The Palace Duel (Part 2)

Malti

In my peripheral vision, I could see Sern struggling against Yuddh, but I had no time to worry about her. I was already being pushed to my limit against Ruhm. He was an expert at controlling the distance between us, using his spear to keep me back. It was frustrating to deal with. I could use my transformation, but I have a time limit on it. I need a strategy before I go all out.

I moved back in, trying to weave between the thrusts of his spear, but slowly, I was getting cut. His spear scraped and nicked my arms, legs, and sides, each strike drawing blood and whittling me down. I jumped back.

I need to figure out something different... this isn't helping.

"What's your name?" Ruhm called out.

"Hm? Why do you want to know?"

"You are strong... I will honor you after your death."

I smirked. "Oh? You know you're going to beat me already?"

"I expect too."

Cocky bastard. Luckily for me, my wounds are healing already. My race can heal exceedingly fast compared to other races. The problem is, I still can't see a way for me to close the distance. This hall was just too big; he had too much space to move around... wait... can't I change that?

A smile spread across my face. "My name is Malti Silt... and you should have kept the pressure up!"

I rushed over to a towering column and shattered it with a single punch, sending chunks of stone towards Ruhm. Without hesitation, I began tearing up everything around us—pillars, walls, even the floor—turning the battlefield into a web of broken terrain.

Ruhm caught on quickly. He tried slipping out of the corner I was forcing him into, but each time he tried to move, I cut him off. I had corralled him into this corner; there was nowhere he could run.

Now that I had him where I wanted him, I started to transform. My breathing became heavier as my body began to change. My scales began to spread over my body inch by inch, my teeth growing larger and sharper. I was becoming more demon... more dragon. It was harder to control myself like this, which can be dangerous for me, especially against an opponent like Ruhm.

Ruhm had his back against a wall with his spear pointing towards me. All I need to do is get past that spear, and he is finished.

"RRRRAAAGGGHHH!" I lunged at him.

His eyes widened as he exhaled a fast, sharp breath. He released a deadly flourish of spear thrusts at me like a hail of arrows. With little time to react, I parried some of them with the scales on my forearms, while some strikes found their mark.
I need to push through... just a little more...

That's when I felt a brush of death.
Woosh!

A throbbing pain erupted from my neck. I looked to the side to see his spear, stained red with my blood, and a stream of blood gushing out of the side of my neck. The final strike of his flurry found its mark. Before I could even think, he pressed his foot against the wall and sent me flying back with a kick. I crashed into a chunk of pillar, sending dust flying everywhere.

Ugrhh... this guy... I need to keep him here in this spot...

I picked myself back up. The only good thing right now is that he still can't leave this corner. I was covered in my own blood; my regeneration couldn't keep up with all the wounds I was receiving. Slowly, this battle was tilting in Ruhm's favor.

Trying to use magic here would be a mistake. My magic isn't as good as Sern's. Trying to concentrate on using magic and fighting him at the same time would make things worse for me. Mediocre magic wouldn't affect someone like him anyway.

I took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly.

I just have to stick to what I'm good at.

"You'll never be able to get in close to me without taking a fatal wound." Ruhm stood on guard again, ready for the next assault.

"Yeah, you're right." I smiled.

I put both my hands on the floor, preparing to sprint at him. One second... two seconds... three seconds... I widened my eyes and clenched my teeth. Digging my claws into the ground, I flung stones and dust at him before sprinting in. The dust and stones obscured vision for both of us. I was running straight into danger, but I was excited, thrilling even. Four seconds... I burst through the cloud of dust, my arms blocking my face and neck. Five seconds... Schlck.

I could hear both of our breathing, heavy, ragged, and uneven. A warm sensation spread from my left side. Looking down, I could see the shaft of Ruhm's spear jutting out of me. I couldn't feel the pain... yet. I looked up to see Ruhm, just inches away from me, his back against the wall. I could see the fear in his eyes behind that silver mask he wore.

"Well... it looks like I got past your spear..." I tilted my head and smiled at him.

All I could hear was the sound of his mouth opening and closing, like he was trying to get words out but couldn't.

Slowly, I reached my arms around Ruhm and started squeezing. Bit by bit, I squeezed, hearing his armor buckle and break. Then came the sound of bones beginning to crack and snap under pressure.

"Rrrgh!" Ruhm let out a choked scream.

Ruhm coughed up blood, and his eyes became bloodshot as I crushed his organs together.

"Let's end this." I opened my mouth to reveal my jagged teeth.

In one bite, I took his entire neck. He went limp, and I dropped his body to the ground. I spit out the chunk I took from him and looked down at my wound. The spear went clean through my left side.

"Mmrgghh." I clenched my teeth.

Carefully, I pulled the spear out of my side, dropping it next to Ruhm. I felt dizzy, my vision blurry as I looked over to Sern. She was still in the middle of her fight, but I was in no condition to help her.

"Malti! Go to the throne room! Show them you won!" Sern yelled out.

I groaned in pain as I dragged myself towards the doorway.

Yes... I have to show them. I did it... I won...