Templar Knight, Merzora [1]

It all happened in a matter of a few seconds.

A few heartbeats.

Yuushin glanced toward the entrance.

There’s no one else coming now. But they might.

He glanced at Lyr, Kez, and Johnny.

Kez is the only one who can navigate us through this place. She’s also strong enough to protect the others.

Then he looked at the theryan knight, her eyes focused on him.

Our priority here is to save Lyr.

The knight raised her sword again, and somehow she made raising a greatsword with one hand look easy—banal, even—giving Yuushin less than a second to react. He blocked her attack, the force of the impact sending him crashing into the cell, his body sinking into the wall.

*crumble crumble*

Whether Yuushin couldn’t hear them, or his friends were too shocked to reply, he couldn’t say. Fortunately, they took Lyr out of the way before the collision, so the man had only crashed into the wall. Yuushin reinforced his body with Soma right as the knight struck, so the impact didn’t hurt…that much.

Kez met his gaze with him, her golden eyes widened, her pupils dilated.

He didn’t hesitate as he pulled himself out of the wall.

“You three, take Lyr and go.” Yuushin’s voice was firm, unyielding.

“O-oi, are you—”

As the female dragon started to protest, her hand reaching for him, Yuushin gave her a bright, confident smile before giving her a friendly bump on the shoulder.

“Hey. I got this. So take these to safety and make sure they don’t get into trouble.”

The concern and fear in Kez’s eyes slowly faded away, something fierce and blazing sparking within that golden gaze. Something, Yuushin realized, he recognized.

Trust.

With a single punch, the female dragon pushed the entire cell wall into the ones beside it—the metal bars crashing together until they became a single metal mush—all the way to the other side of the room, leaving them a clear path to the exit.

“I think my heart just skipped a beat…” Johnny mumbled under his breath, his hands still holding to Lyr’s left, Heidi on the priest’s right.

Kez grinned, showing her pointy canines as her voice beamed with excitement.

“Kick her ugly ass, Yuushin.”

Yuushin laughed, turning his back on them.

“Will do.”

When he did, he locked eyes with the tiger knight. Throughout all that time, she had been waiting still—her stance relaxed, almost too comfortable. Yet as the group took Lyr out of the room, it was impossible to miss the piercing glare both Kez and the knight exchanged between themselves.

Their eyes sharing memories and a history far too unknown to him.

And as soon as they stepped out of the room—

“His Excellency was right about you. Your existence is a threat to Ekkarys and our Hallowed Light.”

Her voice was deep, strong. Dominating. Yuushin clenched his jaw, fixing his stance.

“Why did you let them leave?”

The knight’s first reply was a dry chuckle, her eyes and tone drenched with disgust. “Two low otherworldly beings and a mere corrupted Stellar Priest? They are of no importance to Veritux, I will deal with them quickly afterwards...and it is not my place to discipline the Kaztharan's child.” Then she raised the greatsword again with her left hand, pointing its blade at him. “Yet a calamity like you? You are a threat that must be dealt with now.”

Soma poured out of him—something he did easier than breathing—the man feeling the energy flow throughout his entire body. Its power.

Master, next time I see you, I will have to thank you again.

“Sorry, but I won’t let you deal with anyone here.”

Her lips curved slightly into a mocking smile, the knight giving him an unimpressed gaze.

“In this world, departed souls can do little to nothing.”

Yuushin fixed his feet, turned his body, controlled his breathing. Heart racing. Soma flowing.

I hope it won’t come to this, but…

“That’s exactly my point.”

Not only did his words angered her, the man could clearly see the offense—the indignation burning within her eyes as she charged at him.

*CLING*

*CLANG*

*CLING*

Every strike she made was precise, fast. Powerful. Whenever he couldn’t defend with his sword, Yuushin blocked with his own body, letting his Soma prevent the knight’s blade from piercing his skin. Yet each attack was stronger than the last.

The first time they fought, Yuushin was nowhere near her level. She was stronger than him. Faster than him. Her mastery of Soma years ahead of his.

These were all still true.

Yet Yuushin was certain—just like all the other times he faced an opponent who was stronger than him. For Yuushin to beat her, there was no need to surpass her.

He only needed to be better than the self she was showing him, for a brief moment.

*CLAANG*

*CLING*

*CLAAANG*

And the main not only knew, but felt it, that in order to do that—

I need to enter the Enhanced State.

Crimson Energy gathered in the tiger knight’s greatsword, the Soma pulsing for a few seconds before she slashed the space in front of him, Yuushin almost tripping over his own feet as he avoided the strike. Yet though he succeeded in dodging the blade, he could not block the Soma blast that came from the sword.

The energy sent him flying, making Yuushin crash against a wall—the air getting knocked out of him, his vision filling with dark spots.

C’mon, Yuushin, you gotta focus.

Feel the itch. Feel the itch and pull.

Yet in that moment, his body was focusing more on the pain rather than a vague metaphor.

Before he even had time to get back on his feet, the knight was in front of him again, brandishing the sword right in his face. Yuushin held the blade with both hands right as it was about to slice through his face, and while the Soma absorbed most of the damage, blood began to trail down his arms.

She narrowed her eyes for a second, a chilling smile curling her lips.

“You improved somewhat, in a short amount of time. It would’ve been entertaining to train you and witness your growth. Indeed, quite a pity.”

It was taking all the strength in him to keep holding her sword still—his hands beginning to shake, his muscles burning. Yuushin flashed her a smile.

“Sorry, I already got myself a master. And honestly, I don’t think we would be a good match.”

The knight leaned closer, pushing her blade further.

Tsk.

Yuushin did his best not to show her his arms faltering, her confidence waning. Yet the malice in her yellow eyes told him she did not need to see. She knew.

“Good. This means I can add another name to the list—there’s always vacancy in Sepkros Animor.”

Yuushin froze. His blood ran cold.

*thump thump*

Yet somehow, his heart kept burning. The memories of that place, the hellish nightmare he was forced to go through because of…petty hatred. His pain. His despair. It was all still there. All fresh.

The warmth in his body got hotter, more intense, the Soma glowing brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. And before the tiger knight could pull away—

*SMACK*

Yuushin threw a kick at her ribs, sending her meters away to crash into the bars of one cell.

“Ah…it’s a good thing my master is not here to see me. She would be ashamed.”

She stood up, baring her teeth at him as a low growl crawled from her throat. He smiled in return, taunting her with his hand.

“But don’t worry, I promise I will start taking this more seriously.”