This is How I Fight [End of Vol 1]

In front of the two Heroes fighting in front of me, I was no different than a speck of dust.

I had no strength, no speed, no abilities. While they wielded sword and gun, the only thing I had was my necklace.

But that was enough.

Because one thing that the strong never realise was how the weak fought. It was time to show Remus exactly how dangerous it was fighting against someone with nothing to lose.

Sereya’s attacks were aggressive and desperate. Despite that, it was her opponent who held the upper hand. Remus, who was not affected by injury or attrition whatsoever, exerted tremendous pressure on her. It was taking her all just to fight against him on even footing.

“Princess, I don’t wanna kill ya. We go way back. Just gimme the—where’d he go?!”

Sereya’s blade barely met her mark, grazing off the skin of his cheek as he momentarily turned away.

“Getting careless, Whiteaxe!”

The sound of battle grew louder as did Remus’s frustration.

‘Where’d he go?’

The strong who fought on their feet would never consider those lying flat on the ground as a threat.

I didn’t mind the taste of the dirt as my face kissed the earth. The grass was just tall enough to completely obscure me. Tall enough for me to crawl my way to my distracted foe.

I was no different from a speck of dust. That was why only I could do this, because no one would notice a speck of dust, especially when they were busy fighting instead of cleaning.

My body inched closer, unperturbed by the bullets whizzing past me. Fear, anger, sadness—all my emotions were suppressed. Against a foe like Remus who could detect bloodlust and probably other emotions, I had to get rid of them.

This was only possible because I had fully accepted who I was.

The tune of the instrument of the Gods no longer frightened me. My hatred towards Remus no longer clouded me. The regret of putting Melyeze and Sereya in harm’s way no longer tormented me, for I cried so much, my tears were dry.

Sereya only had two swords left. It was definitely not enough to stop Remus’s regeneration. He probably realised that himself at this point. I was no warrior, but even I could sense the anxiety and panic in his attacks.

‘What was going on? What was she up to?’

That was where your thoughts were wrong, Remus. It wasn’t Sereya who you should be afraid of, it was me!

Emerging from amongst the pastures, I pounced at Remus from his back.

The split second when he turned around—my eyes met his.

At that very moment, Remus Whiteaxe, one of the Seven Heroes who was Blessed by the War God himself, had fear in his eyes.

He wanted to say something, but my necklace being pulled hard around his neck didn’t let him.

He could regenerate from any injury, but he still needed to breathe!

This was the most important lesson from my Memory Dive. Ten years later into reality, he was still bound to human limitations of age, drink and most importantly—air.

The last time I did this, my necklace was the end of me. This time around, he would not have anything to hold onto to throw me away!

His hands were clawing into his own throat, nails digging into his own flesh in a pathetic effort to free himself. His body flailed around wildly like the cornered beast he was.

My teeth dug deep into the back of his neck. I didn’t care if I stooped down to his level of an animal—I needed to hang on as much as possible!

At that very instant, I saw him materialising that same spherical object which nearly took our lives. The lick of flame which would lead to its explosion suddenly vanished.

“I won’t let you!”

That’s right. This was different from the Memory Dive. Sereya was on my side.

Her surgically accurate slash prevented the object from exploding. She severed his wrist and drove her blade into the forearm, taking it out of the fight.

Sereya drew her final sword, just in time to stop Remus from cutting his own head off with a blade that he summoned.

I could feel it. The once invincible Remus was growing weaker.

He dematerialised his sword and tucked his hand into his chest, probably to stop Sereya from cutting it.

I was wrong.

The warm blood spilling from my stomach was proof of that.

“EVAN!”

I heard my name called out by Sereya as Remus impaled himself just to stab me. Surprisingly, I felt no pain. I knew my time was growing short, but as long as I didn’t let go, it would not be as short as his!

This was a race. A race to see who held onto life longer.

As my vision darkened, I felt Remus dropping to his knees. I summoned the last bit of strength within me to pull even harder.

Pull as hard as I can!

Pull harder.

Pull...

...

***

It was freezing.

There was no snow or blizzard—I couldn’t see a thing. All I felt was the immense cold enveloping me.

