"
Within the red-dusted desert, Kajd overlooked the opposing army of spear-wielding warriors whose faces were wrapped with cloth, much like his own. He tightened his grasp on his spear, a rage coursing through him as he snarled the last words from his mouth. "
"
Kajd glanced back at his father.
The demon stood tall and stoic. His sharp violet eyes pierced the battlefield ahead of them, which looked as clean as a canvas ready to be painted on. Much like Kajd, his figure was significant, with spiked white hair and a beard that set him apart from his soldiers.
Kajd clenched his teeth."
"
Kajd scoffed at the remark. "< They better put in three times the effort. I refuse for our people to be ruled by those Tulfians!>"
"
"
********
Kajd stained red. Could only look at the passing sand. The fear of looking back up shook him to his very core. Before him was a reality he dared not face.
An enemy spear pressed hard at the side of his neck.
"
Not hearing a response, the tall blue demon with a masked face spoke again. "
The blade slowly circled around Kajd's neck, resting under and lifting his chin. "
They pressed hard on Kajd's neck.
"
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********
Kajd, back in the present, turned a bitter glare, aimed at Jala. His knuckles cracked as Jala questioned him once more.
"
Kajd remained Silent.
"
The bloodied hand, pinning Lillian, crushed her further, forcing a yelp.
Jala jolted, but before he could take another step, Kajd finally spoke. ""
Kajd scoffed. "
Jala stood. His face was unreadable as Kajd conjured his spear in his hand.
'
Kajd glared harshly. "
Kajd, poised and launched himself at Jala, stabbing his spear through the ice wall. Kajd Sneered and darted his gaze at Jala who swung.
Kajd dodged and, with all his strength, slashed the spear from the ice and swiped his spear in a flurry of attacks at Jala.
Each swipe and slash missed by mere inches, slowly backing Jala away from the wide open field of green flowers.
Seeing an opening, Jala parried.
Acting fast, Kajd turned a one-eighty and launched into a chain of thrusts. Each one shot like lightning that Jala matched one-for-one. He swerved his head and his body through the barrage like a god of war.
"
Finding the opportune moment, Jala parried his last thrust, leaving Kajd completely open for a counter.
"
Jala's words only serve as fuel for Kajd's anger. "
Kajd clenched his teeth and ripped his spear out, sending chunks of the tree debris through the air. His eye locked onto Jala and and slashed at him, clashing the spear with Jala's sword. One after another Parry met with Parry that was met with the counter as a scarred path was left behind in their awake.
Strengthening his resolve, Kajd Thrusted his spear with all his strength. But to his shock, his spear halted; somehow, Jala managed to catch it in his hand, with bloodied, injured palms.
Jala pushed past Kajd's defenses, grabbed Kajd by the throat, and slammed him hard to the ground.
"
Kajd smacked his hands on the ground. Seconds later, a blood hand erupted from the ground, grabbing Jala and throwing him into the forest.
Jala brushed against the trees and the bushes, attempting to reorient himself. He slid, leaving a clear trail to him.
Finally halted Jala glared up, finding Kajd ready to strike with his spear.
Kajd stabbed the ground, just missing Jala's head by an inch.
Unexpectedly, several more hands shot from the ground. They surrounded Jala and launched at him like a swarm of insects. Prepared Jala Sliced and dodged through the series of uncoordinated attacks.
Dust and rocks filled the air as the onslaught continued.
"
Suddenly, a hand grabbed Jala by the jaw and slammed his head to the ground, sending him into a dizzying spiral.
Kajd grinned, taking advantage of this moment of weakness. But just as the spear neared' Jala's neck, an eruption of Ice covered Jala's neck.
The spear bounced off, dumbfounding Kajd.
"Grr!" Kajd slashed the ground, and another hand erupted from the ground, grasping Jala by the face and hurling him into a tree.
Kajd charged in ready to stab Jala, but to his shock, chunks of ice grew onto Jala's body, eventually covering him like a set of armor.
