Anarion glared at each one of his opponents. The opponent with a second release called Feldark pressed the attack with blazing speed. However, Anarion could see his attacks. He coated his fists and forearms in ice to prevent burns. Anarion blocked all fifty attacks Feldark launched at him. The ice he used for burn protection was not melting.

Feldark stood for a moment, he was extremely shocked. Anarion had a look of fiery determination in his eyes. Without a word, he pressed his attack against Feldark. Four of the other Oren, named Scrath, Fendark, Kuindar, and Undak sought to ambush him while he was busy with Feldark. Scrath attacked from his left, Fendark from his right, Kuindar and Undak from his back.

However right as they began to launch their attacks spikes of ice shot out of Anarion’s body from all the directions his other enemies attacked from. They took a tactical retreat. The battle stopped for a moment. “You have masterful control of Elestran,” said Feldark. Anarion did not reply. Feldark pressed the attack, however this time the four Oren decided not to press a physical attack, but Elestran attacks.

They each made metal spears and threw them at Anarion. While parrying one of Feldark’s attacks he masterfully dodged each spear, one he leaned back to avoid, another he performed a backflip. The two other spikes he deflected with his Katarn. Feldark saw this as an opportunity to attack, however, Anarion’s concentration was masterful as well, a giant spike of ice appeared from the direction Feldark planned to attack from. He jumped back, not wanting to be impaled.

Feldark grew frustrated. “This is an insult!” he yelled. “Sendak, Kogor, Adrak, let’s kill this bastard!” the remaining three Oren stepped in. Feldark's blades grew brighter. A blue glow grew in Anarion’s eyes. His determination was unshakable. However the ground was not, it started shaking from the battle above, caving in the only exit he had. The room kept its structural integrity.

Anarion gripped his Katarn carefully, the blue aura he emitted earlier grew even bigger. “That’s impossible. Even I can’t exert this kind of Aura. Who the hell are you?” asked Feldark. Anarion smiled “The man who’s going to kill you.” Anarion vanished from sight, only to appear behind Feldark, aiming for his heart he stabbed at him, however, Feldark was just barely able to dodge the attack.

Seven spears flew his way. Anarion dove and rolled in the air, avoiding each spear by a hair. He wasn’t wasting any energy at all. Every move he made was meaningful, it was perfect. He landed upwards with a roll on his back, he discretely threw a shard of ice at Sendak’s throat. It hit dead-on, it was small and sharp, barely noticeable from the naked eye.

Anarion pushed Feldark as Sendak began to suffocate. The other’s looked on in horror as he died slowly and painfully. Beyond the wall was a shout “Anarion!”. He did not pause but simply recognized that Amma was on the other side of the wall. He did not want to keep her waiting, above all he did not want her to worry.

Anarion vanished from sight again, this time he appeared in front of Scrath. He swung his blade at Scrath’s head, but he barely deflected it, before he had time to retaliate, Anarion was gone. Feldark tried desperately to keep up with his movements, so he could stop these attacks on his Oren brothers.

All of the Oren readied themselves. Anarion appeared in the center of the room. He jumped in the air and shot hundreds of little ice shards at his enemies. Particularly at their throats or head. He was aiming for kill shots. Before Feldark could attack him again he vanished. The Oren were blocking the shards, they did not have time to notice Anarion. He appeared beside Scrath and stuck his sword into his ribs and through the heart.

Feldark yelled “Fight me! Fight me, you bastard!” Anarion appeared in front of Feldark and swung at his head with ferocity. He still had his ice protection against his duel fire blades. “Second release and I’m faster? You guys suck,” said Anarion with a cocky expression on his face. Feldark was enraged. He attacked Anarion with all the strength and ferocity he could.

The remaining Oren choked back their tears for the fallen and continued making metal spears to throw at Anarion. He dodged them all by a hair. The assault of spears continued while Anarion began pressing Feldark into a corner. Once in the corner, as the spears were thrown Anarion vanished from sight again.

They had just thrown spears, they had no time to retaliate. Anarion appeared in front of Adrak and decapitated him. He killed three oren. Feldark jumped in for the attack, he was incredibly upset at the development of this fight. Fendrak, Kuindar, Undak, and Kogor all opted to attack at once. Elestran wasn’t working, they would try fighting him with their Katarn.

Anarion was not only winning the battle. He was winning the battle of wits, seeing their friends die caused them to behave recklessly. Fendark and Kogor were impaled upon two of the ice spikes that shot out of Anarion’s body. Feldark was extremely desperate. Behind the rubble, Anarion could hear Amma crying. She did not understand what was happening here which upset her terribly.

Anarion still looked determined. He had not suffered an injury. He still had plenty of stamina and chi. Feigning an attack on Feldark Anarion vanished from sight. He appeared behind Kuindar and cut him in half from his head down. He then vanished again. Just Feldark and Undak were left. Anarion appeared in front of Feldark and swung his Katarn, attacking him multiple times, each blow was deflected.

On the final attack against Feldark Anarion stomped the ground. A massive spike of ice burst through the ground and impaled Undak. Feldark was extremely shaken, tears came flowing down his eyes. “You killed them, you killed them all. One single release swordsman can’t do this much!” Anarion, without mercy still hearing the cries of Amma on the other side, said “I saved you for last. I hope you are prepared to die.”

