I approached the slender knight, moving slowly, my vision blurred, my body bruised and covered in cuts.
My black fabric armor, now torn to shreds and soaked in blood, barely clung to my frame.
The knight, with gray hair and fierce eyebrows, looked like a man of noble lineage.
When I was close enough, he turned his face toward me.
His gray eyes, deep as storm clouds, pierced through me with a bloodthirsty gaze that almost brought me to my knees.
My hands began to tremble, my legs wavered, and the air around me felt heavier, as if trying to choke me.
But I didn't falter.
I couldn't just stand by and watch someone die because of me.
Besides, I was too tired to run... and I had no idea where to go.
Before I knew it, I was standing between Svend and the knight. Fear coursed through my body, but my eyes didn't waver.
Behind him, the lake—and on its shore, the creature that once seemed like a nightmarish beast now lay split in half, its organs spilling out, its crimson blood staining the water a deep red.
At last, the knight broke the silence:
"Are you going to sacrifice yourself for someone like him?" he asked, his voice laced with contempt.
"No," I replied.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Svend open his eyes, staring at me as if I had driven a knife into his back.
I shrugged, feigning indifference.
"You can kill him if you want," I said, pointing at him with my thumb and a cocky grin.
"But..."
"Could you reach him before I slice your throat?"
The knight looked at me, confused—unsure if he should attack me or laugh.
And then, he laughed.
"Pfff, hahaha!"
He clutched his stomach as he laughed, making the scene all the more sinister.
I stood still, heart clenched, waiting for his next move.
Through the laughter, he wiped his eyes and looked at me.
"You've changed, Desmond."
He knows me?
"Fine! Have it your way! Protect him if you can!"
In an instant, the ground trembled. The leaves, the grass, even the water in the lake rippled with the force emanating from the knight.
A blue aura began to surround him as he drew a massive greatsword from his back.
The sword was about five feet long, but enveloped in that glowing blue energy, it looked more like fifteen.
I glanced quickly at Svend—unconscious and defenseless.
I could still run. I could leave him… I barely even know his name...
But I was the one who dragged him into this.
No matter how afraid I was, I couldn't build my success on someone else's downfall.
That's not what my mom would want.
I let out a long sigh. I gripped my sword with both hands, spread my feet in a firm stance, and got ready.
Then, the greatsword came down.
Like lightning splitting the air, the blow fell with brutal force.
I raised my sword above my head, and the weapons clashed with a deafening crack.
The weight was colossal, as if a giant were crashing down on me.
My legs trembled, praying not to break under the pressure.
I coughed blood, my nose bled, and I could barely stand.
I couldn't step back… I didn't know if Svend would survive.
But I knew one thing:
I wanted to live.
I wanted to see Lucas again.
I wanted to hug Ana.
I wanted to go home—to my mother's arms.
I wasn't going to die here. Not yet.
"AAAAAHHH!"
I screamed and pushed with everything I had.
Something tore in my shoulder, my ankle gave out, but I deflected the strike, which crashed into the ground with a burst of dust.
When the dust settled, I saw the massive gash carved into the earth and trees.
My sword was cracked—on the verge of shattering.
The knight, relentless, raised his greatsword once more.
I took a deep breath, clinging to my sword.
The air reeked of blood.
Dust floated in the stillness.
Svend barely breathed behind me.
The knight's gaze was a bottomless pit of death.
Everything slowed down.
I lunged at him, sword dragging along the ground.
As my battered body screamed in agony, I slashed horizontally toward his greatsword before it could fall completely.
My blade shone with a golden light in that final moment.
It struck the blue sword with a devastating impact, unleashing a shockwave.
If I can't beat him with strength, I'll reduce it.
The knight frowned, and for just a moment, his force faltered.
The greatsword was deflected and crashed heavily to the side.
My sword, however, couldn't take it anymore—it shattered into a thousand pieces.
Shit!
But it didn't matter.
This was my chance.
I clenched the fist I could still move, ran at him, and punched him in the face.
His nose started to bleed. I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes.
I punched again.
Once.
Then again.
My body was broken, my vision fading, but I kept going.
I didn't know if Svend was alive. The only thing that existed was the enemy in front of me.
A fourth punch missed—the knight dodged and hit me with his steel-plated fist.
A desperate blow that crushed my nose, stealing my sight.
I stumbled back, swaying—but I didn't fall.
I straightened myself.
The knight, back turned, tried to reach for his sword.
Your sword will be your downfall, bastard.
With my arm hanging limp and my body shattered, I ran, dragging my legs. I threw myself at him.
I tackled him with my shoulder, slamming him face-first into the ground.
I saw the terror in his eyes.
I punched him before he could shield himself.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
I didn't know if I was screaming.
I didn't know if I was breathing.
I punched.
And punched.
Again.
My body screamed.
My vision blurred.
But I kept going.
I crushed his nose.
Caved in his skull.
Blood and mud mixed between my fingers, coating me like a second skin.
"Die, you son of a bitch!" I shouted, smashing my head against him when my arm refused to move anymore.
I kept going.
Until there was nothing left but an unrecognizable mess.
And then…
Then a weak voice broke through my frenzy:
"...Bill... stop..."
It was Svend.
I looked at the corpse.
Or what was left of it.
I raised my eyes to the sky.
The stars shimmered in the dark night.
My body dropped to the ground with a dull thud.
"Yeah… that was a long day…" I whispered, as my eyes slowly closed.
[You have killed a Knight of Camelot][New skill available!]