Inverted Deck

Inverted Deck (Chapter 4)

Chapter 4

The sounds of explosions and growling fill the air behind me. I want to look back to see if Aylmer is alright, but I feel that if I take my eyes off of Jack even for a single moment, then my fate is sealed.

"Well, are we going to stand here and stare at each other all day, or are you going to show me what an Atlas is truly capable of?" Jack says.

"What are you-" in the exact moment I blinked as I was beginning to speak, Jack launched another surprise kunai out of nowhere, quickly aiming straight for my head. I use my long sword to quickly swat it out of the air in the nick of time, just to again be met with the gaze of a rushing Jack, mere feet away from me. The kunai was just a distraction! He thrusts the top end of his double-bladed sword aiming for my head again without hesitation and I dodge his attempt by a hair, but the thrust is soon followed by a sequence of wild but orchestrated swings from both ends of his double-bladed sword. I frantically do my best to parry each one but there are no openings or gaps in the way he's fighting, I'm completely on the defensive.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!!" Jack yells as he continues to swing his sword, effectively pushing me back further and further. I can't stay on the defensive forever, eventually he's going to tire me out and then that'll be the end of me.

My father was and still is a combat expert, especially regarding his talent. He trained me as soon as I obtained a class and has been ever since. I got this. I relax my shoulders and other joints and muscles. Then I wait and leave my chest area open for attack and sure enough Jack thrusts again aiming directly for my chest. Wait for the right time and... PARRY!

I use my own longsword to keep his double bladed aiming down at the ground and immediately position myself side to side with jack, shoulder to shoulder, so he can't pull anymore of those wild attacks. He looks directly at me and smiles widely before twirling the sword upward and delivering a kick straight to my ribs launching me backwards, tumbling through the cold, moist, dirt.

I swiftly get up off the ground for fear of my life, plant my feet into the ground and pour as much surrounding external Aether into my body as possible.

I've been on many quests before this, hunting and killing low to mid-tier monsters, guarding sheep, spying on cheating husbands, all sorts of quests, however this would be the first quest were I'm actually in combat with another individual; that's trying to kill me no less. It's a mixed feeling of somewhere between terrified and exhilarating.

"Hmph, your swordsmanship isn't half bad, I suppose that's your family's blood, coursing through your veins to thank." Jack says staring intently at me.

"What exactly do you know about my family? Why do you keep bringing them up?" I ask.

"You don't know do you? The Atlas Clan was a large warrior clan known for their insurmountable strength and viciousness. But as time proceeded, their numbers continued to dwindle more and more, possibly due to the infamous Shroud Scale."

"Shroud Scale?"

Jack's jaw slightly unhinges, thus dropping the cigarette that was previously in his mouth.

"Your father really told you nothing huh? Hmph, guess it doesn't matter now, since you won't be able to return home to ask him." Jack says confidently as he begins to pull out another cigarette to light.

Does he intend on killing me? Well, I guess that was pretty obvious from the start huh? If that's the case, then I need to act now while he's distracted.

Jack sighs, continuedly trying to light his freshly pulled cigarette. "Piece of crap lighter."

I exhale, while diminishing my presence and Aether signature to almost nothing.