Chapter 8- A Cold Blade

Rubble's fly as the collision of powers explode in the town of Willows, the once magnificent and peaceful town has turn into a battlefield that reeks of havoc and death. Houses were turn to ashes and the once beautiful building is nothing but ruins now. The one standing unharmed in the town was the establishment of the Adventurer's guild which is heavily protected by the barriers that prevents any damage towards the building.

Inside the adventurer's guild lies a king and a princess. The once prideful king and his daughter is now sitting on top of the guild tower watching the Guildmaster; Leone Swordreached put his life in line for the people of the castle town of willows. The king and his daughter eagerly watch as the two figures exchange mighty blows that shakes the earth and strikes that pierces and shatters buildings.

The King and his daughter is in the guild because of the destruction of the castle. They have been evacuated into the guild for protection. Though the King and his daughter survive, it was paid by the blood of the king's royal guards and vassals. The King bore deep hatred towards the 'monster' that slaughtered his town and loyal friends.

The King was angry and sad. He may be a king but his powerless to save the ones he need to protect. Though it may seems that the 'monster' known as Noah was possessed by a chaotic and malignant spirit and his actions were not to his choosing. The King did not forgive the 'monster'', he may be a peaceful man but he isn't that tolerant and merciful towards anything that he recognizes as a threat and Evil.

He promised that once the 'monster' is taken care of. He would put this scene into his heart and would forever be nailed inside him as a resolution towards the future.

Besides the King lies the Princess; she has been living on the castle for years since birth and have only taken a step outside the town for a little and have deeply wish that she would be someday free to roam the town her dear father have been managing for years. But not like this. She didn't wish to go out and see the fate of this town like this. The ruins and fire in front of her gave her deep sorrows and her heart was made asunder by fear and anger.

She blamed the monster in front of her. She blamed it for the destruction of her beloved town. She didn't care if the monster is doing it all on his own actions or not. All that matters to her right now that such vile being is destroyed and purge into oblivion.

So she prays. That the man fighting with the monster would triumph and slay the vile being into pieces without any mercy. So she watch carefully and engraved the scene within and into her heart for to a lesson to her till the day she would take the seat of her father.

******

Blood has been shed, the man who held his sword valiantly has been riddled with wounds and scar and his once majestic armor is now full of scratches and blood. The man standing is known as Leone Swordreached; the Guildmaster of the Town of Willows.

It has been quite a while since the battle has started. He was now utterly exhausted as he held his ground towards the monster he faced. Leone was now in an epiphany . His heart was dyed with raging anger towards his enemy. Though once he was sympathetic towards the former adventurer he now calls simply a monster. It was all lost the moment the monster spoke words that seems to give any hint that it was a malignant spirit.

The monster's action is his own. There was no evil spirit or a sort of a curse. He merely just want to use the town of Willows as testing grounds for his new found powers that he boast's. Leone was angered and deeply sadden by such cruel actions.

What experiences does the monster encountered that turn him to this? Was it a tragedy? Or is all of this just a simple whim to him? Leone thought as he blankly dodges the enemy's attack. Chains were born out of nowhere but Leone only slash his long sword in a circle to slash the conjured chains to pieces.

Leone is now on a stupor. The current him right now was akin to someone who is facing a monster. When the battle started he was holding back due to the fate that the former adventure known as Noah encountered. But now that he knew that all those actions were his own; Leone turn cold and did not hold back anymore.

Arrows of energy passed through Leone as he swiftly dodges them as he charge a surge of energy into his long sword and then slash heavily towards the enemy. Though the enemy dodge his attack, Leone was not faltered and used his flash steps to quickly stab at his enemy.

The enemy dodge the attack and then using his abilities as an alchemist, he quickly turn the bracelet on his arm into a long spear as he quickly stabs toward Leone.

Seeing the attack, Leone only slightly moved his body to nimbly dodge the attacks and said. '' Is this all you got?'' as he draws his sword and take the blood of the monster in front of him.

''AHHHHHHHH'' the monster shouted in pain as he bleed. But then as retreated a few steps, the wound that the sword caused has been quickly healed as if it was nothing.

''How tiresome'' as Leone muttered towards the abilities of the enemy. If it weren't for the the ability of the enemy as an alchemist then this battle would have been probably over. The enemy was crafty in his attacks and has always seems to know the attacks Leone was about to do.

Leone was scared of the foe's clairvoyance but that fear was solve when he moved faster and coldly attack his enemy. Though the enemy might be know your actions doesn't mean that he can completely dodge it. Leone sliced, stabbed his enemy but even with that the foe before him attacked in ecstasy.

Taking a glance at the ruined surroundings. Leone moved even fiercer and his sword based spells were now more precise. The enemy jump from roof to roof yet was unable to completely avoid or dodge Leone's attacks.

Leone then used flash steps and flash strike to quickly cover the distance between him and his enemy and arrive at the back of his enemy as he slash across his back.

The foe then as if he was fling away jump back into the central tower in a flash. Leone was surprise by the movement of his enemy but then quickly narrowed his eyes as he go combat ready. He look towards the enemy as it gathered the energy of the world and attached threads of mana towards the tower.

The whole central tower shook as it began to glow in gray lights. The metal and bricks of the tall and magnificent tower then crumbles as it slowly gathered into a giant ball as it slowly shrinks as if the enemy was compressing it. Then as if he was basking on the gray light the compressed metal and bricks then flew and attach itself towards the enemy as it form quickly into a bulk of armor.

Leone was taken a back by the eerie armor and readied himself as he channeled his energy towards his blade as it grew sharper and sturdy. Leone know that he needs to finish this fight. He doesn't know what sort of destruction that the foe's new look may cause towards the ruin town of Willows.

There was no time to hesitate. After all what the monster needs right now is none other than a cold blade for his sins!