A Poisoned Night’s Battle

The man who stepped forward, clearly their leader, had only one eye. A deep scar ran diagonally across his chest, and his expression once gentle was now sharp and cruel.

To their shock, Ninsula recognized him instantly.

He was the same man from the market, the one who had bumped into her and apologized so politely.

From between the thick shadows of the forest, more figures emerged men cloaked in the island’s rough attire, their movements swift and practiced.

 The orphanage was still far behind; they stood trapped halfway up the steep, mist-covered mountainside. The damp wind carried the smell of moss and steel.

Hearing the man’s words, Princess Ninsula’s breath caught.

So in this island… someone finally recognized me.

Beside her, the guardian’s expression turned grave. His arm wrapped firmly around her shoulders, pulling her close against his chest. 

His robe draped around her, shielding her from the cold and the enemy’s eyes.she can just peek through at them because of his hight in real he hold her because they are surrounded by everywhere and also because he can feel he is losing control so he can't take risk to stay her at distance. 

She could smell his familiar scent, a mix of rain, steel, and calm strength.she looked above to his cold face expression as serious as steel.

 She can't even guess what is going through in this mind. 

The one-eyed man grinned, spinning the twin crescent blades he held deadly, curved weapons glinting under the moonlight. Their edges shimmered faintly with something darker poison.

The guardian’s voice cut through the mist, cold and commanding.

“On what basis do you claim she is the princess? What if you’re mistaken?”

The men circled them like wolves closing in on prey, their boots crunching against the gravel path. Their leader laughed a deep, mocking sound.

“How do we know?” he sneered, pausing right before them.

 “Oh, as you’ll soon be dead, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you. We chased you because her face her eyes looked too similar to that poster. But of course…”

He smirked, the moonlight catching on his scar.

“We don’t come all this way for coincidences.”

The man smirked, and the guardian’s brows twitched his eyes sharpening with even more alertness.

“I deliberately bumped into her that day in the market,” the man said, his tone dripping with pride.

 “Just enough to snip a few strands of her hair. It was easy… and when I tested them, the results told me everything.”

His laugh echoed through the forest low, harsh, and eerie. The other men joined in, smirking as they spun their weapons, slicing the cold night air with metallic whispers.

“Hahahaha… “

“ Hahahah”

“Now we’ll finally be rich,” he sneered. 
“Who cares about this so-called princess? She’s so beautiful… elegant…” He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming darkly.

 “We’ll make good use of her before handing her over to the Hagen tribe. Poor princess should’ve never left your pretty little castle.”

Hearing his words, disgust welled up in the guardian’s chest like fire. His lips twitched, and Ninsula could feel the change in him, the tightening of his hold, the icy fury vibrating in his arm.

Then—

Swish—click—thud!

With a heavy collision of weapons the guardian drew his sword in one smooth motion. Without even turning fully, he thrust it backward piercing straight through the chest of the man who had tried to ambush him from behind. blood coming down like a rain. 

Drip! Drip!. 

Hearing a sudden clash voice ninsula body shivers and when she looks up she can only see blood arcs in the wind in her widened blue eyes. Her grip on his robe tightened heavily. 
I didn't even feel any presence.. How sharp his senses are while even poisoned. 

The attacker fell with a sickening thud, blood splattering across the mossy ground like dark rain.

For a heartbeat, the forest froze. Every man in the circle stared wide-eyed shock and disbelief twisting their faces.

The scar-eyed leader snarled, his single eye blazing with fury.

“What kind of monster are you? After swallowing that poison, you’re still able to fight like this?”

The group froze, uncertain, confused, and now terrified. None of them dared to move. They had come here confident knowing the poison they used could cripple even the strongest warrior. But now, seeing the man before them still standing, still breathing, still glaring with those glowing purple eyes…

 it felt as though they were facing death itself.

The scar-eyed man snarled, his ugly face twisting with rage.

“Oye! What are you fools doing? Attack him now! He’s wounded and poisoned; he can't fight anymore!”
The guardian’s gaze flickered, faint purple light glinting through the darkness.

 Blood dripped from the corner of his lips, but instead of weakness, his smirk deepened cold, sharp, and utterly fearless. He wiped the blood away with his thumb, whispering,

“Then why are you standing there…Come… and try.”

The moment shattered—

Cling! Swish! Crack!

Blades clashed. The night exploded with the sound of steel and cries. Despite the poison coursing through him, the guardian moved with deadly precision, his body flowing like dark water. Each step, each swing of his jade sword, was silent and fatal.

He pushed Ninsula behind him, shielding her with his arm as he fought. Every strike was followed by the shimmer of his blade in moonlight, every kill another flash of silver through the mist.Each movement sent a jolt of pain through his body, yet he stood his ground, his breath ragged but his eyes fierce.

Crack! Crack!

When one of the attackers rushed toward Ninsula, he didn’t think his body moved before his mind could follow. With a burst of will, he leapt forward, twisting mid-air, his sword catching the moonlight before cutting the enemy down.

 Blood splattered across his sleeve as he shielded her, his stance faltering for a moment before steadying again. The poison throbbed, but he ignored it. Protecting her was all that mattered even if his body refused to keep up with his resolve.

I have to protect the master no matter what. 

Men screamed

 fell …

blood sprayed across the ground in crimson arcs.

Even as his breath grew ragged and his body swayed, he stood tall, unmoving, unyielding.

One by one, they all fell… until only the scar-eyed man remained.

The guardian staggered suddenly as poison took effect more inside his body , clutching his chest, his sword trembling in his hand. He had already killed more than 20 people in a few seconds.

 But now his focus was blurring. Everything around him seemed to melt together . Even the man in front of him appeared doubled. The poison burned through his veins, tightening his throat, stealing each breath little by little.

Little poisoned Arrow was thrust so close to his heart before which made him so dizzy. 

Seeing that, the scar-eyed man grinned wickedly, stepping forward, weapon raised.

“Now it’s over, hero.”

He lunged—

Thrust!

The man froze mid-stride, his body stiffening as his eyes widened in disbelief. A dark stain of blood bloomed across his chest before he collapsed with a heavy thud against the ground.

When he fell out of Guardian’s line of sight, Guardian’s gaze found Ninsula standing there, her hands trembling as she held a blood-stained sword she had taken from one of the fallen men.

 Her breathing came fast and uneven, her eyes wide with fear and anxiety. 

Haah.. Haah.. 

With a heavy thud, the scar eyed man collapsed onto the cold earth.
For a heartbeat, silence. Only the sound of the sea wind through the trees.

Ninsula’s chest heaved, her heartbeat pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else. Her fingers trembled around the sword’s hilt and then, as if it had burned her, she threw it away . The blade clattered against the blood-soaked earth.

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she turned and ran toward Guardian , her feet striking the dark, wet ground with hurried steps. 

( thanks for the support BTW next chapter is my much favorite😊)