A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 12 (Part 4)

"Allow me to introduce you to my favourite assassin," Cal stated with a smirk at the corners of his lips, "a warrior with over ten years of experience in sword-fighting."

     As Cal finished his brief introduction, a man stepped forward from the shadows behind him. A black cloth obscures his face, and a belt around his waist holds a gleaming sword. With a swift snatch, he draws the blade from its sheath and points it at Oliver, the sharp tip glinting in the sunlight.

     Oliver's eyes widen as his breathing becomes shallow and rapid. He can feel his sweat dripping on his forehead. Then, his muscles tense up, but his legs feel unsteady beneath him.

"Let the games begin," Cal announced with a sinister smirk, his eyes gleaming with malice as he gave the order to attack. "...Fight!"

     The assassin charges forward, and his sword gleams in the sunlight as he prepares to decapitate his victim. Oliver hurryingly rolls onto his side with lightning speed, narrowly avoiding the blade as it slices through the air. Oliver yelps as he moves back.

     Oliver peers at his shaking palms as he tries to steady his hands. Glancing up, he sees the assassin's fierce glare fixed on him. Suddenly, the man charges at him again. Taking a deep breath, Oliver collects his boldness and sighs.

     As the assassin bolts towards him, Oliver summons fire to his hand and shoots it at his opponent. However, he misses every shot as the flames sputter out. Despite his failed attack, Oliver manages to dodge the assassin's second strike, and the deadly sword whistles past his ear as he leaps back.

     Stepping to the side, a smirk spreads across Oliver's face, and an idea sparks in his mind. Swiftly, he twists his body and sways his hand in front of the assassin. Oliver summons boiling water and blasts every drop on the opponent, stunning him with an unexpected attack.

     The assassin's covered outfit shields him from the boiling water. But it has him dazed and frustrated. He staggers back as his hand flies to his face, wiping away the scalding liquid. Scowling his face, he tightens his grip on his sword.

     Oliver knew he hadn't made the water hot enough since he didn't want to kill anyone. However, his display of power seems to have only served to fuel the opponent's violent rage. Swiftly, the assassin charges towards him.

     As the assassin hastens for the attack, Oliver quickly raises his fist and punches downwards, his hand open. Thick, light-grey smoke billows from his hand, instantly filling the air around them as Oliver moves away from the oncoming strike. The smoke spreads rapidly, obscuring the assassin's vision and disorienting him as he tries to find his target.

     With the smoke filling the air, the assassin quickly halts, unable to see his target in the hazy environment. He holds his sword and steps back, looking around. Slowly, the fog begins to fade away, revealing Oliver standing a few meters away. Without hesitation, the assassin swiftly rushes towards his victim, his sword glinting in the sunlight as he wields it.

     Oliver stomps his foot on the soil, causing the ground to tremble. The earth responds to his command, and several pillars of dirt shoot up from the ground, blocking the assassin's path. Despite the shaking ground and emerging obstacles, his opponent maintains balance and passes through.

     Oliver watches as the assassin hastens towards him with his sword held high. With no other options left, Oliver waits until his opponent is a meter away. Then, he summons a dirt pillar beneath him, propelling him high into the sky.

     The pillar shoots upwards with incredible force, carrying Oliver away from the assassin's deadly reach. As he rises higher and higher, Oliver takes a deep breath. In haste, the assassin collides with the pillar, his face slamming into the hard surface with a sickening thud. The impact leaves him dizzy and disoriented, and he falls to the ground on his back with a groan.

     As the assassin slowly opens his eyes, he sees Oliver leaping from a great height, hurtling towards him with incredible speed. Oliver's shadow shrouds his body, and his eyes widen. Oliver lands on the assassin's chest with tremendous force, the impact crushing the man's ribcage and causing his body to convulse in agony. The sound of breaking bones echoes through the air, and Oliver knows he has made his first-ever kill.

     Blood spills from the assassin's mouth as Oliver makes his escape. As he moves away from the scene, he catches a quick, furtive sight of Cal and his assassins' mouths hanging open in disbelief. Oliver then lifts his elbow upwards, summoning flames that engulf Cal and his troops, temporarily trapping them amidst the fire.

"Let me go, Nelson! Let me go! I demand you!" Gregory shouted, struggling to pull his arm away from his father's assassins.

"Not until we receive orders from your father," Nelson replied frustratedly.

"I do not care!" Gregory yelled as he screwed his eyes shut.

     Gregory tries to shake off the assassin's unyielding grip, but neither of their hands budge. He grunts in frustration and rolls his eyes, feeling helpless against them. His mind races with thoughts of escape, but he knows he will fail. When he thinks all hope is lost, he spots his friend in the distance, running towards him.

"Greg!" Oliver called out, waving his hand.

"Oli!" Gregory smiled and leapt on his toes.

     As the assassins spot Oliver, they point their guns at him. Upon seeing their aims, Oliver manipulates the elements around him, causing the guns to shatter into pieces in their hands. The assassins become left defenceless, with no equipment to fight back.

     A sly smirk stretches across Gregory's face. Inspiration fuels his energy, and he leaps and lands on the assassin's shoes, crushing their feet with a deadly blow. The assassins release Gregory as their grip slips, and Oliver and Gregory reunite.