The Crimson Champion

Chapter 3: A Reunion With Yuri

I tightly grip my katana as the airship approaches. Lonril silently stays where he is, not making a move. As the airship stops above us, Spiritus viciously growls, already knowing who's on it.

A long ladder drops from the airship all the way down to the ground. Lonril walks over to the bottom of the ladder and waits. I look up and angrily watch as a very familiar man with dark purple hair slides down.

"I have subdued him as you requested, my friend." Yuri grins at Lonril. "Good job, Lonril. If you weren't my general already, I'd promote you. Now, go wait over there." Yuri points at some trees nearby. "Brutus is mine." "Of course, Yuri." Lonril walks over to the trees and leans against one while he watches us.

Yuri turns towards me. "So. After all these years, we finally meet again. I hope you put up a better fight than last time!" I glare and point my katana at him. "You're going to die for what you did to me. You're going to pay for everything you've done to this world, you cruel bastard!"

Yuri laughs. "I never thought some of the first words out of your mouth would be a compliment! But you are wrong. I will not die. I don't have to pay for anything. All I have done is remove the weak from my world. The weak deserve their pitiful deaths, just like your sister did. She was one of the weakest of them all." Yuri smirks evilly. "Her screams were like music to my ears."

Unable to control my rage, I roar and charge at Yuri. He instantly unsheathes his katanas. "You will not disrespect Kara's name like that! She was a much better person than you could ever hope to be!" I furiously swing my blade at his face, but he easily brings his katanas up to block. "There's the reaction I wanted! Maybe I'll actually have to try this time!"

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Xerkhon sits on his throne and glares at the scene of Brutus and Yuri that he conjured. "What in the realms is he doing?! He's supposed to retreat, damn it!" Xerkhon growls and pounds his fist on the armrest of his throne hard enough to crack it. "If that idiot dies, everything will fall apart!"

A man with graying hair and a beard wearing an elegant crimson-colored robe walks over to Xerkhon. "You must have faith in your champion, my lord. Only then will he be able to continue on his destined path."

"Hmm... I suppose you are right. You have always been right at times like these, so I will trust in your advice once more." The robed man bows. "It is nothing, my lord. As your high priest, it is my duty to advise you and do everything in my power to make sure you succeed."

"You have been a great help to me all these years. Once everything is said and done, I will finally be able to reward you with the things that were wrongfully taken from you. But for now, leave me. I must continue to watch this play out." Xerkhon turns his gaze back to the conjured scene. "Of course." The man opens a portal and leaves.

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Yuri laughs as he blocks my attacks. "It looks like you've improved since last time!" Yuri leaps back and chants words from a strange language that sounds like pure darkness. His katanas immediately glow with a dark enchantment.

"While you may remember everything I taught you..." Yuri sprints at me faster than I expected and I don't have time to dodge. He manages to cut through my armor and slash open my left leg. "You'll never be a match for me!"

I charge at him and I try to stab one of his arms, but my katana just bounces off of his armor and doesn't even leave a scratch. "What the hell is your armor made of?! It's like it's not from our realm!" Yuri slashes at my throat but I quickly jump back. "You are correct. It truly is from somewhere out of this realm!"

Yuri starts laughing hysterically and I growl. "If you don't shut the hell up, I will-" "You will what? Shut me up?" Yuri laughs even harder. "You don't have the strength to do that."