Rebellion: Prince of Dawn

Chapter 25.5: Something In The Way

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JAIME FONTOYA

The reflection transported us to what remained of the library. Most of the shelves were gone and what endured were either rotting or succumbing to termites or both. The only books that survived were the thousands of pages scattered around the room.

Within the library were two mirrors. The first one was right in front of us. The second was on the opposite side of the room where Batta and his fishing rod lurked.

Joji punched our mirror with his left hand, reducing it to sand.

Batta tsked. "You lot love to pair up, huh? It doesn't matter. We'll finish you off all the same."

Our priority target is right in front of us!

"Attack Form." I lowered myself to the ground, extending a leg back before changing my breathing. "Falcon Dive!"

With Sting at hand, I leapt towards Batta so fast and close to the ground that, for a moment, it left him stunned. He snapped out of shock quickly, allowing him to touch his mirror and dodge my attack by travelling through it.

I went to stab him through the mirror, but it shattered into a thousand fragments instead.

Joji shambled to the fragments and turned them to sand before putting a hand on his bicep wound.

"Why are you screaming out your attack before you actually attack?"

"You're a State Jynxist, right? I'll assume that you're familiar with the rule that states giving yourself restrictions make you stronger. Last night, Ilias helped me make a contract with myself. There are three sword styles—attack, defence, and chaos. Along with each style are various forms that are used in different circumstances."

"What condition did you create for yourself?"

"If I announce which form I'm using loudly and clearly before I use it," I gave him an eager grin, "the power of the attack will be twice as strong."

I sheathed Sting and stared at the two swords hanging on my hip. There were supposed to be three but Batta turned Clash into a portal. And since a portal couldn't travel through itself, I had no choice but to leave my main sword behind.

Either way, it was something I didn't mind. Ever since I got Clash, I've relied on it for every situation in favour of its ability. Both Sting and Intermission have been neglected because of it.

This was the perfect opportunity to make it up to them. A swordsman must cherish all his swords after all.

I patted Intermission's hilt. Sorry, because of the rings in my throat, I can't make use of your ability. But don't worry. I'll still use you regardless.

"There's one silver lining to our situation." Joji grimaced as he used fire jynx to cauterize the hole in his arm. "We're finally inside the damn castle and we didn't have to walk into that obvious trap."

The two of us peeked into the hallway. Roaming the further side of the corridor was a man who donned a fuzzy hat with a hawk perched on his shoulder. It was the same bird that attacked us outside.

I pointed to the stairwell on our side of the hall. "We can sprint to that one. Up or down?"

"It makes more sense to go down."

"What about the fuzzy hat guy? I can run to the stairwell just fine, but I'm worried about you."

"This is nothing. I'm a natural runner," Joji chuckled, "over short distances."