Inside The Fire 5 Chapter 4

"Jesus.", I muttered.

I skimped over the bodies. I'd give them a proper sendoff but I don't have the time to say prayers for a bajillion corpses.

I went further in. I smell the rancid scent of death, but I still can't hear or sense any semblance of life.

Every step I took, the body count just kept getting more and more in numbers. And all of them are part of the Don's merc company.

I feared the worst.

There were pa.s.sageways everywhere. Each way, just led to more paths and dead ends. It was like a labyrinth.

I picked the way where there were more corpses. And hoped to track down whatever or whoever did this.

And then, a blast. Afterwards the floors and walls shook. It almost took me off balance.

Dust fell from the ceiling, then I forced myself on balance then ran towards the sound.

I ran and I ran, ignoring the corpses on the way, until I could sense a magical presense not far from where I was.

After a bit of more running, I smelled fresh air, then afterwards saw moonlight s.h.i.+mmering from above.

A hole. Presuming it was made by the blast earlier.

I can sense 2 magical ent.i.ties just outside. I can hear steel clas.h.i.+ng, some runes casted. One of them's gotta be the culprit.

I exited. When I grabbed the ground I expected it to be sand, but instead I felt gra.s.s.

When I finally got out, I feasted my eyes to the greenest forest I have ever seen since the bombs fell.

"It's impossible", I muttered. I still couldn't believe it. How was this possible?

But then, a sudden burst of magic came my way and I was blasted, sent flying away onto a tree. I was too in awe of my surroundings that I didn't even notice the magic energy.

I tried to open my eyes amidst the pain. Blurry, but I can see a man coming towards me, clad in armour, sword in hand.

I tried getting up but he quickly grabbed me by the neck, and looked me in the eyes. I struggled, I flailed around but he was just too strong.

"W-w-what are you?!",

He smirked. "Let's just say I'm a paladin two point O. ", then he threw me across the field, towards the man he just fought lying on the ground.

I struggled to gain consciousness. This guy's strength was way over the top to any Paladin or hunter I've faced. But I'm not exactly at my prime these days. I've endured much worse attacks before.

I looked over to the man near me. "Psst! Hey!",

He turned his head. To my surprise it was the Don. In a suit of paladin armor.

"Should've known.. How can a Don like you protect the Devil's daughter? Turns out you're a paladin.. ", I muttered.

He chuckled, but then groaned in pain afterwards. "Yeah.. Not a day goes by that I don't regret what I've become Neil. But I am trying.",

"I was just muttering. Now's not the time, we need to take care of this first. ", I said, as I struggled to get up.

He did the same too, but then a bunch of spectral chains come bursting out from the ground, locking him in place.

I grabbed my sword, and took a defensive stance. I stood over the Don.

"What did you do?!", I exclaimed.

He laughed menacingly. The kind villains use in superhero films. "Handy isn't it? I call it the Chains that bind.",

"Creative.",

He shrugged. "I always wanted to see how demon hunter magic works? Or, do you use runes?",

"Why don't you come and find out?", I taunted.

I held my sword , and planted my feet on the ground. The moment I blinked, the paladin was gone.

And then he was right behind me, and then he struck.

A full swing aimed at my head.

Reflexes alone made me block just in time, but it hurt a lot. The shock from the strike alone sent vibrations throughout my arm and made it feel like noodles.

He then readied a punch to the gut, which I countered with a fire rune that my gloves were enchanted with.

Flames burst out of my palm, it seared his fist, making him flinch and strafe back.

He stepped back. Cautious, he paced around me, not giving me a chance to strike. "Runes.. Such primitive magic. ", he said.

I kept my guard up.

"I thought you demon hunters were supposed to be the World's best killing machines.. What are you supposed to be?", He taunted.

I gotta admit, it struck a nerve. I needed to prove him wrong. I lunged forward, using the glove, cast a fireball towards him.

He sidestepped, and it gave me chance to strike him with a sideswing. But his reflexes were faster. He blocked my attack. Sparks flew in the air, and he readied for another swing.

I strafed backwards, this time drew a frost rune in the air and cast a cold spell on the ground.

He laughed. "You think this is gonna slow me down?", He said, as he cast a flame spell and melted the ice I just put there.

He charged at me. Steel against steel, We traded blows, all of which hit me hard, but then I got a chance to strafe away to a safe distance.

I then drew a lightning rune, and cast a bolt to him.

He just raised his arm, palms out and caught the bolt of lightning and sent it right back at me.

After that it was blur. Blow after blow, he would parry it and give me an even stronger beating. I gave it my all. I was able to hit him, gave him several wounds but, none of it lethal. Just scratches.

He was faster, and stronger.

Until, I was out of juice, he kicked me to the ground. "Pathetic.",

I was barely breathing. My hands were basically just wet noodles by now.

He put his feet onto my head, pressing it to the ground. All the while laughing and spewing insults about me and my brethren of Demon hunters.

I looked over to the Don, to see that he was still locked in place, looking at me with pity in his eyes.

I then looked over to the Paladin, he was smiling. His sword at my neck.

"The girl. Where. is. she?",

I spit on his foot. "f.u.c.k. You.",

He then moved his sword over to my right arm. Then stabbed it. Then again, and again and again. I screamed, and cried out. I could feel the flesh tear at every stab.

"I could do this all day. Tell me where the girl is!", He said again.

I spit again. "f.u.c.k you.",

I then tensed my body, in antic.i.p.ation of what's to come. It felt like an eternity. My arms were severed, tendons teared. But I still wouldn't give up her location. If I do, I'd be betraying Shannia.

"Last chance Hunter!", He warned.

"f.u.c.k.... You...",

"Alrighty then.",

Then suddenly a burst of frost came out from behind him. It wasn't mine, nor the don's. I could barely see straight, all I caught was a glimpse of a hooded man, right before I pa.s.sed out.