignored the blood.
Aiden slashed down hard, carving deep into the golem's back.The creature twisted violently, ruining his aim.
Thrown off, Aiden hit the floor near its feet.
"Leg!" he commanded.
The blade shattered again and rebuilt itself as a leg.Pain surged. He forced himself upright and kicked off the golem's foot, creating distance.
The golem knelt, gripping its wounded neck.Blood leaked between its fingers.
"You can bleed...?" Aiden muttered.
The golem rose again, sword dragging beside it.
I can't keep this up much longer.
Their eyes met.Aiden rushed forward, ethereal leg surging with strength.
The golem readied its blade.
Aiden didn't aim for the creature.He aimed for the sword.
The golem swung early, but Aiden leapt onto the weapon's flat side.
For a heartbeat, he balanced there.
Then he launched himself straight for the head.
"Sword!"
The leg became the blade once more.
The golem raised its free hand too late.Aiden hurled the blade with everything he had left.
Time slowed.The sword spun end over end, cutting through the air before burying deep into the golem's hollow eye.
Aiden hit the ground, missing his leg again.He gasped, watching.
The golem fell to one knee, towering even in defeat.
"Are you dead?" Aiden asked, voice hoarse.
Silence.Then faint words echoed in his mind.
"Sinner... I... the last knight grants you the right to leave this place..."
Aiden frowned.
Knight? Weren't you supposed to be king?
"I am... the weakest of my kind," the golem whispered. "But now I shall return. My duty... awaits."
It paused before a final statement.
"We will meet again... in a future you will not expect. May your envy spare you."
What does that even mean?
The golem gave a final shudder and stopped moving.
Aiden exhaled slowly.
The weakest, huh... I really don't like this place.
His vision dimmed as exhaustion overtook him.Muscles burning, nerves raw, and body ruined, Aiden collapsed.Even as everything faded, one small thought lingered in the dark.
The regeneration is still working... I hope.