Feldark roared. His roar carried with its intensity, and the pain of his fallen comrades. He charged at Anarion, he swung his right blade ferociously. At the end of the tunnel they finally broke through, Anarion deflected the strike, with sinister care he brought his sword up along the side of Feldark’s neck, he cut his corotated artery. Blood sprayed like a pressure hose, a lot of it hitting Anarion. Feldark took a few steps, the blood had sprayed the walls, some hitting the onlookers who managed to free Anarion’s passage.

Feldark collapsed on the ground. He bled out. Anarion sheathed his blade. Amma rushed up to him and hugged him, tears continued to form in her eyes. Anarion put his arms around her. “I thought you were going to die. Don’t worry me like that.” cried Amma. Anarion smiled “I’m sorry. I’m alright though, you don’t have to cry.”

Amma continued to cry while hugging Anarion. He continued to reciprocate the hug. Everyone poured into the room. Calmantos looked at the dead Oren. He noticed the fire swords on the ground, they were still ablaze. He counted out the bodies “Eight of them. You fought eight of them.” said Calmantos. Bwoire yelled “Dumbass! You should have contacted someone!” Anarion sighed. “You lot were so busy having fun upstairs. The tunnel collapsed early into the fight. I couldn’t have received help even if I asked for it.

Saren looked on. His heart continued to break as Amma continued to embrace Anarion. He turned around and left. Not wanting to see that Anarion was better than him in every conceivable way. Falcon and Ithilious came to see Anarion. “Amma, if you keep hugging him like that people are going to say things.” Amma with her face buried in Anarion’s torso said “Dumbass, let them say whatever they want.”

Anarion’s face turned a little red. Falcon looked at him with jealousy in his eyes. “Eight fucking Oren, one had a second release. I am weak. I need to get stronger.” Anarion looked at Falcon “I was just lucky. These guys were weak.” The tunnel started shaking. “We should get out of here before this whole thing collapses on top of us,” said Calmantos.

Amma let go of Anarion. Everyone started running towards the exit, they all made it out safely. About five minutes after they left the exit collapsed again. Anarion asked why the entire fortress had been blown away, but no one answered him. Calmantos declared “Our mission is complete, except for one loose end. I’m going to send the lot of you back to Terathil while I track down the missing Oren Swordsman.”

Everyone acknowledged his orders. Collectively as a group they made way back to Holsten. Surprisingly they were able to make it back before nightfall. Everyone was motivated by a bath and hot food. Arriving at the gate Tycondris greeted them all. “I was worried about you four. I’m glad you made it back safely.” Everyone spoke with Tycondris briefly.

Rather than going to the bar for a drink, everyone returned to their collective bedrooms to sleep. Everyone slept deeply until the following night. Tycondris was waiting in the tavern for them. Anarion slumped down the stairs and sat across from Tycondris. Giselle came around. She looked horrified. “Um, Anarion? Did you neglect to take a bath before you went to bed?” Giselle was blushing.

“You should also have a shirt on,” she added. Anarion slammed his hands on the table. “Fuck, I left my shirt back in Rotal.” He sighed. “Oh well, I suppose I’ll wear one of my old Ghees.” Tycondris said, “Your entire upper body is stained red.” Anarion looked down. “Oh shit, I forgot to take a bath!” He ran upstairs, there was a bath on each floor of the tavern.

He opened the door to the bath quickly not minding his manners. He quickly closed it. In the bathroom, Amma shrieked. She calmly said, “Occupied.” Anarion’s face became beat red. He whispered to himself “I saw a little too much there.” When Amma got out she had a towel wrapped around her body. She asked, “How much did you see.” Anarion quickly replied with “I saw nothing! My eyes were still hazed over.” It was an obvious lie, but Amma bought it.

Anarion opened the door to the bath and quickly closed it behind him. He was slightly embarrassed by the lie. He opened the hot water faucet, opting for a shower instead of a bath he pulled a small pin. He quickly took off his clothes and stepped in. Meanwhile, in the hallway, Ithilious was just stepped out of his room. He had a haze covering his eyes. He was still half asleep.

Amma walked out of her room now fully clothed. Ithilious put his hand on the door handle to the bath. Amma said, “It’s occupied.” However, Ithilious opened the door not hearing his sister's words. Anarion was naked for the entire hallway to see. Ithilious quickly closed the door. He turned around, Amma’s face was beat red.

Ithilious asked, “How much did you see.” Amma replied “The whole thing.” Ithilious laughed out loud. Which woke Bwoire and Falcon up. Amma went downstairs to have some food and drink. Anarion eventually finished his shower, he put on one of his old Ghee’s.

Anarion sat down next to Amma and across from Tycondris. He was drinking a pint of ale. “What was all that noise upstairs.” Both Amma and Anarion answered in sync. “Not a damn thing.” Tycondris laughed. “By the way. I’ll be heading to Terathil with you. I impressed the general so much he wants me by his side.”

Anarion and Amma congratulated him. For a few hours, everyone drank and had a good time. Until it was time to leave as the sun came up. Half intoxicated, Bwoire’s unit left Holsten for Terathil. Anarion said his goodbyes to everyone. They all thanked him once again for what he did. Stating that Holsten would never forget him.