the beginning after the end perfect duo

A Lesser's Fight

Tom couldn't believe his eyes as the retainer approached. His stomach churned, a sudden urge to vomit overwhelming him as Uto himself came after them. The echoes of his steps reverberated in his mind, the air growing colder with every step, reminding him of all the dark deeds he had committed—against Alea, her soldiers, and now against Jade, Jaden, and the rest.

Tom was terrified. His breath came in shallow, panicked gasps, as though the air itself was fleeing from his lungs. His body trembled, unable to contain the whirlwind of emotions crashing through his heart. But he steadied himself, slapping his cheeks to snap out of it. His face flushed, leaving a stinging sensation.

His eyes darted to Jasmine, Lilia, and Mira, all frozen in terror—even Jasmine. Uto's looming, dangerous aura infiltrated them like a knife against bare flesh. They were like sheep before a wolf, poised to be preyed upon. Grief, fear, anger, and even a hint of insanity twisted in their hearts. Lilia trembled, Mira stopped laughing, her mouth agape and her eyes wide. 

She instinctively took a few steps back. Jasmine quickly adjusted her stance.

Jasmine's body stiffened. Her primal instincts as an adventurer kicked in, and they all screamed: *RUN!*

"RUN! DON'T FUCKING LOOK BACK!" Tom shouted to his comrades. He grabbed Jasmine's hand—she was clutching Lilia's, still overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation—and tried to run in the opposite direction. Mira followed, though she was far from fine.

A clear path lay ahead of them. Tom quickly calculated the possibilities: continuing down the tunnel wouldn't be practical, as it would depend on many factors. How far could Uto shoot those spikes? How fast was he?

That wasn't his plan. His plan needed time, and that was exactly what he was trying to buy.After a few feet of running, hope flickered as the tunnel stretched ahead—empty and clear. Then, with a thunderous crack, black metallic spikes erupted from the ground, descended from the ceiling, and pierced the walls, blocking every possible exit.

 The sharp, piercing sound echoed through the air. Jagged black spikes, glistening with an unnatural sheen, emitted a rusty smell—one that you wouldn't want to smell... alive.

Cursing under his breath, Tom turned back to face the silent yet menacing Uto."You're not going anywhere, kid," Uto declared, his voice hissing like a dirty snake. "I haven't even gotten you to scream yet." 

His perverse joy seeped through every word.

Tom wasn't a fool. He knew the odds were stacked against them. Uto's power was undeniable, but it was his surprise factor and his ability to think on his feet that might tip the scales. Tom's plan wasn't foolproof, but it was his best shot. With the lives of his friends at stake—and perhaps his own—he couldn't afford not to try.

"Are you too scared to even talk, pathetic?" Uto eyed them and mocked them."No, we aren't scared, Uto," Tom spoke loudly, feigning courage, even though drops of sweat ran down his forehead.

"Oh, how pleasant, but you will be eventually." Uto's grin widened as he took a step closer.Tom scanned the area, assessing the distance between them.

"What if we sparred? Just the two of us. It's been some time since your last one, hasn't it?" Tom asked, though he already knew the answer.