Chapter 66: A Trip Gone Wrong (4)
The brief lapse in his concentration was enough window for the Daemon to launch a sudden attack. It instantly appeared in front of Lancell, however, thanks to his enhancements to his body, Lancell was barely able to dodge it.
He swung Arkenvalle as he poured mana in her blade, making it sharper as it cut through space-time, trying to sever the Daemon's neck. However...
"Oh? The Laws of Space?" the Daemon spoke with intrigue, "interesting. I never thought there would be another one."
It then ducked at lightning-speed, avoiding the slash Lancell sent out. Lancell's eyes widened once more. The Daemon's instincts was probably not inferior to his, and it wasn't good of that's the case. Lancell too, was highly reliant on his instincts, so having an opponent who does the same meant that he would have a hard time predicting its movements.
Instinct after all, holds no set pattern, and is instantaneous when reacting.
"Hey Aerym!" Lancell shouted to the girl behind him, "absolutely do not interfere with our fight!" he bluffed. He thought judged that the Daemon might be one with pride, so he gave both Aerym and the Daemon that this was a duel. He had no spare strength to protect Aerym, so all he could do was bluff.
And as expected, the Daemon was really one with pride as it grinned, "Oh, a duel?" It spoke with the face of a challenger, "let's get this on!"
It then dashed towards Lancell as it went though the sound barrier, sending its fist to Lancell's body. Lancell evaded with minimal movements and slashed back, but the fist suddenly corrected it course and managed to land a scratch Lancell's left shoulder, while Lancell own attack severed a piece of the Daemon's shoulder.
The exchange ended, and there was a split-second time frame to think and predict each other's next action, and they did.
As they made their own guesses, they each launched a flurry of strikes as the air was repeatedly ripped apart. Lancell parried fists with Arkenvalle, while the Daemon moved according to its instincts, and evaded most of Lancell's attacks.
Their figures blurred as sonic booms and sparks flew about. They continued their unrestrained bout, both desperate to kill each other. Though their reason for doing so differed, killing was killing.
Aerym could only watch as they repeatedly passed through her as if she was a mere decoration. No, she was worse than that. To them, it was as if she didn't exist. As such, a feeling of powerlessness welled up in her as she began to respect Lancell even more. Of course, she wasn't aware of it herself.
It hadn't even been 5 minutes since they started fighting each other, but the deadlock finally broke, as in their final collision, Lancell was suddenly blown back.
He flew back a dozen meters as he spat a mouthful of blood, letting go of Arkenvalle.
Aerym who saw that paled, "Lancell!" she shouted in worry. She hadn't even noticed that he called him by name, as the feeling of danger creeped into her. She clenched her teeth in frustration.
'Are you just gonna stand by and watch?' she asked herself, 'if he dies, I'll die too!'
She clenched her teeth further, and drew her sword. She then prepared to rush to his rescue, but was stopped.
"Don't you dare!!" Lancell shouted at the top of his lungs, rage evident in his expression, "don't you dare interfere!!!"
He then stood—materializing Arkenvalle and using the sword's frame as crutch—and face the Daemon. Drawing deep breaths, he regained his focus as his mana once again revolved around his body. He stared at the Daemon intently.
"Tell me, Daemon," he called out and asked, "why are you here?"
The Daemon, who was also panting as its body was laden with slashes and missing parts on its skin, wiped its cheek that also had a small cut in it. There were several cuts on its tendons—both in arms and legs—but it was still standing. Proof of its hardy skin and flesh, and its even tougher bones and tendons.
It grinned despite its bad-looking condition, "I want to know first," it spoke, "what are you?"
Lancell frowned. A Daemon asking a question? How rare. As far as Lancell was concerned, they were monsters only more intelligent than the Demons. A type of monsters that had humanoid forms and had inhuman features.
Daemons typically, were a race that settled disputes, or practically everything through fights. As such, they tended beat up someone first before asking a question. Which was a rarity itself too.
Also, Lancell was concerned about his question, "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb," the Daemon spoke, "I've already seen this world's champion, so what are you?"
Lancell's eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar term. However, his instincts told him it wasn't a small thing.
"Champion?"
"Yes. The one who leads the world," it answered, "now what are you?"
"Who knows," Lancell answered vaguely, "and I've got no idea what you've been talking about."
He then raised Arkenvalle once more, as he went into stance. His bloodlust oozed out from his body as he was once again prepared to continue.
The Daemon let out a small sneer, "Fine then," it said as it also released bloodlust of its own, "fists and blades it is."
Lancell tensed once more as the Daemon's bloodlust didn't fall out to his own. He gripped Arkenvalle tighter.
(Valle, can you find a weakness?)
(No. I can detect a core inside him, but nothing to get it through outside.)
(I see. Looks like this is gonna get really hard, huh?"
(Will you use it?)
(Probably. If that really is a Transcendent, then Heroic Desperation would at least give me time to escape. If push comes to shove, I'll just abandon Aerym.)
(Will you really?) a tiny bit of doubt was transmitted from Arkenvalle, (I don't think you can.)
(But I'll still do it. She isn't much useful now anyway.)
(I see...) And the connection ended. Lancell was a bit surprised. It was the first time Arkenvalle had cut off connection. Did he do something bad?
However, Lancell didn't have time to ponder as the Daemon was already in position to dash at him. As such, he activated Void Sensitivity once more, and before it could fully activate. . .
"Huh?" a confused utter came from the Daemon.
Lancell furrowed brows in wariness. What was it planning now? But contrary to his thoughts, something unbelievable happened.
"Alright, damn it!" it cursed as it seemed to be... communicating? With who?
However, the Daemon wasn't planning to let out any information as it only glanced at Lancell in ridicule.
"Looks like you get to live for another day, eh?"
Lancell still didn't get his guard down. He kept his gaze locked into the Daemon, and asked, "What exactly do you mean?" he spoke a bit upset, "I'm the one who decides my death."
The Daemon laughed, "Haha! Yeah, you can be arrogant as you want. In any case, I'm leaving."
"Leaving?"
"Yeah, so bye bye! Suckers!!"
And so, bright light covered the Daemon for an instant. . .
And it vanished.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Lievel_Veltrandt
Lievel_Veltrandt I'm back people!!!!
It was a quick break, but not being able to write was torture.
In any case I'm back!!!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone