The Foolhardies 124 Duel

Of all the idiotic things to say to me—who cared about some macho-man drivel like that when I was trying to save my friends?

I narrowed my eyes at the muscle-bound idiot in front of me, determined not to let him push me around. I'd had enough of that, really.

"I'd like you to hear me out, sir," I said, feigning calm despite the simmering annoyance I felt inside. "My unit needs—"

"—I don't care what your unit needs… You're an eyesore. Go away now, boy," he replied in a tone that said this conversation had just ended.

I'd faced off against great generals before. Darah, in particular trained me on almost nightly basis when I was still living under her roof, a routine she'd pa.s.sed on to Azuma who had a fighting spirit to match hers, so I wasn't the least bit afraid by this half-elf who was disrespecting me out of spite for his relations.

"Will you please listen to me!" I said, raising my voice.

It got the reaction I'd hoped for.

Garm narrowed his eyes at me, the kind of narrowing that would have once caused me to take steps back. Behind him, his soldiers had suddenly s.h.i.+fted formation, stepping closer toward us with their training weapons at the ready.

In hindsight, I might have gotten more than I'd bargained for, but there was no use backing down now. I'd faced men like Garm before. Strength could only respect strength, not that I had much of that.

I stood my ground and didn't flinch as he glared back at me.

"Well?" Garm asked after a minute of glaring had pa.s.sed. "You asked to speak, now speak."

I breathed in a sigh of relief before saying, "I would like your permission to allow the Foolhardies to cross past your blockade and into the Westersand Desert so—"

"—Denied," he interrupted again.

I expected this type of pushback once I'd mentioned the desert so I was at least prepared to bargain, but not even getting to that point was frustrating beyond reason.

"You haven't heard my reasons—"

"—I don't need to hear your silly reasons for wanting to break the fragile peace we've manage to create in this region by crossing over into enemy territory and getting yourself killed," he explained. "What would my poor niece say if let her pet die?"

"I'm not going to die!" I fired back.

"Oh, really?" There was a spark of interest in Garm's eyes now, the kind a lion has when its prey tries to fight back. "How about we test this vaunted strength I've been hearing a lot about recently."

Garm hefted his broadsword over his shoulder. Then he turned around and walked away from me, stopping only after he'd made ten long strides. Then he turned me face me again.

"You're surrounded by warriors," he said, glancing once more to my companions, ending with Azuma. "Surely they follow you because of this strength of yours?"

It was a taunt. I knew it was. Unfortunately, I was just riled enough to take the bait.

"I've definitely gotten stronger since I first came to the Fayne," I said, admitting something out loud that I'd only been considering in my head for so long.

All my near-death fights with all those opponents who'd tried to take my life had certainly helped to make me feel more confident in my abilities.

"A test of strength then…" Garm said, grinning. "If you survive my attack, then I may consider listening further to your request."

"Dean—"

"Dean—"

Both Edo and Luca called for me, but I raised my hand for quiet. It wouldn't do to show hesitation now.

"Just to be clear… you're going to attack me and if I successfully block or endure it then you'll seriously consider my request?" I clarified.

Garm nodded. "I am a fairy my word."

"Alright, Great General Garm," I said, reaching down for my falchion. "Let the bullying commence."  

I pulled my falchion from its sheath, and the shadowblade sprang forth, emanating its unique blue glow.

Garm raised an eyebrow at my sword.

"Interesting weapon you have there, boy." Garm raised his greatsword forward with a single hand, showing off a strength that could rival Edo's, maybe even Darah. "I think I'll keep it after I cut off your arm."

"Yeah-yeah," I said, before glancing back at my friends. "You guys step back. This might get a little dangerous."

Azuma, being the teacher he was, spared me a verbal lesson before he joined the others in stepping back.

"I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick ten thousand times," he quoted.

"Bruce Lee?" I guessed. "Thanks… not that I get it."

He placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You've been training very hard these past few weeks on learning a single thing. You may only be able to use it for a moment but that's all you'll need," Azuma explained. "Watch for that moment, and when it comes, show him how you've grown, Dean."

"That really does help, you know," I said, smiling back at him. "Get going. I got this."

When Azuma had finally left my side, Garm asked, "Are you done with your pep talk?"

I nodded. "Let's do this already."

The honest truth, I was certain Garm was more powerful than me by several degrees. That was no question. But if it was just a matter of stopping a single strike, well, I had a reason to be relatively confident, right?

Garm's soldiers moved together to form a loose square around us, leaving my back to my own comrades.

"Good, time to see what all the fuss is about." With that final word, Garm unleashed his killing intent, and it was like running headfirst into a brick wall, huge and indestructible.

I endured it by the skin of my teeth, although the warning bells were screaming inside my head. My feet dug into the ground, I gritted my teeth, and then I too let out a killing intent that I'd been honing in training for a while now.

While Garm's own force was an unbreakable wall, the intent I'd envisioned was that of a single blade, like a knife in the dark, thrusting forward for maximum penetration.

Believe it or not, I saw the great general's flinch in surprise, which was liberating to see considering he'd already caused sweat to pour down my brow just by his intent.

Then, with zero warning, Garm pushed forward, his blade folding back above his head in what was likely to become a downward slash filled with all the power a single arm of his could make.

There were seconds between us—seconds for me to make use of the hint Azuma had given me.

Alone, I didn't have enough raw power to block such an attack, but with a little help from the spirits, I just might be able to endure it.

"Spirits, give me strength!" I roared.

Not exactly the poetic mantra I'd first envisioned, but it did the trick as the intention was clear in those four words. Also, I'd pretty much remembered the feeling already, that pull in your gut as something otherworldly brushed your cheek.

Electricity crackled at the edge of my shadowblade, a bluish light that exploded outward and rotated along with the edge, giving a clear visual of the falchion's oscillation.

Not a moment too soon as Garm had stepped into range. His greatsword came swinging down.

With both hands, I raised my sword in an upward slash because I didn't think blocking it would have been enough. I needed to meet his shadowblade with my own momentum.

Our shadowblades collided in midair. There was a boom. Then the pressure from our forceful collision spread outward, bringing with it a numbing electrical pain that had no doubt come from the spirits dispersing from my falchion.

I whispered thanks to them even as my arms felt numb. That single attack took all I had.

I glanced up and saw that Garm's greatsword had been blown back. His face was livid. I doubt he'd expected such a riposte from me.

"Too bad, boy," Garm hissed. "I never said it would be just a single strike."

Garm's sword slowly began its descent.

I tried to lift my arms to block but they were numb from the shock of Garm's previous attack. They were practically useless now.

s.h.i.+t, I'd miscalculated. The dishonest b.a.s.t.a.r.d had no intention of honoring my request. While these frustrated thoughts floated to the surface of my mind, Garm's shadowblade inched toward me in unbearable slowness. It was like I'd been given time to reflect as death charged down at me.

"Dean!" I heard Luca yell.

I heard the drawing of weapons.

They would not make it in time.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a war hammer cut through the s.p.a.ce between me and Garm, forcing the great general to pull away.

Then, as if by magic, the flying hammer zoomed back the way it came, right into the hands of the dwarf who'd tossed it.

Both Garm and I gazed at the dwarf with opposite feelings. If Garm's was annoyance, then mine was definitely one of relief. I honestly hadn't expected him to arrive in time.

"That'll do, Garm. You've scared the boy right and proper." Great General Grimthorn stroked his braided black beard like a villain in a cartoon show. "I'm here with orders from the Patriarch to a.s.sist you in the west."