XV

Yoreno narrowed his eyes at the monstrous form of Herokelus. So this was what Dantera intended for him to do battle with—and win, as a testament to his ability deserving knighthood.

He took two steps forward, his sword held high in an aggressive posture that suited attack better than defense.

“Be careful, Yor,” Dell said as he circled around to the side.

And then suddenly there was movement all around them as whooping shouts filled the air. They were not the calls of humans, but rather the long-armed and red-eyed monsters that surrounded them.

Herokelus snarled at them, forcing them back. Then they turned and left altogether.

“Does he want… to duel?” Dell asked.

“It seems so,” Yoreno said.

Now he understood why this monster was such an excellent foe for testing would-be knights. “Dell,” he said calmly, “I can handle this.”

“What?”

“I said I can handle it,” he repeated.

“Do you see this thing?!”

“Just trust me,” Yoreno said. “Go. Help Dantera and the rest of the crew.”

Dell made an aggressive sound of disappointment. Then he said, “Be careful, Yoreno.” And trotted away into the forest.

“Now come at me, you whoreson!” Yoreno commanded.

Herokelus hunched forward, his strong muscle-bound arms spread as he let out a hideous roar. Then he stamped forward, the sounds of his footfalls indicating a weight several times that of a human’s.

As the monster approached Yoreno he stalked forward to meet it. Herokelus swiped his curved blade of black metal up toward Yoreno’s midsection, but he wouldn’t let this monster kill him on his first strike. Arching his blade down, their swords clashed, a sharp metal grating shrieked through the air. And then Herokelus brought his arm back and swung at Yoreno. The force of the blow sent him flying into the grass.

A flash of bright light snapped in Yoreno’s vision as she shook himself. He rolled to his back to find Herokelus standing there, not advancing. Had he done so, he’d have cloven Yoreno in two right there on the grass.

Was it honor, or a want to do battle with a worthy foe without using underhanded tactics to win? A pure test of skill and martial prowess.

That was fine.

Yoreno could do that.

He got up off the grass and brought his sword back up into his high aggressive stance and charged Herokelus.

With a downward arc he would have sliced off the monster’s shoulder. Herokelus flipped his sword around and caught Yoreno’s blade with the concave arc of his blade and deflected the attack to the side.

Yoreno lunged back avoiding the massive six-fingered fist, then, still low on the ground, he shunted forward with a slash at Herokelus’ shins.

The monster jumped and Yoreno spun to meet his strike. Their blades clashed then came apart. Herokelus swung at him again with his fist.

Yoreno missed the blow.

Exchanging blade strike and fists, it was clear that Herokelus was no normal monster of unthinking savagery and hunger. He was a being of malevolence—a demon of the other world and a leader of monsters.

Yoreno had to defeat him. He would prove to Dantera that he had what it took to become a knight, but most of all he needed to end this fight to help his friends and the rest of the crew!