The Spectre

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rose and Robert traded blows, Rose now only wielding one sword as she blocked and parried the many blows from Robert's double-bladed sword. Robert slashed furiously, spinning and twirling on the spot as he desperately tried to end the battle. Rose blocked another three jabs and then jumped up, kicking Robert across the face as she rose before hitting the rocky ground once more. Robert stepped, glaring at Rose, and they slowly began to pace around one another "You're lucky I haven't been training long," Rose said as they treaded a perfect circle, and kept pacing over the same line of dust they had created. "The way you're fighting it wouldn't be difficult if I had more experience." Robert let a growl escape from his throat, sounding like a caged animal as they slowly stopped pacing. "You are making a mistake," Robert replied, anger in his voice, and Rose chuckled. "The only mistake I have ever made is not killing you the very second I saw you today."

Robert dashed forwards, and Rose dashed to meet him, both their swords swinging and slashing through the air. Rose ducked and backed away as Robert spun on the spot and repeatedly slashed his sword through the air, and when he halted to face her, she locked blades with him. Robert began pushing her away, gripping the hilt of his double-bladed sword tightly as he screamed something Rose did not hear, but it was full of hatred. Rose pulled away and ducked under the sword, Robert stumbling forward, and then she kicked out behind her, hard. Her foot smashed into Robert's back, and Robert was thrown away, crashing face-first into the nearby rock wall and dropping his weapon, apparently too dazed to do anything. Rose sprinted at him from behind and swept her leg along the ground, tripping her father and sending him shattering onto the floor.

Robert looked around as though ready to spring back to his feet, but only to find Rose towering over him, her sword pointed at her father. "It is over!" Rose shouted triumphantly, victory clearly etched into her face as she stood over her now-demonic father. "It is never over," Robert whispered, and a look of confusion passed over Rose's face, as though trying to figure out what her father was saying. The silvertip of a sword pierced through Rose's right side, blood immediately spraying outward, and Rose fell to her knees, not a sound escaping her as she then fell aside, her eyes closed and looking almost peaceful. "NO!" Zack screamed as the Kernel stood over Rose's body, his sword bloodied with her blood. Zack charged, raising his sword over his shoulder, and he began hacking it through the air. The Kernel blocked and parried, his expression turning ugly as he dueled Zack.

Over at the wall, Jez still crouched by his father's side, but now watched as Zack and the Kernel traded blows, their swords scraping off one another's. "You need to help your friend," the General whispered, still alive even after being impaled with Rose's sword. "Just go!" The General insisted when Jez went to reply, and Jez sighed, picking up his golden sword from the ground and then running towards where Zack and the Kernel slashed and dashed. As Jez approached, the Kernel kicked Zack in the chest, forced him away before quickly turning to the sound of running footsteps, and blocked a slash from Jez. Jez ducked as the Kernel struck back, the latter expertly striking and twisting his sword forwards, instantly forcing Jez into a defensive position. The Kernel forced Jez back, sword slashing and whistling through the air as Jez barely blocked.

Jez spun around the Kernel and stabbed forwards, only for the Kernel to block, force both their swords upwards, and then he grabbed the front of Jez's shirt with his left fist. "Don't hurt yourself," the Kernel muttered, and then he shoved Jez back. Jez's foot slipped over the edge, where Robert had been lying in the pool below, and he toppled backward, disappearing from sight. The Kernel turned to the sound of running footsteps yet again, only to find the General with Rose's sword in hand, having just pulled it from his own chest, slashing at him. The tip of the sword drew blood from the Kernel's cheek, and even the General looked surprised he had just attacked a member of his failing army. The General held his ground as the Kernel stepped forwards, and when he jabbed his sword forward the Kernel knocked it aside almost lazily and stabbed his own sword, piercing it through the General's heart.