The impact struck squarely against the side of Aldric's blade.
The weight was brutal.
Even though it was merely a hoe, brought down with full momentum.
Aldric staggered.
For a fraction of a second—long enough for his body to register something he hadn't expected.
Weight.
His sword was forced downward, his arm dragged by a force a "lowly" weapon like that should never have possessed.
"—!"
Aldric immediately leapt back, his boots slamming hard into the ground to cut the momentum. A thin cloud of dust rose.
He lowered his sword slowly.
Then he smiled.
Without giving any time—
Aldric lunged again.
His step was deeper. Closer.
Lucas reflexively twisted the end of the hoe's handle to the left, trying to shift the angle of attack like before.
Clang!
Aldric's sword kept pressing, relentlessly hunting the hoe's blade.
But—
The moment Lucas's attention locked onto the sword's trajectory—
THUD!
A brutal kick slammed into his abdomen.
"—!"
