The Legarthan Saga

Chapter 11

Jaylee pressed her sword down on Kailyn's with all her might, hoping to quickly end Kailyn's life and thus the battle. Kailyn pushed back before stepping to the left, allowing her sword to drop. As Jaylee stumbled forward, Kailyn swung her left fist up, getting in a hit to Jaylee's face, causing her to stagger backwards. Thrusting her sword forward, Kailyn winced as Jaylee stepped to her right, narrowly dodging the sword, before she charged forward and swung upwards. Parrying the blow, Kailyn and Jaylee engaged in a desperate duel. However, Jaylee's lack of experience in an actual combat situation began to show, unconsciously telegraphing her next moves and sloppy footwork.

Kailyn soon began to cause Jaylee to slowly step backwards and use only defensive moves. However, Kailyn didn't press her advantage, knowing that breaking from the formation would essentially be suicide. Instead, she backed up, friendly troops behind her with Jaylee in front, who was breathing heavily.

"You're inexperienced and naive. What are you trying to prove by trying to fight me one on one?" Kailyn asked, her sword in front of her, waiting for another strike.

Jaylee, having caught her breath, scoffed. "I'm not trying to prove anything. Killing the commander of the enemy is a surefire method in turning the battle in your favor, and I'll be the one who'll bring us victory!" Jayle charged forward again, swinging her sword at Kailyn's head. Effortlessly dodging the strike, Kailyn lunged forward, sword heading straight towards Jaylee's stomach. At the last possible moment, Jaylee had managed to move to the left just enough for the sword to only slice part of Jaylee's uniform.

As Jaylee regained her footing, she again aggressively began swinging at Kailyn, her swings becoming wider and more haphazard, allowing Kailyn to dodge or parry every attack with ease. Kailyn chuckled to herself, knowing that she had the upper hand in the duel. As she was about to begin her counterattack, in the corner of her eye, she saw that her offensive troops were now under attack from the troops who had bypassed her defenses. They were taken by surprise, with dozens of troops having fallen from the first wave. She could see soldiers desperately climbing up the ladders to avoid the onslaught. Damn! This isn't good!

"Keep up the assault! We need to provide whatever support we can for the commander!" Eric shouted to his troops after he had just killed the soldier that was in front of him. "Take out the ladders! We can't give the enemy a possible route for a retreat from inside the outpost! Group C, block off the entrance! Keep whatever soldiers that came into the outpost inside and hold the line! We need to keep their troops separated from the squad Jaylee is assaulting!"

"Yes sir!"

In unison, the soldiers charged ahead towards the ladders, the few troops posted to protect them immediately overrun. In a desperate attempt to save themselves, they immediately surrendered, dropping their weapons and holding up their hands. "Arrest them! Keep them alive and treat them well until the commander tells us what to do with them!" Eric shouted as he joined the men in knocking down the ladders. Once the ladders were knocked down and tossed aside, he and the rest of his troops rushed to reinforce group C as they were engaged in combat with the enemy troops trying to break their counteroffensive. As they arrived, Eric was at the front, charging into the enemy troops with his sword and shield out. Blocking a strike from the nearest soldier, he used his shield to unbalance the enemy soldier's footwork, allowing Eric to easily strike down the soldier. "Keep going! Press the advantage!"

Axton yanked his arm backwards, removing his sword from the stomach of the soldier in front of him, briefly watching as the soldier fell to the ground. Axton glanced over at the entrance and saw that many of the attacking troops had now run to the entrance of the outpost, engaging Eric's forces. Breathing a sigh of relief, he engaged in combat with another soldier. Using his two swords, he tried to overrun the soldier's defenses, but despite his attempts, was completely unsuccessful. This guy is in a league of his own! Axton thought as another strike from his swords was effortlessly parried. Before he could launch another strike, the soldier began launching quick but powerful strikes of his own.

It took everything in Axton's power to keep up with the soldier while trying to match the power shown from his combatant. Dodging to the left, Axton avoided another strike and instantly swung his sword, despite his feet not being set. After his blow was powerfully parried, Axton staggered backwards before raising his swords, blocking a would-be fatal blow. Axton's breathing became labored as he used all the strength he could muster to try to counter the soldier, changing the speed of his strikes, how he held his swords, and the stances he took. However, nothing he tried could overcome the strength and skill of his opponent.

Dodging another blow, Axton was about to launch a strike of his own when he saw the soldier's leg sweep out, knocking Axton on the ground. The soldier, ignoring Kailyn's orders, went for the killing strike, stabbing his sword downwards towards Axton. Rolling to his right, Axton dodged the strike and swung his sword at the soldier's leg. The soldier adeptly avoided the strike, but bought enough time for Axton to get back on his feet. If this fight continues the way it's going, it won't be long until he's killed me!

Kailyn easily parried another blow from Jaylee, but frustratingly, was unable to launch a killing blow herself. Despite her inexperience and telegraphed blows, Jaylee's defense was spot on, parrying and countering whatever strike Kailyn could throw her way. After blocking another strike, Kailyn kicked her foot forward, hitting Jaylee in the stomach. This caused Jaylee to stumble backwards, giving her enough time to look back at the battle behind her. To her dismay, she saw Chris's troops not only holding the line in the encirclement of her troops, but they had begun making their way into the outpost, overrunning their position. Despite her advantage versus Jaylee, Kailyn knew that the rest of her forces were now at the disadvantage, and separated from receiving assistance from her. As Jaylee was about to launch another strike, Kailyn dropped her sword and held up her arms, shouting at the top of her lungs, "I, Kailyn Payle, surrender myself and my troops! This battle is over!"