Chapter 9: Striking Shepherd

-11 MONTHS REMAIN-

Ulric drew back. Beads of sweat cascaded down his forehead. He choked on his own spit as his body shuddered. What was that? Did he just try to... He shook his head. Can't think about that right now. Push it down, deal with it later, focus on the fight ahead. Just as Ulric settled himself, the man lunged forward. Ulric jumped back, nearly avoiding being slashed across the throat. The man prepared for another assault. Ulric brought his halberd back up to keep space. The man waited. He lowered his blade to his side. He's keeping himself open. Vulnerable. Ulric shuffled back a step. He kept his eye trained on the occultist. A few seconds passed, and no one made a move. 

"Seriously?" The man began. "What? Are you a defensive fighter now? I was hoping that after all of that you were still just as ruthless as you were in your prime! I guess Helmold really did change you." 

"If you want me to kill you, I can find a reason or two." Ulric scowled. The man made his move. Ulric responded. Their weapons clashed repeatedly. Sparks flew. Parry after parry. The man continued to apply pressure while Ulric defended. 

"You're so boring! How am I supposed to impress them now!? I thought I could really shine killing you, but you're just some regular old soldier!" 

"Is this really your game?" Ulric shoved the occultist back. "Antagonizing and fighting me for some recognition? Manipulating and killing innocent people just to seem cool?" Ulric's face turned red while the air around him seemed to glow green. 

"Maybe your fighting spirit isn't lost on us yet." The man muttered to himself. "I can draw it out of you, and you will be an opponent worth fighting." The man smiled, dropping his guard. "I find your hypocrisy humorous. You critique me for vying for a higher authority's praise when you've done the same. Noah's lap dog." A red aura swirled around the man. "You did as he told and made buddies with his circle. If Helmold was his right hand you were his left. You got your hands dirty, so he didn't have to. And for what? Recognition?" The aura started to take shape. It enveloped him and made two big spirals on his head. "So don't talk to me like you are all high and mighty! Because at the end of the day, you're just like the rest of us." The man charged forward with great speed. "You're just a sheep!" Two large, spiritual horns crashed into Ulric's chest. He tried to block with his halberd, but the force was too great. He slid back a couple feet, catching himself on Icarus's body. The girl, still cowering, hid herself into her late father's blood-soaked garments. 

"Oh... I remember you now." Ulric said, trying to keep his focus on the fight. "With all the sheep talk I should've known it was you, Abel." Abel continued his attack, galloping across the room, climbing effortlessly over the broken furniture, circling Ulric before finally charging in for another ramming strike. Ulric would just barely block, but as he would recover, he would need to defend against another blow. Ulric's defenses weakened, he grew sloppier as time progressed. A constant barrage of charges that only ceased when Ulric hit the floor. 

"Come on! You have to stop blocking eventually!" Abel yelled as Ulric tried to pick himself up. "You're not even trying to hurt me! I want to fight the real Ulric Ursine! Where is he? Where's the Solstyan Bear! The Grisly Grizzly!" Ulric got back to his feet, panting. He looked Abel dead in the eye and resumed a defensive stance. Abel frowned, but an idea popped into his head that made a devious smile creep across his face. "I guess I shouldn't really be surprised." Abel sighed. "I should've known you were weak. You weren't strong enough to keep your little girlfriend from dying." And with that, a fire ignited inside Ulric. At the snap of the fingers, and within the blink of an eye, Ulric's rage rekindled. He hurled his halberd at Abel and sprinted towards him with two bear claws on his hands. 

"Shut up!!" Ulric raised his fist, ready to plunge the blades deep into Abel's shoulders. Abel chuckled and charged ahead. He dashed towards Ulric, then side stepping to run past him. Ulric whiffed and stumbled over the power of his missed attack. He quickly pivoted his foot, preparing to block an incoming strike. But it never came. Ulric's eye went wide. Abel wasn't aiming for him. He wasn't planning on attacking Ulric. No, Abel was aiming for the girl. He lowered his head and raised his blade. 

"And here's another person you weren't strong enough to protect Ulric!" Abel went in for the kill. A bone shattering, flesh piercing combo. The girl flinched and expected the worst. Death had finally come for her in this moment. Or the next moment. Or the moment after that. The girl slowly peaked her eyes open. Abel wasn't there. He was stopped. A green aura clashed with his red. Blood spilled from his arm where large teeth had chomped down. A large spiritual bear was holding Abel back. His expression bounced back and forth between glee and terror. Because fortunately for Abel, his plan worked, and he had managed to draw out that fighting spirit from Ulric. However, unfortunately for Abel, he was now going to have to reap what he sowed.