Elliot stepped forward.
The remaining four men spread slightly behind him, their weapons ready.
The atmosphere in the clearing changed instantly.
Osric tightened his grip on his sword.
'This is it.'
He glanced toward William.
"William. Take the one closest to you."
William nodded and adjusted his stance.
"Got it."
Before Elliot or his men could react further, Osric moved.
He launched himself forward.
Straight toward Elliot.
The D-Rank adventurer didn't look surprised. His sword rose calmly, ready to intercept the charge.
But at the last second, Osric changed direction.
He slipped past Elliot's guard like a shadow.
The sudden movement caught the men behind him completely off guard.
Osric's blade shot forward.
The tip pierced straight through one man's throat.
The attacker barely had time to gasp before collapsing.
Osric didn't stop.
His body twisted with the motion, momentum carrying him into a second strike.
The sword flashed sideways.
A clean arc through the air.
For a brief moment nothing happened.
Then the man's head slid from his shoulders and dropped to the ground.
Blood sprayed across the snow.
The body collapsed beside it.
Osric had never moved quicker.
But the moment didn't last.
A sword suddenly came crashing down toward him.
Osric barely raised his shield in time.
Clang!
The impact forced him back a step.
Elliot stood in front of him now, his expression no longer amused.
"So that's your trick."
Osric felt the difference immediately.
This man was on another level.
Behind Elliot, the last remaining subordinate hesitated.
Elliot didn't even turn his head.
"You."
He gestured slightly with his blade.
"Help him."
The man immediately moved to support the fighter who had already engaged William.
William glanced at the two approaching opponents and clicked his tongue.
"Oh, come on."
Osric tightened his grip on his sword.
Now the battlefield had split.
William faced two enemies.
And Osric stood alone against Elliot.
The real fight had finally begun.
Osric shifted his stance.
Elliot did the same.
Both men raised their shields.
Neither moved for a moment.
Then Elliot stepped forward.
His sword came fast.
Osric blocked instinctively.
Clang.
The force behind the strike shocked him.
'Heavy.'
Elliot didn't slow down.
The next attack came from the side.
Osric twisted and deflected it with his shield, his Combat Instinct guiding the motion before his mind even caught up.
Iron scraped loudly as the blades slid past each other.
Osric tried to counter.
His sword shot forward toward Elliot's chest.
Elliot's shield moved almost lazily.
The strike bounced off the metal.
The D-Rank adventurer's response was immediate.
His sword swung downward with brutal force.
Osric barely caught it with his shield.
Clang!
The impact drove him two steps back through the snow.
'He's stronger than me.'
Elliot advanced calmly.
"You're fast," he said.
His sword moved again.
Osric ducked the strike and slashed at Elliot's leg.
But Elliot shifted his weight and the blade only scraped across his armor.
The counterattack came instantly.
Osric raised his shield again.
Clang.
Pain shot through his arm.
'If I block too many of these, my arm will give out.'
His Composure skill forced his breathing to steady.
Panic faded.
Focus returned.
He stepped sideways, forcing Elliot to turn.
Anything to slow the pressure.
—
A few meters away, William was having his own problems.
The man with the short sword and shield moved carefully, keeping William occupied.
The second attacker circled with a hatchet in one hand and a dagger in the other.
"Stay still!" William barked.
He swung his axe at the shield user.
The man blocked and stepped back.
That was when the hatchet fighter lunged.
The hatchet cut toward William's side.
William twisted and slammed his shield into the attacker's chest.
The man stumbled.
William's axe came down immediately.
The blade bit into the man's shoulder.
The attacker screamed.
But the shield user struck at the same time.
His sword cut across William's forearm.
William grunted and jumped back.
"Damn it!"
The two attackers regrouped quickly.
Blood dripped down William's arm as he tightened his grip on his axe.
—
Back in the center of the clearing, Elliot pressed forward again.
His sword struck downward.
Osric blocked.
Another strike followed.
Then another.
Each impact rattled his arm.
Elliot's attacks were relentless.
But Osric's Combat Instinct kept guiding his defense.
Shield up.
Step back.
Deflect.
Counter.
His sword flicked toward Elliot's shoulder.
Elliot twisted away.
The blade missed by inches.
For a brief moment they separated.
Both men breathing harder now.
Elliot studied him carefully.
"You're not supposed to be this good."
Osric didn't answer.
His eyes briefly flicked toward William.
The situation there wasn't good.
'We need to finish this.'
But looking back at Elliot, Osric knew something else.
This fight wasn't ending quickly.