The Demon King's Paladin Part 2. All Out War.

Chapter 400. Anticlimactic

"Haah... Haah..."

I could hear his breathing after the explosion. It sounds like I made the right decision about attacking him. The smoke caused by the explosion was beginning to fade, I could start to make out his figure.

" Haah... Haah..."

" A... A scratch?"

I was surprised by what I saw, he was breathing somewhat intensely, but all I could see was a bloody scratch on his cheek from the explosion... No... I'm wrong, the tonfa on his left arm... It's gone. He must've defended himself against my claws with it.

" Yes... A scratch, but it did knock the wind out of me. Really clever, Ms. Garrett. Instead of blocking or dodging, countering while I was sure I'd be able to land an attack. You Humans always do have little tricks and schemes don't you?"

" Well, we're not the only ones with little tricks, you think I haven't noticed your missing tonfa?"

He lifted his fist to show that he still had the handle in the grip of his hand. He wiggled his hand before throwing the handle on the ground.

" Yeah, well, it was needed, that attack would've really hurt. But don't feel bad about it."

/ zhoom!/

" It's not like I don't have more."

He smiled and summoned another tonfa to his hand. This one though, instead of pale green, was light yellow.

" Do they all come in different colors? Or is that one just special?"

" All weapons are special to their users. In fact, losing one of my tonfa is like having one of your hands or feet crushed."

" Well I'm not going to let that happen!"

I retook my stance and activated Mana Claws again.

" Yeah... Those claws, they're quite a problem. Let's see if they'll still serve you well moving forward!"

/ Thump!/

/ thump!/

We both jump, only he's chasing me now. I need to stick on the outside of his range and look for a moment to strike. I can even launch my claws again, but I need to time it right. He'll be able to dodge if I don't time him right.

" Running away are we?"

" Why would I just stand still when someone's chasing me while using weapons!?"

" Well, even with that!"

/ Rumble!/

" What!?"

As Sarn was talking, he quickly changed his footwork to chase me down! He's gaining on me!

" Even with that, your footwork is lacking for a hand to hand combatant."

/ Clunk! SWOOSH! CRASH!/

I was able to get my guard up before he smashed a tonfa into my head. The power of the swing sent me flying again. I couldn't stop myself from flying into a tree... And then another tree. And then another. On and on until the momentum died off and I landed on the ground on my back. My back was hurting, but I knew I could still move. I quickly stood back up, it was then that I was surprised how far I was sent flying away. I'm back where the kids and the old dead Demon are. I could see the trail of broken trees and squashed bushes from where I came from. I could see Sarn beginning to walk through the forest and make his way to me.

/ CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANK!/

" AH!"

Just as I was thinking about what to do next when Sarn made his way to me, the sounds of metal clashing against metal filled my ears, they were coming from my right side. I looked around to see if I could find what it was that was making that noise, it wasn't long before I found the source of the sound.