The night burned red. Flames chewed through Briarford's homes, sending sparks into the sky. Bandits still looted and shouted, but all eyes turned to the square where their leader stepped forward.
He was tall, wrapped in a black cloak, his weapon a massive curved blade scarred from years of battle. His face bore an old scar running from forehead to jaw, and his eyes glowed with hunger for blood.
He stopped a few paces from Kael and pointed the blade at him.
"I am Dargoth, Lord of Ashfang," he declared, his voice booming. "The name whispered in fear across the borderlands. Villages kneel or burn at my command. And you… you are just a bandaged brat standing in my way."
The villagers froze in terror at his name. "Ashfang…" one woman whispered, clutching her child. "He's the one who destroyed Halron village…"
Kael tightened his grip on his sword, his knuckles white under the wrappings. His body ached, every movement screaming against the injuries still fresh under his bandages. But his gaze stayed fixed on Dargoth.
"I don't care who you are," Kael said firmly. "You will not touch this village again."
Dargoth laughed, deep and cruel. "Bold words for someone barely alive. Let me show you the weight of a true warrior!"
With that, Dargoth lunged, his curved blade slicing through the air like thunder.
Kael barely raised his sword in time. Clang! The strike jolted through his arms, rattling his bones. The force hurled him back, his heels scraping across the dirt.
He coughed blood into his bandages. His arms trembled. He's… too strong…
Dargoth smirked, swinging again. Each blow fell heavier than the last, shaking the ground. Kael parried desperately, his sword sparking under the pressure. His body staggered, sweat and blood stinging his eyes.
The villagers gasped. "He can't win…"
"No one can face Dargoth head-on…"
Maverick crouched at the edge of the fight, his crimson eyes sharp. His tail lashed as he growled low.
"Kael!" Maverick's voice echoed in his mind, firm but controlled. "Stop meeting his strength with strength. You're not built for that yet. Think. Flow. Use his weight against him."
Kael gritted his teeth. "But… his speed—"
"You can dodge it. Don't block every strike. Guide it. Redirect."
Another slash came. This time, instead of locking blades, Kael shifted his stance. He stepped sideways, letting the curved blade carve into the ground instead. Sparks flew as Dargoth's weapon struck stone.
Kael exhaled, eyes sharpening. "I see…"
He swung quickly, aiming at Dargoth's side. But the bandit lord twisted, blocking with ease and countering with a knee to Kael's chest. Kael flew back, crashing into the dirt.
Villagers screamed. The girl covered her mouth in fear. "Please… get up…"
Dargoth sneered. "This is the boy you hoped for? He's nothing!"
Kael groaned, blood seeping through his wrappings. His body felt broken, but Maverick's voice cut through the haze.
"Kael. Focus. Feel his rhythm. He swings wide, heavy. Each attack leaves an opening. Don't fight like a soldier. Fight like yourself."
Kael staggered up, leaning on his sword. His breathing steadied, his eyes narrowing.
Dargoth charged again, blade raised. The villagers held their breath.
This time, Kael didn't block head-on. He stepped aside just as the blade fell, spinning his sword upward in a swift counter. Clang! The clash sent sparks scattering, but this time Kael's blade left a cut across Dargoth's arm.
Blood dripped.
The villagers gasped. "He… he hurt him!"
Dargoth's grin faltered into a snarl. "You little—!"
Kael shifted his footing, moving lighter, dodging instead of resisting. Each strike of Dargoth's massive blade now dug deeper into the ground or slashed past him harmlessly. And with every miss, Kael struck back with quick cuts, leaving shallow wounds across the bandit lord's body.
Maverick's voice guided him like an invisible hand.
"Step in, twist—good. Don't rush, let him overextend. Now—strike!"
Kael obeyed, his body flowing like water around Dargoth's raw power. His sword danced where Dargoth's brute force stumbled.
The villagers began shouting. "He's fighting back!"
"He's standing against Dargoth!"
"There's hope!"
Their voices fueled Kael. For the first time since the flames began, the villagers looked less like prey and more like survivors clinging to his blade.
But Dargoth roared, fury in his eyes. "Enough! I'll crush you!"
He lifted his weapon high, preparing a final devastating blow. Kael steadied his sword, his breath calm, his body ready.
Maverick's voice whispered: "This is it. One chance. Make it count."
The clash that followed shook the square.