Was this how death felt like?

I couldn’t feel my body even more. Did I even have a body?

I was floating. Floating in a cold expanse of nothingness.

Then suddenly—warmth.

I felt heat caressing me. A hand was holding me.

It was a hand that I felt before. Even though the skin was soft, its grip on me was hard, never wanting to let me go.

“Sereya.”

I uttered the name that appeared on my mind just as I opened my eyes.

It was the woman with the gentlest smile on her face. Her single lone hand was wrapped around mine.

“Hello there.”

As my vision got clearer, my heart grew lighter. She no longer had the burns and bruises that I last saw her with.

Even though the ceiling above me and the bed underneath me were completely alien, I didn’t feel any sort of panic at all. It was all thanks to her, my pillar of strength.

I wanted to prop myself up, but she stopped me.

“I don’t think that’s smart. You previously had a hole in your tummy, you know?”

Yeah, I was beginning to recall now.

“How’s Melyeze?”

I owed her big time. If it wasn’t for her buying time for Sereya, I’d probably still have a gun pointed at my head.

“She’s already up and about, back at her knightly duties. It’s all thanks to your first aid, Evan.”

On the contrary. I felt that she would be a lot healthier if it wasn’t for me.

Wait a sec—

“How long was I out for?”

“A week. You woke up pretty fast, though. The doctor said it should be another three or four days.”

“Sereya, don’t tell me you were here this whole time?!”

“Do I look like I have anything better to do?”

Her gaze was filled with affection. I caused her so much worry. I even went against her during the summit. Yet, there she was, ever by my side. I had to be the luckiest man alive.

“I’m back! Got the fruits—”

“REMUS?!”

I took it back. My luck was cursed. Crap, I shouldn’t have got up—felt like I took a punch in the gut. Better get back down.

“Kid! You’re awake!”

“I killed you!”

Why was he still alive?! Wait, why was he carrying a basket of fruits?!

“You did knock me out cold, crushed my windpipe, even, but it regenerated before I became braindead! Hahahaha!”

“Sereya, why the hell is he here?!”

“Kid,” Remus placed the basket on the end table beside me, “you forgot something.”

He stretched his arm outwards, materialising my necklace right in front of my eyes.

“Never in a million years would I think that the War God would consider somethin’ like this to be a weapon. I had it checked, and this is just an ordinary necklace. Yet, this was the thing that was closest to endin’ my life more than any other weapon.

Take it kid. A real apology gift. Not like I know how to wield it.”

I slowly reached out to my necklace, its condition exactly the same as I last used it.

“Why are you doing this? Aren’t you trying to get Hanasuke back?”

Remus pulled a nearby chair close to him. Instead of sitting on it normally, he sat on it with the back of the chair in front of him.

“You see, kid, I ain’t someone sentimental, like the princess over there.”

The grip on my hand tightened briefly. Thanks for triggering her, Remus.

“The real kid, not you, was somebody that I admired. He was stronger than anyone else.

You, on the other hand, are weak as bread. But what you did back there that night—it really felt like I saw the real kid again. I got what I was lookin’ for.”

“And you called me sentimental. Hmph. You’re just lonely, Remus.”

“Shut it, princess. I’m havin’ a moment here y’know?”

Remus got up and started walking towards the window. Was he...crying?

“There you have it, Evan,” Sereya smiled.

“What about you, Sereya? He used an explosive on you!”

“Oh that? He did worse before.”

I had trouble trying to understand all this. The three of us were fighting with our lives on the line, then suddenly everything was okay? What?

Hanasuke…

Your friends were just flat out weird.

“Evan, I know you've just woken up, but since you can’t move anyway, now would be the perfect time for a lecture on the mess you made in the summit, yes?”

Ah yes, karma.

“Alright! Time for me to leave. See ya, kid! Lemme know when you’re headin’ to Breven!”

Right. I did say to Sereya that I would take her to Breven with me to see mum.

Being forced to listen to Sereya’s lecture might be tough, but the thought of seeing mum and Evelin again filled me with anticipation.

Mum, Eveline, wait for me.

I’m coming home.