XVI

Those whooping calls were everywhere throughout the trees and the wider forest. Most of the action below the cliff Yoreno suspected was that of Dantera and his other friends, along with the crew defending themselves against those short little tree hugger monsters.

Whatever they were, Yoreno had never seen a monster of this type before. But he had no time to think of it, or to even worry too much about his friends.

He was battling Herokelus.

Watching his footing, he danced about with the monster leader in a small clearing, their swords clashing and their bodies moving in aggressive attacks. Herokelus was Yoreno’s better.

He had no illusions to that.

One mistake and he would be dismembered by this guardian.

The muscular monster came in with a powerful overhead strike, but Yoreno got out from under the blow by jumping forward and rolling on his back, his armor plate providing ample protection from roots or rocks that might crack into his back.

As he came back to his feet, he turned and slashed, but Herokelus was already there to block with his black blade that had probably tasted the blood of a hundreds of adventurers and even a few would-be-knights such as himself.

The monster snarled, charged forward, evidentially frustrated at their fight. Yoreno took back-steps to give Herokelus a lot of ground otherwise he would lock blades with Yoreno and then crush his throat with his beast hands.

If only he had tricks up his sleeve like Dantera, the way she snapped that light during their fight with the mage who had been siphoning magic out of the tear here.

It would be a horrible idea to go into the forest where Herokelus could chase him over the rough terrain. Yoreno would eventually slow and be forced to meet blades with the monster who would surely kill him. Instead it was better to stay out here in the open terrain, to have room to jump, dodge and to parry with quick counters by doing pirouettes on the grass.

Herokelus was trying to kill him.

His blade strikes were faster than before, his aggressive pushing into Yoreno’s territory seemingly unending. Yoreno was practically running, occasionally exchanging sword blows with the powerful beast.

Herokelus howled then struck overhead with a powerful attack. Yoreno tripped, fell and had no choice but to bring up his sword in a block. Their blades connected, jarring Yoreno’s arms with the force of the blow.

Instead of angling his blade back for an arching attack, Yoreno pushed the button of his hilt to angle his blade toward Herokelus’ unnatural mouth, but such a move gave the monster the same opportunity and his blade too came in at Yoreno’s face.

He was able to save himself by leaning his head and torso to the right, Herokelus’ blade coming into contact with his bracer, the runes reacting in defense.

There was a loud snap, Herokelus’ blade shot back.

With this opportunity, Yoreno could have turned and ran, but instead he pushed his blade up toward the monsters face, his guard going inside of that hideous mouth. Yoreno angled his elbow toward the monster, in effect making his right quillion arch inward toward his left.

Yoreno yanked his sword back toward himself just as Harokelus pulled away reflexively and Yoreno’s quillion ripped through Herokelus’ mouth.

Blood poured freely as the side of his mouth split open in a bloody rent. Herokelus stumbled back, snarling and screaming unintelligible monster sounds as Yoreno jumped back to his feet and charged. He came down with his blade as hard as he could.

But Herokelus snarled and swung at Yoreno’s blade with both arms, the force of his parry sending Yoreno off his feet to the ground. He rolled, using the momentum of his fall to get back up.

Herokelus gave chase and Yoreno bounded for the cliff and the rest of his party.