The Clash of the Black Swordsmen

THE TRUE BLACK SWORDSMAN TRIUMPHS

Guts barely stayed on his feet, panting with Dragonslayer clutched tightly.

Guts was just finished holding off another night of battling those horrific beasts. After suffering through the same cycle of constant danger and constant death for two years, he could actually feel his own legs and body starting to betray him, giving in to that gentle night. But nevertheless, he persevered.

Right after the slaughtering where the corpses of monsters and beasts laid down there like blood-red ornaments of death, a shadow clad in black and gray, donning a helmet resembling a skull was seen frolicking across the fields with what looks to be a horse wearing similar apparel. As soon as they were in Guts' viewing distance, he immediately knew who they were, as they just arrived in front of him.

Guts was about to open his mouth, but he was quickly interrupted by the ethereal figure.

"Once the night fully bleeds into dawn, the powers above will grant you a foe that will determine your true worth and strength. Meet me at the jasmine field past the two hills there," The skull knight pointed over Guts. Guts looked behind so he could visualize the location his old accomplice referred to.

Past two gentle hills, at the far horizon he could see a small land, with spots of white scattered all over.

"Hold on there, what am I supposed to do—" Guts turned back, but the seemingly horse-riding ghost was gone.

Guts glared at where the skull knight once was, now merely pointing sharp daggers at a vast expanse of nothing. *Tch! Asshole doesn't even bother to explain the reason why I'm supposed to meet him.*

The black swordsman, as others would proclaim him as, then looked up, seeing a stray line of light seeping in between a pair of trees.

*Guess I should probably hurry.*

And so Guts sheathed his weapon and walked, towards the place where apparently his worth and strength would be tested.

Guts stood at the field of flowers, waiting for the skull knight to approach him and perhaps explain the purpose of this abrupt meeting. As soon as he arrived, hazy orange red had completely engulfed the skies above, symbolizing that he was right on time

*I'm here. Now all that's left is to wait.*

A moment later, he heard footsteps slowly becoming more and more audible by the second.

However when he looked up, it was revealed that the person that was apparently approaching him was one that he had never encountered before. It was a remarkably young male of short stature and like him, his attire was covered by pitch black, and he had two swords strapped on his back. What is noticeable is the design of his attire. It just feels completely alien even when compared to the outfits worn by the nobles in Midland.

It was truly an odd sight. He thought he had encountered the worst of the worst and the deepest reaches of the unknown that this world had to offer. But then this kid shows up looking like he came from an entirely different world.

Suddenly his mind lit up like a light bulb. *It must have something to do with the test of strength that skullfaced asshole mentioned~!!* Of course, it couldn't have been anything else. The way this kid had a nasty look at his eye, looking to pick a fight or something. Guts then scoffed, thinking that he was here for a serious reason when in fact all he was going to do was to play with this little pimpsqueak.

*Test of strength and worth?! Ha! The guy looks like some short-order cook working at a low-rate tavern.* He fought hard not to let his disdain show, but it seems like he failed since the nasty look that the kid had at him this whole time grew even more nastier.