(Previous chapter - Gauge and Var warp back to Xerith only to find themselves in an ancient prison. A blue specter seemingly able to teleport appear before them.)
The specter placed his grand sword on his shoulder. He formally introduced himself,
"Greetings. They call me the Grand warden. I keep an eye beings that pass through the gates and keep them in check."
His voice resonated in plural.He was wearing a Dark armor cracked open with channels of Gate energy. Head covered by a similar helmet revealing only his glowing blue eyes. Var looked at Gauge and let out a short sigh, the kind that meant trouble was about to start again. He bent close him and whispered,
"Remember what I told you. If this guy shows one percent hostility, RUN!"
The Grands warden noticed he was being ignored and speaks up,
"However, I am not as mindless as my minion, the one you call the gatekeeper. I apologize for his rude behaviour. just because you walked through a gate that was supposed to kill you, doesn't mean you get to be punished."
Var is actually relieved and tries to walk past him,
"Glad we understood each other. Now we will be on our way, nice knowing you big fella."
*Thud* The warden plunged his Greatsword on his way forward. It was merely inches away from peeling his face off. He smoothly walked back to where he was standing. The Warden continued,
"But!. You killed him, that deserves a punishment."
He left his sword in place and started warming up. He was getting ready for a fight.
Var sighed heavily So much for 'I am not as mindless as my minion' he thought. He slowly looked at Gauge widened his eyes to alert him and tilted head towards the gate. It was a signal to run. They prepared to run the moment the Warden was distracted.
But the Warden with a bold tone ordered,
"I!! the Grand Warden of the gates, Invoke trial by combat against this one!"
in an instant a shockwave sent Var flying. It had no effect on Gauge. Some definitive blocks in the ruins around them, arranged themselves in a circle. Runes on them started glowing purple. All the rocks were similar in shape as if they were used before for the same purpose. The rocks started rotating around the Gauge and the Warden. The trial by combat has begun, A Notification appeared on Var's Riftcore,
Rules of Trial by combat:
1)No magic allowed - Teleportation also considered to be magic
2)No supernatural powers - Fire,water,air all effects will be nullified
3)contenders are allowed to infuse their weapons with elements before hand.
4)No one besides the contenders must influence the battle at any cost
Var was terrified the last person who sent message without a connection was a supreme god. he shouts from a distance,
"Careful kid! that isn't your average God..." And shows him the rules. Gauge reads and agrees. He Unsheathed Feryx and infused it with his White magma. The Warden retrieves his sword and prepares his stance. A forcefield was generated around them to avoid any external influence.
Feryx in Gauge's Hand - glows white with magma. Warden's greatsword - Blue gate energy surges. *ZWSS* *dhuff* They both clashed with a quick rush, ashes around them scatter on impact. Warden attacks from the left - deflected to right. Gauge tried to plunge the warden but the armor won't budge.
The Warden swayed from the right Gauge backsteps. dodges it. Jumps and goes for the eyes where the armor lacked───────── Stopped inches before his eyes. The warden stopped Gauge's hands .Suspended in air he deliver a kick to the face and releases himself. He jumps back to a distance. Tries to bring up a plan.
In a flash, The warden was in front of him. Plunging his sword, blocked by a last minute attempt by Gauge. But the impact threw Gauge in to the surrounding forcefield. He was electrocuted and suspended in the air Ahhh damn it that hurts. The warden quickly grabs him by his head which fits in to his hands. Slammed him into the ground.
Battered and bruised, Gauge strained to get up. The warden lifted his sword as he was about to pierce though him. Gauge rolls under him and jumped to deliver a full out blow to his back pushing him into the forcefield. This time the Warden was electrocuted.
Gauge was bleeding from the attacks he tanked. Outside the forcefield Var muttered to himself,
"At least now, we know you're not an immortal."
Voices did not pass through the forcefield. Var knew this as he already tried.
Gauge and the Warden both were recovering.
"That was intense!" a female voice from nowhere. Gauge searched for the source. He for a second though Var was playing with him. He looks at Var who shrugged his shoulder. He realized by now voices don't pass through the force field or he might have heard Var complaining.
"Down here!" said the voice. Gauge looks down and notices it was Feryx talking. His eyes widen,
"how the hell are you talking!? why are you you talking? what are you ?"
The Warden recovers and dashes against Gauge. He barely managed to dodge it. He jumped out of the warden's trajectory,pheww that was close
"Keep your head in the game kid! How I can speak?You can know that later. For now throw me against his neck. make sure you miss by an inch."
He hesitates for a moment but if i lose my weapon, I'd be dead.....But if I can't defeat him I'd be dead anyway. What do I have to lose. and then throws her just the way she instructed. The warden doesn't react, the dagger was going to miss him anyways. The sharp point of the dagger was only an inch away from his neck──────── He starts bleeding. Gauge,Var, the Warden - everyone was shocked. But then Gauge remembers the abilities menu
Virtual extension 2 cm, is this what it means? that is cool.
Feryx fell behind the Warden still glowing. She uses the residual energy to get back to gauge.
"That was awesome! Now let's finish him off."
The warden held his neck as he was bleeding. He looks at his hand, full of his blood.
"Neat trick but that won't work again!" He vaulted over Gauge and delivered a smashing blow. Nailed him to the ground. Gauge's legs buried into the shattered ground.
He delivered another one and so on. He hammered him mercilessly to the ground. finally with a horizontal slash disarms him. Feryx tries to return as quick as possible.Gauge reaches in to his satchel. But the warden in no time lifted his sword above his head. Delivered the final ruthless finishing blow.
The ashes scattered everywhere. Blinded everyone. The rotating stones stopped. The runes on them powered down. The forcefield disabled.
The Trial By Combat was over!!
Next Chapter - Curse of a Defeated Warrior