Sebastian widens his eyes while he can barely think of anything.
But fortunately, his fists move one over the other in a defensive act that has already been executed so many other times, thus managing to block the axe with one of the gauntlets.
The impact of the blade makes him topple to the side, and roll for a few meters. Thanks to the resistant leather of the gauntlet, the only damage he received was the impact itself. His trembling hands are about to give up.
The mercenary takes advantage of the moment to dash toward him in search of another strike with the objective of finishing Sebastian who is on his back and can barely support his hands on the ground.
In the second he begins the run, another black arrow flies from his side, forcing him to stop the run and make a dodging movement with his head backward. He can even hear the sound of it cutting through the air in front of him.
"Damn!" Lafral throws the words out of his chest while propelling himself forward in search of a better position.
The smile returns to the mercenary's face as he shifts his gaze to Lafral, but then back to Sebastian who is now rolling down the hill. Realizing the distance he created, he tries to start another run, but again another arrow cuts through the air in his direction. But this time he was not able to defend himself.
When he realizes it, it is already pierced through his right arm. It does not take long and the blood begins to run down his biceps and triceps, and along with it his strength fades forcing him to drop the axe to the ground.
Again he lets out another puff of air with puffed cheeks, and in a quick movement he grabs the axe with his left hand, and throws it in the direction of Lafral who is preparing another shot.
Miguel watches the axe spin and cut through the air up the hill, and hit directly the left arm that Lafral used at the last moment to defend himself.
Abandoning the bow and the arrow, Lafral falls to the ground bringing his arm close to his body while trying to place his hand over the cut, but the pain prevents him.
Miguel barely has time to look carefully at him, and is already forced to crouch, because the mercenary is finishing throwing a stone in his direction. The stone in question is the size of a golf ball, but it does not come with enough force to cause real damage. Even so, he dodges. Still crouched, he realizes that the man is coming running in his direction while pulling the arrow out of his arm.
Given the speed, Miguel realizes there will be no time for another shot. So he throws himself forward and downward, colliding with the rock that served as cover moments ago. Then he positions himself on the opposite side of the mercenary's direction who even tries to go around it, but he moves in a way that always keeps the two facing each other.
"What is it? Cannot catch me?" Miguel lets the words into the air and even laughs for a moment.
"Coward!"
"I can do this all day, and you?" Miguel takes advantage of the pause to catch some air while staring at the slightly enraged face of the mercenary who also takes the opportunity to breathe.
"Are you sure?" The man assumes a straighter and centered stance while running his hand through his hair, throwing the strands back again. "That archer over there is losing a lot of blood. The kid down there, if he is not attended soon, will probably lose one of his hands. Not to mention the others who may be just as worse." The smile takes over his face for a moment while he observes Miguel's gaze becoming more serious.
"For a mom..." When the mercenary begins to speak, something pierces the side of his head in a fraction so small that it would barely be possible to know what it was if it were not for the sound that echoed along with it. Next, his body falls limp to the ground and rolls a few centimeters down.
Miguel quickly turns to observe the top of the hill. And up there he finds Sarah lying behind the rifle that is stabilized on the ground by a bipod. He relaxes his shoulders and breathes relieved while seeing her stand up and throw the first aid backpack down the hill in the direction of Lafral, and then disappear to the other side again.
When the second shot echoed from the top of the hill, the archer on top of the tree even grips the bow tighter while aiming upward. In his peripheral vision, the clash continues fierce.
Draus, unable to find an opening to use his weapon, holds a dagger with a silver blade and a handle wrapped by a thin black cord, this same cord also wraps around his hand. His face is already marked with two cuts, one horizontal below the eye that bleeds a little, and another over the cheekbone that bleeds a bit more. His expression already shows slight fatigue.
In front of him, a mercenary wearing a brown hood and cloak of the same color, also holds a dagger with the blade backward. The two stand still staring at each other because of the last shot. Beside them, the body of another mercenary lies on the ground with a very deep cut in the throat. Still attached to the neck, a pendant displays a blood-red crystal resting on the ground beside it.
Not far from them, Lozar holds his shield firmly while exchanging sword blows with the mercenary in front. They refuse to stop, even after the shot. At some moments, Lozar even tries to block a blow with the shield to counterattack with the sword, but the opponent in front is faster than him. The short and bluish sword of the mercenary dances from one side to the other in search of a moment of glory.
Tired of all this delay, the mercenary takes a few steps back while removing the dark green hood from his head, thus revealing short golden strands that shine in the sun. Then he puts his hand into a pocket and takes out a crystal as blue as his gaze and holds it firmly with a clenched fist.
"Even under the eternal sun.
Or before the fire itself.
My vastness shall endure.
For in this game.
I am the one who carries his own end."
He recites the words aloud and in a fast rhythm, in the next instant, a sudden cold takes over the environment around him. It is possible to see the air leaving his mouth turn into smoke as if we were truly on a day of intense cold. Under his shoes, some corn leaves begin to accumulate small layers of ice. And in his hand the sword seems to do the same, along with his clothes.
Without wasting time, the mercenary dashes at full speed until reaching close enough to cross swords again. However, Lozar when he goes to execute the movement with the sword, feels a sudden and intense cold, to the point of making his movement slower and clumsy.
In that single opening, the coldest blade he has ever felt is also the last.
At his neck, the bluish sword is embedded in the side while beginning to turn the skin purple and the blood coagulated. The mercenary removes the sword and pushes Lozar's body backward with one of his feet, he falls stiff while lying to the side.
The mercenary takes the crystal and throws it on the ground near the dying body, making it break into several pieces and release a white smoke that spreads through the place and envelops his body and freezes it as if it were meat in a refrigerator.
When it dissipates, the mercenary makes a point of stepping on the side of the belly, which breaks like a fragile shell, making his foot sink inside.