The Slayers: The Black King [Book 1 of the Slayers series]

Chapter 13: Gerard VS Shreen: Sword VS Sword

Chapter 13: Gerard VS Shreen: Sword VS Sword

Part 1

I, Rose, was currently observing the fight between Gerard and the cloaked demon. Gerard had summoned two short swords, one black and one white, and was currently battling against the cloaked demon, who was using a wicked looking blade. Gerard's pair of wings and halo were out, and he was giving out an aura that could calm me down.

Occassional flashes from beneath the demon's cloth, and I could see that it...was not human. Because what was grabbing the sword was white and skinny, and the rows of teeth were obvious beneath the hood. That demon was a skeleton! Also, whenever the skeleton moved, I could hear the sound of metal clinking against each other. Seems like the skeleton was wearing some armour beneath the cloak.

"What's your name, demon? Your sword skills are pretty good. My name's Gerard." Gerard asked as his blades pressed against the skeleton's, a hint of anger in his voice.

"Thank you. My name is Shreen. Shreen of the Blade." The demon replied in a raspy as it pushed Gerard's short swords away. How could a skeleton talk, well, it was for you to wonder, because I had no idea myself.

Gerard jumped back, before charging at the skeleton demon called Shreen again. Shreen drew its sword back before thrusting it in front of it, which fired an invisible attack of air pressure, throwing Gerard backwards.

"Frontal attacks head-ons are boring. Can't you do something else other than this?" Shreen complained.

"You wanna try? Then you better don't regret it," Gerard replied seriously. I think he was angry because it was this very demon who poisoned me.

He pushed the hilt of his two short swords together, and chanted,"Combine!"

A white glow covered his swords, and they turned into a bow with half of it white and the other half black. I had seen Gerard's short swords during training, but this was the first time I saw the second form! When he wanted to use a bow, he would use a normal bow instead.

Gerard pulled at the string, and a magic arrow was formed. It...was similar to my Slaying weapon.

"Hey, hey, changing to a far ranged attack now?" Shreen laughed, an irritating sound escaping from its throat.

Gerard ignored its comment, and when he pulled the string to the maximum, he fired the arrow of light.

Shreen had decided to take it head on, but as the arrow streaked towards it, aiming true, it decided the best option was to dodge it.

It rolled to the side, and the arrow continue to fly, and in a distance an explosion was heard. I turned my head and saw a huge blast created.

"Woa, that was dangerous," Shreen exclaimed, "It would be bad if I continue fighting you like this, so I'll be taking back my knife!"

With that, Shreen ran towards me, its blade drawn to kill. My stamina had only barely recovered, and I tried to escape from this demon, but my legs were so weak I stumbled and fell, the knife in my hand skittering away. Gerard saw this and cried out in anger, as he began to fly towards us.

I looked up to see Shreen's head beneath the mask, and saw two glowing red pupils in the two eye holes. Strangely, it looked as if it was smiling evilly, even though it had no mouth or muscle left.

"Die!" Shreen yelled excitedly, its blade coming at me in a deadly arc.

This time, I could only watch, wide-eyed, in fear as the sword threatened to slice me and end my life.

"Not so fast, you skeleton!" Gerard yelled, and quite suddenly, the demon was knocked away, allowing me to see the setting sky again. I thought I would never see it again. I saw Gerard and Shreen rolling away from me. Gerard had pushed Shreen away from me in the last instant  The roof of the building we were on was quite large and flat, so it was quite a good stage for battle.