《Mortem Comedenti(Death Eater)》Chapter 28: Duel of Strength (II)
Advertisement
Kenan debated taking the orc's soul at that moment. However, he thought that the strength of Roshu being added to his own outweighed getting a quick pick me up. Noctis looked around quickly. The ring of fire still surrounded them. The white wolf was nowhere to be seen and Rufus stood idly with his limp and hurt arm.
“Kenan!” Rufus yelled suddenly. Noctis' attention snapped. The orc, who was still stabbed through the chest, roared back to life. All the blood caked on him glowed in a bright red as suddenly it seeped back into him. Cracks formed all around the skin as they too glowed in a dull red. His eyes widened as they suddenly turned solid red. Roshu grabbed both the sword and Kenan, and as one pulled both out. Then he held Noctis by his skull.
“Convictions are forged by strength!” The orc said as he threw Kenan at Rufus. Who tried to catch him, but they ended up tumbling on the ground. The two looked at each other. Both were wary, mana deprived, and beaten. Things were not looking good.
They stood quickly. Roshu still, snarling and waiting. “Listen kid. Go and find your uncle.” He seemed sober now, if not a bit buzzed.
“No.” Kenan said simply.
“Look. I don’t have a family. You got a sister to save.”
“And parents to avenge.” Kenan grasped his sword hard. “I would rather die.” He answered an unasked question.
“Fine.” Rufus said. A large flask appeared in his hands, then he proceeded to chug it all.. “Rioght.” He stood at the ready. Kenan too got into his combat stance. In his blade, Nattura roared in anticipation. Noctis crouched, getting ready for a sprint.
“Get ready. Kenan Noctis of the Sorrowful Night for the final tide. In which we decide who’s blade beheads which head.” Roshu roared
Advertisement
All three rushed to meet. Kenan jumped over an ax swing as Rufus kicked the back on the orc's knee. The tag team didn’t need words to work together seamlessly. One directed, or took an attack while the other tried to do damage. In one large ax swoop Roshu made the two get distance. "Fine.” He said. He took two hands on both sides of the double headed ax and pulled. Splitting the weapon in half, down the middle. “This is more fair.” Now he wielded two large axes.
Just as the three were about to re-engage. A blur of white flew across Kenan’s field of vision. The female wolf had decided to join the battle. It jumped, grabbed onto Roshu’s shoulder. It got flung towards Kenan, but it took a large chunk of flesh with it. The wolf stood, shaking its fur from the mud. It looked at Kenan. Knowing what it’s mate’s last vestiges of strength had done for Noctis. It growled in anticipation, and bristled it’s fur. “Weird cat.” Rufus said groggily.
They slowly approached this time. Circling and probing. Noctis felt the wolf's next action, and followed to do the same. Sprinting, each took a side. On the left, the wolf slipped under a swing while turning and clamping down on Roshu's wrist. While on the other side. Kenan glided the ax down, making fit in the ground. In the first sword strike he slightly cut the wrist, not much damage. Then Rufus came from behind and wrapped his hands around the orc’s giant and thick neck. Seeing another moment, Kenan reversed the blade, and with the blunt side brought it down to the orcs fingers while activating the last whispers of mana in his system. Between the grip of the ax and the momentum of the blade. The orc’s fingers crushed and sorted at odd angles.
Advertisement
Now it was Roshu’s turn as he yelled in a mix of rage and pain. He flung the wolf by shaking his arm wildly. It left a chunk of flesh missing. Then he batted it away with the flat side of his ax. Afterwards he dropped his other one while swinging with his good arm at Kenan. Who jumped back. He dropped the other ax too. With his left he reached behind and grabbed Rufus. Lifted him, and smashed him on the ground. Then stomped on him with a crushing heel. Blood spurted out of Rufus. To add salt to the wound, The orc kicked the old-drunk fumbling 20 yards away.
“Rufus!” Kenan yelled. He couldn’t do anything for him right now, besides kill this orc. He engaged quickly. Slipping or jumping over the one weapon foe. The wolf jumped back in too. Both started a dance. Kenan wanted to use Salpirkos again, but he lacked the mana to do so, and he wasn’t sure could even do it again. Maybe, it was a one time thing. Who knows.
Right now he was fighting an uphill battle. Pain surged everywhere. The two large wolf bites, an injured arm, lacerations on his stomach, and a dozen of other surface wounds were starting to take its toll, and he no longer had energy to block the pain. Yet he grit his teeth and pushed on. The wolf jumped at the orcs neck without warning. Roshu twisted and shot his ax up, connecting and flinging the beast away. It tumbled on the ground, whimpering on its way.