Jala, awakened, glared back up with his bright blue eyes. He reconjured his sword, parrying Kajd's attacks. And for the first time in the battle, he slashed at Kajd, scratching his face as he dodged.
Jala stood tall in his ice armor, keeping Kajd on edge as he awaited Jala's next move.
"
"
"
Kajd blurted a chuckle. "
Jala narrowed his eyes as Kajd continued to laugh. "
"
"
"
Kajd held up his hand, slowly counting down the names.
"
"
"< Don't act dense, Jala. What did you expect? That those children were all truly pure blood!? Do you realize what happened after you left!?>"
Kajd clenched his fists.
"
Jala grew silent, startled by the news.
"
Kajd pointed his spear, and more visceral anger took hold. " Kajd, Posed and charged at Jala. " Jala clashed his sword with Kajd's spear.
" Kajd whipped his spear around and clashed with Jala's wrist armor, " " The ice armor cracked, but held strong. "< You don't even believe your own words, so how can you defend them!?>"
Another Strike landed. Then another, and another, and another in a succession of thrust attacks all aimed to break through Jala's defenses.
As this barrage of attacks kept striking and chipping away at his armor, Jala found himself in deep thought.
His mind drifted to unwanted memories of Jafkal and Tellan. He remembered the pain he felt killing his brother, and the disappointment at the discovery of Tellan's death. The memories felt so pointless; it's like they never should have existed at all. Despite this, he clung to these valueless memories. A subtle sting of guilt rose.
"Perhaps he's right… If me and my brother never left. We wouldn't be standing here…" Jala clenched his fist. "But that doesn't matter anymore…."
Kajd stabbed his spear into Jala's armor, and it was captured in his hand.
Jala slowly pulled himself from the tree. "The past is already gone. But I still have a favor to settle!"
Kajd attempted to pull his spear from Jala's grasp. Instead, Jala took the spear with both hands and whipped Kajd into the side of the tree.
Kajd spat blood. The impact, much harder than anticipated.
Not relenting, Jala whirled Kajd and tossed him deeper in the jungle.
Kajd tumbled across the bushes and over the roots. He dug his hands into the ground, manifesting a new swarm of blood hands that outstretched and straight at Jala with a vengeance.
He dodged and sliced his way through, Bulldozing past the overwhelming force set on by Kajd. Covered by the bloodied hands, Jala, defiantly cut through the horde and swung at Kajd.
.Kajd Block. He pushed back and struck Jala with the butt of his rod. He moved to stab Jala only to be countered with a deflect.
Using his free hand. Kajd smacked the side of a tree, summoning spike claws to stab Jala through. " A wall of ice erupted from the ground, blocking the claws.
Jala reeled back his sword and, with a precise and cold finality, sliced through Kajd's chest. A spectacle of blood sprayed forth, cleansing Jala's once icy blue armor in a sea of red as Kajd gasped out in shock.
His spear fell from his hand, and a demon fell to his back.
Kajd took a moment to process what was happening. And just as he turned his gaze up, Jala's sword stabbed the ground beside his head.
Kajd grimaced. Watching as the armor around Jala melted away.
A chuckle escaped Kajd's mouth. " ""
" " Jala turned his gaze, finding Lillian with the children huddled by her.
From the crowd of boys, Fayelynn sprinted to Kajd.
" Jala softly pushed the girl away as Kajd turned his sights away.
Not getting any answers, Lillian spoke up. " Fayelynn, with her eyes glued to Kajd, continued trying to push through.
" Fayelynn's mouth trembled.
" Although reluctant, Jasaf poked from the group and slowly reeled Fayelynn back in.
Jala stepped back from Kajd, ready to follow Lillian. Just then, Kajd spoke. "Jala. Stay away from Fren. I don't want your tainted blood among our people."
Without another word, Jala trailed away from and rejoined Lillian and the kids as they continued to escape.
Kajd, with his vision fading, watched on, unable to move. From outside his view, Fayelynn's undead mother crawled into sight, lying right by his side.
And with his dying breath uttered an incomprehensible name. A name he would bring to his grave.