Fate's Final Act

-CH 16- A new visitor

Xanax: MOONLIGHT DUEL

The moon hung heavy in the night sky, casting ghostly beams through the dense forest. My long, light blonde hair whipped around my face as I darted between the oak trees, sword drawn.

I skidded to a halt behind a fallen log, peeking over the edge to see the human ahead, his bulk framed by the moonlight. He was grinning, a twisted smirk of contempt.

"Come out, elf! I've been waiting to see if your kind is as strong as they say," he taunted, his voice booming through the trees.

I tightened my grip on my sword. "You think you can scare me with your noisy contraption? It is nothing but a toy!" I snapped back, my Russian accent thickening with irritation.

He chuckled, a harsh, mirthless sound. "A toy? You'll find out how lethal it can be. Your kind, with your arrogance and your pointless pride, are about to learn a harsh lesson."

I sprang from my cover, sword flashing in the moonlight. He fired without hesitation, the bullet scratching my side. Pain flared, but I pressed on, deflecting another shot with a swift arc of my blade.

My movements were quick, but the human's sheer size and the unfamiliar weapon posed a deadly challenge.

"You're quick, I'll give you that," he said, reloading with a smirk. "But quickness won't save you. Elves are just a blight on the world. Even your best won't be enough."

"You speak with the arrogance of one who doesn't know true strength," I growled, charging forward. My blade met his weapon in a fierce clash, sparks flying. "You underestimate us!"

He grinned, pushing back with surprising strength. "Elves are nothing but pathetic creatures. All talk and no substance. I've killed many of your kind, and you'll be no different."

I snarled, swinging my sword in a series of rapid strikes. Each blow was met with the echoing crack of his gun.

He dodged and weaved, his movements surprisingly nimble for someone so large. I managed to land a deep cut along his arm, but he barely flinched.

"You're not as formidable as you think!" I shouted, feigning a high slash and then aiming a low cut at his legs. The human stumbled, a pained growl escaping him.

"Don't be a fool!" he roared, firing again. The bullet struck my shoulder with a brutal force, sending me crashing to the ground. My sword slipped from my grip, and I struggled to rise, pain making every movement a challenge.

"You're finished!" he shouted, leveling the gun at me, his grin wide and cruel. "Any last words?"

As the gun's muzzle glinted in the moonlight, I braced myself for the end. But just as he was about to pull the trigger, a blur of motion flew between us.

Another elf. Lythel. Swooped in with incredible speed.

"Move!" He commanded, his blade intercepting the human's gun with a resounding clang. The human staggered back, surprised and enraged.

I blinked through the haze of pain, my palm pressed on my bleeding shoulder, watching as he engaged the human with fluid, precise strikes.

Each movement was a dance of his grace, pushing the human back and forcing him to retreat.

"Get away from him!" the new elf shouted, his voice cold and commanding.

With a final defiant roar, the human fled into the darkness, his curses echoing behind him. Lythel turned to me, concern etched on his face. The glowing blue tattoos on his arms and face gradually returned to normal and lost their glow.