Beneath the Sun

Chapter 4 Spurs in the Dust

Jair's eyes narrowed, locking onto the approaching figure—a tall, lean cowboy who moved with the easy confidence of someone well-acquainted with danger.

As the rider dismounted smoothly, Jair took in the striking appearance of his adversary. Blonde hair peeked out from beneath a wide-brimmed hat, framing sharp, angular features. The man's piercing blue eyes, edged with a hint of mischief, met Jair's with an unwavering gaze.

"Well, well," the cowboy drawled, his voice dripping with casual confidence. He tipped his hat back, revealing a cocky smile that seemed permanently etched on his face. "Looks like you've got my bounty."

Jair's grip tightened on the bound man. "Not your concern, Kade," he said, his tone flat and unyielding. "I've got what I need."

The captive's eyes widened in recognition and fear. "Oh no, not him. Please, you promised to let me go."

Jair remained focused on Kade, his voice cold. "I am letting you go," he said flatly, shoving the man toward the cowboy. "Fine. He's all yours."

Kade caught the man with one hand, his eyes never leaving Jair. The jingle of spurs accompanied his casual movements as he pushed the captive aside. "Much obliged," he said, his fingers hovering over the engraved grips of his revolvers. The faint glow of Varis tech etched into the weapons hinted at enhancements beyond ordinary craftsmanship—an edge Kade was more than willing to use.

"You know," Kade continued, his smile widening, "I was hoping for a bit more excitement."

Without warning, Kade drew his gun and fired a shot. Jair, anticipating the move, dodged swiftly and closed the distance in a heartbeat. His sword slashed upward, but Kade deftly backflipped out of range, landing with a flourish and firing off several more shots in quick succession.

Kade's grin widened as he fired another shot, the bullet ricocheting off a nearby signpost and whizzing past Jair's ear. The gunslinger moved with a fluid grace, each of his steps deliberate, his spurs jingling softly like the prelude to a deadly symphony.

Jair sidestepped, his eyes tracking Kade's every move. The sword in his hand hummed with energy, its runes glowing faintly as if responding to the tension in the air. He closed the distance between them in a blur of motion, his blade slicing through the air with a hiss.

Kade ducked and rolled to the side, coming up on one knee with both guns aimed squarely at Jair's chest. He fired two quick shots, the mana-enhanced bullets cutting through the air with a sharp crack. But Jair was ready, bringing his blade up in a swift arc to deflect the shots. The impact sent a shiver down his arm, but he held firm, pushing forward.

Jair's breath came in measured bursts as he deflected Kade's shots with his katana, the blade's runes flickering with each impact. Kade moved with a fluid confidence, his revolvers spitting mana-infused bullets that Jair narrowly avoided. But as the fight dragged on, a different kind of exhaustion began to creep into Jair's bones—not just the physical strain of dodging and countering, but a deeper, more insidious weariness.

Kade's taunts, laced with that infuriating grin, weren't just about testing Jair's skill; they were digging into something more vulnerable. Jair felt the weight of every battle he'd fought, every life he'd taken, pressing down on him like an invisible hand around his throat. This wasn't the first time he'd faced someone like Kade—a cocky gunslinger who lived for the thrill of the fight—but there was something about this encounter that felt different, heavier.

As another bullet ricocheted off his katana's blade, Jair found himself questioning how many more times he could do this. How many more Kades would he have to face? The endless cycle of violence was taking its toll, eroding the man he once was. With every shot Kade fired, Jair wasn't just deflecting bullets—he was holding back a growing sense of futility, a nagging doubt that whispered maybe this wasn't worth it anymore.

Yet even as these thoughts clawed at him, Jair's resolve hardened. He couldn't afford to let Kade see the cracks in his armor, couldn't let anyone see how close he was to breaking. He pushed the weariness down, forced his focus back to the fight. But in the back of his mind, the question lingered: how much longer could he keep up this relentless pursuit before it consumed him entirely?

Jair's footwork was precise as he advanced, each step calculated to close off Kade's escape routes. He could see the gleam of amusement in Kade's eyes, the cowboy relishing the challenge. The two men circled each other, the townsfolk watching from the shadows of nearby buildings, their breath held in anxious anticipation.

Kade was the first to break the standoff, firing another volley of shots, but Jair was already in motion. He spun to the side, his sword carving a path through the air as he lunged. Kade twisted out of the way, one of his guns dropping as he narrowly avoided the strike. He recovered quickly, his remaining revolver barking out another shot, but this time, Jair was too close. He grabbed Kade's wrist, forcing the gun aside as his sword came up to Kade's throat.

For a heartbeat, they stood locked in place, Kade's breath coming in short, excited bursts. "Not bad," Kade said, his voice a low murmur. "But I'm just getting started."
With a sudden twist, Kade broke free, using his momentum to flip over Jair's shoulder and land behind him. Jair spun around just in time to see Kade draw a small, glowing device from his coat—a flashbang. He had only a split second to react before the device went off, flooding the street with blinding light.

Jair staggered back, his vision swimming with afterimages. He heard Kade's footsteps, the jingle of spurs growing louder, and knew he had to move. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision, but Kade was already pressing the advantage. The gunslinger's attacks came in a relentless flurry, his gunshots precise and unyielding.

But Jair wasn't out of the fight yet. He focused on the sound of Kade's movements, using the rhythm of the footsteps and the familiar jingle to predict his opponent's position. With a burst of speed, Jair closed the gap, his sword sweeping in a wide arc. The blade caught Kade's coat, slicing through the fabric and grazed Kade's side, drawing a thin line of blood as he dodged back, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

Kade's smile faltered, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Didn't think you'd recover that fast," he muttered, raising his gun for another shot.

Jair's vision was starting to clear, and he could see the determination in Kade's eyes. He knew this fight wasn't going to end easily, but he was prepared to see it through. With a deep breath, Jair steadied his grip on his katana, the blade's runes pulsing in time with his heartbeat.

Kade's breath was ragged, his confident smile fading as he realized the fight was turning against him. He holstered his gun with a resigned sigh, his hand going to his bleeding side. "You win this round, Jair," he said, his voice tinged with grudging respect. "But don't think this is over."

Jair didn't lower his katana, his eyes locked on Kade as he backed away, the tension between them still thick in the air. "Don't mistake this for mercy, Kade. The next time you point a gun at me, you won't be able to holster it."
Kade tipped his hat, his expression unreadable. "We'll see about that." With a last glance at Jair, he turned and walked away, his spurs jingling softly in the silence that followed.

As the sound of Kade's footsteps faded into the distance, Jair sheathed his sword, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. The fight was over, but the sense of unfinished business lingered. He knew this wasn't the last he'd see of Kade McGraw, and the thought stirred something deep within him—a mixture of anticipation and dread.

For now, though, there was another journey ahead, and more enemies to face. Jair turned away from the empty street, already planning his next move.