Bare This Curse

Chapter 14: To Kill A Leader-Class Fallen Angel

A soft breeze blew through the clearing of the forest behind the ORC, making my jacket gently flow with it.

"Well..."
{Eternal Judgement: Overdrive!}
"Let's get started."
Kiba summoned a demonic sword using his Sacred Gear, Sword Birth.

"I remember now."
I looked to Xenovia.
"There was a test subject in the Holy Sword Project who escaped disposal."
I blinked, my grin lessening as I looked back at Kiba.

"A test...?"

"My power of Sword Birth comes from the resentment of my fallen comrades. With this power, I will destroy the Excalibur and their wielders!

I hummed at that, then sighed.

"Now's not the time to get emotional. I made a declaration to protect my friends and family myself, and I won't let pity get in the way."
I threw my hand forward, throwing Kiba back to a tree violently with a Telekinetic Circle. Despite what I said, I was still going easy on him. He grunted and dropped his sword as he fell. He quickly picked up another from his arsenal and sprinted at me again with his knight speed. I repeatedly threw up my arm, creating Circles on the field with blue spikes rising up from them. He sidestepped them with his wits and got up in front of me. He swung his sword and I stepped back, dodging it easily. I weaved to the side on the swing down, then jumped back when he sliced at me again. I grinned, then pointed left. He was confused, until I let the finger drop in alignment with the others. The Magic Circles in the air began to fire many different elements at him. While his speed gave him excellent maneuver capabilities, he had no chance of hitting me while dodging all those projectiles. Once they all stopped, he found an opening and ran for me. He got right to me, only to be blasted back by an Indigo Circle. He grunted and jumped up, dodging the blast of another. Doing so made him run right into the beam of one more I had planted in the ground. He grabbed another sword when he ran from the smoke cloud and swung upwards, only to miss again. I saw an opportunity here and threw him up into the air. I sent him higher and higher, then dropped him. Once he hit the ground, I pointed right, sending him that way, then to my left, then up again, then faking him out and going left again. I was beginning to actually have fun with this fight, but I was also getting tired. I haven't used much of my power, but the way the fight's been drawn out was wearing on my low stamina. I left him on the ground and threw my hand up again, impaling him with the blue spikes. I threw them back down, letting him lay there. He grabbed another sword, grunting as he stood up. I panted slightly, then grinned widely as I threw my hand forward, surrounding him with Metallic Circles. They revved up before blasting him all at once into submission. The ground shook as a crater was made from the explosion. I stood on the rim of it as I looked down at Kiba, who was bruised and battered down in the center of it. I slid down to him and stood before him.

"... I guess I'm not the only one who knows how it feels to be trapped."
I snapped my fingers, summoning a bright Green Circle. I pointed it at him and let its light shroud him. His wounds cleared up and he was healed immediately. He grunted, then blinked as he pushed himself to his knees.

"What...?"
I held out my hand to him.

"Come on. Get up."

He hesitated, then grabbed my hand and let me help him up on his feet.

"I only healed you enough to put you on your feet, but I'm only warning you once, Kiba. Stay away from Xenovia and Irina. I don't care what your reasons are. You aren't hurting anyone I care about. You got it?"
"..."
I turned away, jumping out of the crater.

"Seems like this match is over. We're outta here. Who's still hungry."
"I am!"
"So am I!!~"
"I am still in need of food."
"I, am hungry."
"I'll admit. Watching you fight got ME hungry."
"Heh, then let's hit it."
I began to walk away, then stopped.