We both stood there pointing our sword at each other. His sword is strange. It is curled like snake in the middle. After taking a deep breath, we dashed. Our sword clashed and sparks generated from the friction. I tried to overwhelm him with strength. He lifts his foot to kick me in the stomach. I dodge by moving my body sideways and make a counter diagonal slash. He jumps behind to make some distance. I quickly cover this distance and thrust my sword right in his chest. He dodges by bending backwards. We both take some distance away from each other.

“I must say you are much better than i expected.” Nestor said.

“But i did expect to defeat you here..” I said with a grin on my face.

We clashed again, this time i broke through his defense and made a slash right through his throat. He dodged by bending his body in an impossible way.

“Well you are flexible…” I said while being frustrated.

“huh..there will be too many surprises for you…”

This time he took a stance with his sword. He put his left foot out and pointed his sword at me with his right hand over his head. This time i used amazing speed to attack him but he defended every time. Every time he defend with his sword, a metallic sound can be heard. He is really good with his sword. However, I was able to get through him and make a cut on his cheek. He wiped the blood and looked at me.

“You have power but what you lack is experience. Your sword movements leaves too many openings. If it wasn't for your amazing speed and strength, you would have died by now. As expected of a dragon killer.”

“wait how do you know that?”

He smiled and said to me.

“You see Den, i maybe young but i am still an army general of kingdom. I am known for tactics and i collect information about my enemy before engaging in battle no matter who he is.”

“what an army general….” That was too shocking for me.

“your ability itself is amazing. At first i thought you were just another guy but after observing you for this last week, i concluded that you can be really dangerous enemy.” He said as he looked at my wounds being healed.

“Last week...you were following us..don’t tell me those incredible amount of monsters on the way was also doing…”

“ah..yes, I wanted to check how strong you are.”

Damn, this guy is getting on my nerves. I made my move on him before he could continue talking. He dodged me three times but i wasn't going to stop. Even though i took multiple injuries, i was able to make two slashes on him, one on his chest and second on his right thigh. He takes a short distance to not allow me to continue.

“Looks like it’s about time i get serious.” He said as his sword started glowing with green aura around it.

“Get ready, Den. Today i will show you the weakness of your ability.” He said as he came at me with full speed.

Our battle became intense with sword clashes and near death strikes. I was covered in wounds in a minute but i didn’t leave him unscathed. We are both breathing heavily. Then he did something i never expected. He looked at women wearing maid clothes and she nods at him. She pulls out two knives from her pockets and moves towards Aria.

“Oh..shit..” I ran to protect Aria but Nestor got in my way.

Aria who realized her intention pulls out her own knife that i gave her earlier. She took a defensive pose as she pointed her knife at the maid.

“hahahahaha...Little girl, do you think you can do something with that.” The maid came closer to Aria. Aria thrust her knife at the maid but maid grabs her hand and stabs Aria’s hand with her knife.

“aaaaaaaa……..” Aria cried in pain.”

I became crazy at this and ran with all my might. Nestor took this chance and stabs me in my stomach with his sword and pushes me away with a kick. The maid pulled her knife out of Aria’s hand and stabs into her other hand. Then she takes her other knife and stabs it in Aria’s stomach. Then she takes out her knife from Aria’s hand and stabs it into Aria’s chest. She did it over and over, stabbing all over Aria’s body. Blood is flowing out from Aria, her cries are echoing in the forest, tears falling down her cheeks. I had to do something but i couldn't with Nestor in my way. Lisa came to save Aria.

“Meryl..stop..” She shouted but Meryl kicked her in stomach making her lose consciousness.

“You…” I glared at Nestor. He looked at me and smiling as if everything is going according to his plans.

“Weakness no.1, your ability has no way to protect others.” He said.

“what..”

Meryls grabs Aria with her neck and lifts her in the air. Aria started gasping for breath. Meryl pushed her knife slowly at Aria’s heart.

“NOOOOOO…………” I ran with all my might but some black chains comes out of the forest and grabs my foot. I fell down on my face.

“what…”

As i looked at the direction where it came from, a man with huge muscles comes out of the forest while holding other side of the chain. He is completely nude, only covering area around his waist. He is wearing a helmet which covers his face entirely.

“let me go…” I struggled but couldn't let myself out of the chains.

Meryl who pushed the knife fully into the Aria’s chest was making a devilish grin. Aria’s eyes wide looking at the sky while her body submitting itself to the gravity fell down on the ground.

“NOOOOOOOO…..ARIAAAAAAAA...BASTARD...LET ME GO.” I screamed as hard as i could and Nestor just looked at me.

“Weakness no. 2, Your ability doesn't give you protection from binding you.”

I was angry and frustrated. I started cutting my own leg to free myself from chains. I cut my leg and ran on one leg towards Aria’s lifeless body. As i reached her body, i lift her head and all i saw was her lifeless eyes looking at the sky.

“nooooo.. Aria ..no.please don’t leave me..please…” I was crying more than i ever did.

I took my sword and ran straight at the Nestor. I was emitting more killing intent than i ever did. Nestor kicked my remaining leg and i fell down on the ground.

“Weakness no. 3, Your ability doesn't control your emotions and you end up making rash decisions.” He said and he continued.

“You know, Den, even i am not strong enough to kill a dragon alone. I don’t know how you did it but it must be because help from your ability. You are truly gifted but you didn't use it with full potential.”

“Weakness no. 4, Your ability doesn't make you smarter and you will still fall down to tactics like today.”

I already had enough with his blabbering about weakness.

“you…..i will kill you..i will definitely kill you…” I said as anger was taking over my brain.

“well, that can only happen if you made it out alive.” He said as he looked at my wounds.”

“what….” I was surprised because my wounds are not healing, no they are healing but it is much slower than it used to be.

“So you finally noticed. I am not only an army general just because of my talent at sword and tactics but because i am also chosen of the goddess Vena, the goddess of poison.” He said as he showed me his glowing sword.

“You see this is my ability, i can create many type of poisons and and use it with my sword. The one i used on you is one of the strongest i have. It stops the origin traits of a person and with slight modification it reduces the effect of your ability. This is a race, Den whether your ability keeps you alive or my poison works faster to stop your ability and that is your last weakness.”

“Weakness no. 5, Your ability can’t counter others ability.”

He said as he moved towards me. He put his foot on my chest and thrust his sword in my throat. He pulls it out and thrusts it again. He did it many times.

Is this it? Am i going to lose everything? Aria..Lisa...my life...everything ends here. No..i don’t want to die ..i don’t want to lose Aria.

I was desperate as i reached out my hand towards Aria’s lifeless body.

“You truly are a monster huh…” Nestor said as he thrusts his sword deep in my head.

He pulls out the sword and moved towards Lisa.

“n---o-....Ar---i.---a.” I tried hard to speak.

“Don’t worry. I will take good care of Lisa.” He said while smiling.

They left as my vision started blurring. I was crying. I was angry. I was frustrated.

shit.shit..shit..shit..shit.shit..this..this is all my fault...damn..it..

Those were my last thoughts as my vision become dark.