Quickly Kenan thanked the sacrifice as he sprinted through the legs of Roshu. He activated Mana Blade for a quick moment and cut right where he placed the wound on the hamstring earlier. This time, it dug deep. The orc bellowed in pain and shifted to one knee. However, with his good leg he pushed off of it to face his foe. In anger he simply threw his ax at Kenan. Who barely caught it. What he certainly caught also was the large green fist heading towards his head.
In a large bang it connected. The world immediately became fuzzy. Focus eluded him and pain wracked him. Roshu grabbed him. Brought him face to face. Yelled a animistic roar. Then, as if a doll, smashed Noctis on the ground multiple times. Each time he did so, Kenan lost more rational thought and something would break inside. Then the green-blood threw him. Kenan tumbled and rolled in pain. He lifted his head. To see Rufus’s body in front of him. Brokenly he moved one of his hands forward, and the other, which still clutched the sword. He tried to pull himself up. Yet pain, mana deprivation, concussion, muscle failure, and a fleeting conscience prevented him. Instead he just moved forward a bit. Unsure of what he was doing. He somehow flipped himself. His head on Rufus’s stomach. Kenan looked towards the face of the dead man. Then to the air. The clouds shifted, to the faces of Tyris and Ava. Kenan smiled.
He was upset that he couldn’t save Lucy personally. However, he had weakened Roshu to the point where Doco would be able to take care of him. Also, at least he was part of the saving, and took part in the avenging. Things could’ve been worse. “I’m sorry.” He said. Unsure who it was meant to go to. Mostly, to Rufus.
Kenan Noctis of the sorrowful night closed his eyes. Then died.
Advertisement
- In Serial12 Chapters
ECLIPSE: A Complete Fantasy Novelette
~First place winner! January 2022 Royal Road Community Magazine Contest~ When all else fails, when all hope is lost, perhaps madness is less important than results. If the world is going to end, save what you can from the ashes. No matter the sacrifice. When came the monsters, So fell the elves; The rising of the Dungeon Queen, And then the sun went out.
8 151 - In Serial35 Chapters
Heretic King
The world ends, game system is invoked, yada yada. After the system set by God causes Thomas Crowe to go crazy, he swears he will kill God, thus getting deemed a Heretic. How will the story go from there? Will he slay God or will he die trying to resist?Mature cause curse words will be used and sex scenes described.. More tags as the story develops.There is references and terms used from other stories. I will link the references If I feel it's not as obviousIf you can give me your opinions in the comments it's my first time writing and I'd love some feedback.Credits to Yang_God_Of_Games_And_Power for the cover!
8 216 - In Serial12 Chapters
Shizen: A Reader's Journey
Every reader has wished to live life in a fantasy and rule the world. Kim Sheon also wished the same and was transmigrated into a world of magic and martial arts. But reality is different from fantasy. Seven years into the world, he finds himself as a weak and ordinary warrior. In a cruel twist of fate, his life changes.
8 220 - In Serial8 Chapters
A SCIENTIST AND HIS HI-TECH LABORATORY SUDDENLY TRANSPORTED IN ANOTHER WORLD
As a scientist, I always had the passion to learn and discover new things about the universe, but as humanity reached it's peak and colonized the entire galaxy, all of the secrets of the universe have already been discovered. But one miracle happened, Me and My Hi-Tech Laboratory suddenly transported into another world, filled with swords and magic - a world yet to be discovered and learned. This is the world that will fill the hole in my heart, that will help me achieve my dreams of discovering new things and to live a life that I can be satisfied. "World of swords and Magic... Prepare to be discovered by ME!"
8 108 - In Serial84 Chapters
Avenger's Soulmate
After 2 years, Lorelia finally decides to moved to New York with her friend Katie for her senior year of high school and to return to being a shield agent. Little did she know that she was going to find all 13 of her soulmates and that they were all earth's mightiest heros. Will they be able to help help her or will they just cause more damage to her."I just happen to be soulmates with all the avengers, well that's... something"
8 207 - In Serial29 Chapters
Badboy's hired wife
Meet Vincent Watson, the only heir of Watson Inc. An arrogant playboy that knows how to deal with every girls in their campus.On the other hand, Isabelle Lauren is suffering a problem, she's pennyless. She's still studying because of her scholarship but nobody is supporting her.One day, they will bump to each other and that will be the start of badboy hired wife.
8 201

