Just as the knight said this a large Warrior standing over three meters high and no head walked calmly up the stairs behind us. From his neck appeared a ghostly flame to form a head like figure and from every hole in his armor came the same ghostly flame. In his right hand was a rigged longsword coated in an oily substance, giving it a nice shine. His other hand carried a similarly oiled shield that was bent more like a bowl with spikes around it compared to the usual flat shield.

“Gwaine, you go help Mordred. I’ll handle this.” I said as I spun my sword in my hands as if it were a stick that a small child would find before fighting imaginary monsters. Gwaine nodded and left with most of the men. The others went inside the door and started barring it up from the inside.

“Let me pass and you shall live. I only seek to destroy this castle, not destroy those living in it.” the dullahan-like warrior said in a deep voice that almost seemed to echo as he arrived on the stone clearing before the door.

“Sorry, but I don’t believe you.” I said as I readied myself.

“You are brave... but if you will not let me pass then you shall DIE!” the dullahan yelled as he charged at me.

Swinging his blade down on me with surprising speed I raised my sword to block his attack. My sword got stuck in one of the grooves on his sword and his blade slid off mine and towards my left foot. Before it could hit it I kicked his shin with my right leg sending him back a few steps.

“So you can block a simple attack and knock me back a bit. I’ll have to be less lazy about my attacks from now on.” the dullahan said before both his shield and sword burst into an unholy flame.

Before I could even read what was going on even with time around me slowed he launched himself forward and bashed me with his flaming shield. I blocked it but the shape of the shield caused my sword to slide away from the front and get caught in it’s spikes. The force of his shield slammed against me and sent me flying into the door. My chest had a bit of the flaming oil on it so it began to burn me even though I tried to pat it out. Out of necessity I ripped off the front of my shirt right as the Dullahan stabbed his flaming sword at me.

Although I was able to dodge, the flames coating the sword were still hot and I could feel the heat coming off of it as if I was standing too close to a large bonfire or an oven that was just opened after cooking something. Seeing it as my only chance I jabbed my sword up at the Dullahan but he was ready with his shield. Pushing the sword to the side it barely pierced into his right arm and he didn’t show a single sign that he was in pain.

“Is that all you had?” the dullahan asked mockingly.

“Of course not.” I replied as Compton’s sword shot out of the pendant and into the Dullahan’s neck. He let out a shriek as the short sword entered his armor. Backing up from me he dropped his sword and began trying to fish the sword from out of his armor by it’s rope.

As he pulled the sword from the neck sleeve of his armor I got up and charged him. Realizing I was still a threat he raised his shield to block me from stabbing his chest. However, I expected this and brought my sword down on his left arm which held the shield. Neither blood nor flesh appeared as I cleaved his left forearm off. He didn’t even flinch as I did. Instead the ghastly flames that appeared from the holes in his armor appeared out of the severed spot like an arm and grabbed me by the neck.

A long painful searing sound could be heard as the flames singed my neck in his grip. I tried to let out a scream in pain but his grip was too tight so all I could do was groan in pain. Slamming me down into the stone I felt my body go limp. Yet I was still alive. I just didn’t feel like I could move. Releasing me from his grip he walked over to his severed armor and shield. Picking them up he placed it back where it belonged and with a sizzling sound it fused back with his armor.

“That was a close one.” the dullahan said to himself as he went to pick up his sword. What the dullahan didn’t realize was that my neck was healing very fast. In fact, you could say it was completely healed as I got back up and charged at him once more. With what I assumed was a surprised look the dullahan turned around quickly and redirected my sword with a swing of his shield.

“What are you?” the dullahan asked with an extremely annoyed tone.

Without answering I swung at him again and again. None of my strikes came close to hitting him even with everything around me moving at a slower pace. Despite my speed the dullahan was keeping up as if he was unaffected by it. Perhaps, he was just that fast. It didn’t matter though as when I went to strike him again he kicked me in the chest, sending me flying back and tumbling down the stairs.

“Suicidal bastard.” the dullahan scoffed to himself as he began beating the door with his sword.