At War

“Die!” A man screamed out Sorin’s window as he used an axe to slash down an eastern soldier. It was a clean cut. His body limped over onto the ground just as cleanly. The trench-coat uniform drenched itself, its dark brown colour painting the main street like dirt.

Sorin stepped back, staff ready. He took a final look at Claya. “Just follow me for now; remember to run once we meet the armoured man,” he rushed out the door, with Claya following straight behind him.

The streets were full of groans and screams as the east and the villagers fought against each other; many bodies lay. Both of which Sorin knew and didn't, but it wasn't time to focus on that.

“Just keep focusing on the highest funky feeling you get and tell me where to go.” Sorin kept running through the streets, occasionally blocking a projectile and sending back wind or earth spells to knock out the attacker.

Claya issued her first order: “Left.” The pair turned into an alleyway where nobody was. They kept running, and on the other side was a group of eastern soldiers firing towards the main street. “I can't tell many apart from one. They had strong signals.”

Sorin nodded before retreating where they came from; wasting time on a group of soldiers wasn't necessary; however, Sorin noticed it too. The number of soldiers alone was not even tripled, but quintupled at the least; they were attacking the whole village. That little barracks couldn't be all they had.

“Stay back! I promise to leave,” A soldier begged; the group now was under siege, begging for life. The man attacking was tall, his aura imposing. He looked over towards Sorin, then back at the man before crushing his ribs roughly into the ground. It was the chief.

What are beastfolk really made of! I have to deal with that mage. I can't let the chief get there before me; I doubt he would hesitate if he were to fire at the chief. Claya, focus deeper, please.

As they kept running through the village. The second wave of disaster struck; windows were starting to shatter, and houses went up in flames. That was the most effective way to get villagers out of their homes who were waiting to surprise-attack them.

“The barracks. There is a strong signal there. Turn left, then straight and right on the second alleyway, then left. Straight from there.” She gave a small smile; her choice of words beamed confidence.

There isn't a reason for soldiers to still be at the barracks; it would have to be him, but making himself so easily apparent in just a war. I mean, only a beastfolk could find him, and only I or Ino would have a chance of taking him down. I suppose he isn't scared of much, especially with that magic armour.

Sorin followed her directions to perfection as the barracks just outside the village were highlighted in full light; a lone figure stood on an unusual pole on the barracks.

That wasn't there before.

Taking a closer look, it was unusually shaped; its length was at least a meter to a meter and a half. There was a clear end to it on the bottom; it was a magic weapon, but not just any. It was pure black, and there wasn't anything apparent to it.

“So that's the weapon you used during that day of my patrol.” Sorin’s body was ready to pounce. Yet he just kept his pose on top of the weapon as the sunset highlighted his armour in an ethereal way, contrasting beautifully. “I'm not really in the mood to talk either anyway. Claya, stay safe.”

Claya nodded back before running away from the scene. The man tracked her like a hawk staring down at free food, but he did not pursue, nor did he intend to. “You got yourself a nice woman. It would be a shame if you didn't return.”

He jumped off the weapon onto the roof of the barracks; its metallic surface glistened. He grabbed the weapon, spinning it around with one hand until pointing it at Sorin.

“You finally decided to get rid of that disguise; you were reeking of magic that the entire meeting hero, Sorin. If you can't dodge this single bullet, you won't ever defeat me.” The inside of the weapon starts slowly to light up.

It's going to shoot; at least I can use the light as an indicator of when to dodge. Could I even outrun this? I for sure can't block. Using earth would be useless against something that can go faster than the eye can see. This is the most dangerous part. I will use fire to burst myself across, just once. I need to learn the pattern.

The weapon lightened up further; it was almost shining like a little star. That moment Sorin made the choice; he knew he couldn't outrun the projectile itself, but pre-moving himself would allow more time to dodge. He used his staff's regulation, then put all his magic onto his left foot. The instant jump in power causes him to weave to the side.

However, the weapon didn't fire yet; it had been two seconds. Yet it still didn't shoot. Sorin noticed a smirk; even if he couldn't see it, it was a delayed attack. The weapon was already bright, almost blinding, yet it didn't fire. A trick as a first attack that's cheap, but he knew respecting his opponent would just be worse.

As the light erupted, a small light shot out, not even bigger than a finger.

No time to regulate!

He focused all his magic onto his left hand, all of it. The projectile grazed his cheeks, a thin red line forming as blood seeped out slowly but gently. He was now at the other side of the shed, making a full ninety-degree turn. His amber eyes averted to his left hand; it was burned red.

Using this emergency self-damaging technique is a last resort, yet I'm already using it for the first attack; he controls the timing of his weapons. That would imply it's not a seal device. It's actually using his magic as a source; seals are stagnant like Ino said. He's a proper mage using his magic as a source.

He brushes his hand off his shirt, now being stained with a bit of an ashy look to it than before. “Why don't you fight mage to mage, get a staff!”

“I don't care about your customs in the west.” The man jumped off the roof of the barracks shed onto the ground, a heavy thud erupting underneath as the weight of his physique and armour pressed the ground. “I can use all sorts of magic just from this device on top of my projectiles, hero.”

“Then I'm willing to prepare for every attack. I have been told that I could beat you. And I won't let that person down! You will pay for the murder of my class.” Sorin stretched out his staff, pointing it straight at him. His magic concentrated firmly.

Begin with a fire blast! I will make him think I don't know how his armour works.