To be a Wielder - Part 1

The remaining four Slytzars charge forward with deadly intent, I leap backward over the first one's corpse in an attempt to gain some distance. Two of the Slytzars collide into each other, partially tangling themselves into each other and tripping over the corpse, while another is slowed as it stumbles over the body.

'That leaves one attacker on my left.' Landing gently, my focus is on the Slyztar attacking from the ground, its claws digging into the dirt, helping to propel it faster towards me, in its attempt to appear unpredictable, its neck glides along the ground weaving in a left and right motion.

Even though I maintain my focus on the beast charging me, while I'm keeping alert for the other one that will soon to join the fight, I feel a strong sense of irritation as I observe the creatures trying to kill me. 'I've fought these things before, but it's never felt this easy.'

The Slytzar whom I had been giving my focus lunges at me from its low angle, but misses intentionally. I turn my head to follow its own, then I realise that it was a ploy, I do a back-flip to avoid the Slytzar's claw that is about to swipe me, I manage to avoid taking damage from it but its claw still nicks my heel, throwing me completely off balance.

I bounce off of the Slytzar's back landing onto the ground on all fours, reacting before I can think, I keep a tight grip on Kiru and thrust myself under the Syltzar's body as another one's head crashes into the ground where I landed. Continuing into a roll until I'm clear, the Slytzar slams its body against the ground in an attempt to crush me.

After I return to my feet, I launch myself high above the pair of Slytzars, while scanning them for the same blade I saw embedded on the first one I killed. 'There they are!' I spot the blades impaled into the Slytzars bodies, though they aren't in the same spot as the first one's blade was. 'So they've all been randomly pierced.'

The other two that had tangled themselves are still wrestling with each other, which only seems to result in them being more tangled up than ever. I can't help but chuckle at the sight, 'Makes it easier for me, but then again, this is already easy enough, even with my loss of strength compared to my lost adult from. Now, about those blades.'

"Don't even think about it!" Kiru's voice rings out through my mind, "I know what you're thinking and I'm against it. Just kill them and deal with the bandits." 'Typical Kiru, reading my mind and intentions.' Landing on the ground away from the two Slytzars attacking me earlier, my gaze is fixed on the tangled pair ahead of me.

"Odds are these things are being forced against their will, if those blades are being used as a means control them, removing those blades should release their control over the Slytzars." Sprinting towards the tangled pair, I leap again just high enough to view their bodies from a higher angle in order to find one the blades I need to pull out.

The tangled pairs heads coil against each other as I fly above them, landing on one of their bodies. Struggling to maintain my balance, I make a point to be careful to avoid their flailing limbs as they claw, swipe and swing randomly in their attempts to get free. Then, I catch sight of a blade, firmly embedded behind a Slytzar's hindquarter.

"Even if you remove the blade and it frees these beasts, there is no guarantee that they wont attack you anyway. Why are you taking the harder path in these situations? You were never this reckless in the past." Kiru's voice and tone suggest concern, but it sounds like there's something more, which I can't worry about right now.

Despite making several timed and careful moves to avoid the Slytzars flailing limbs, I endure a series of cuts and the lower portion of my clothes are badly torn. However, my effort is rewarded as I reach the blade, taking a firm grip, I pull with all my might to remove it.

Even with my enhanced strength, it takes time and effort to remove the blade, but I succeed. Opting for a safer option, while worrying about the other two Slytzars, who have recovered and are coming after me again. Backing away to keep my distance, I inadvertently end up at the centre of the of where the bandits have been watching me fight.

Taking in the visuals of the bandits reactions, their expressions tell me that most of them are shocked, amazed and mesmerized by my fight. Aside from the bandits' leader, who appears absolutely livid by the sight of me alive, and the one I suspect is controlling the Slytzars, who appears panicked at the mere sight of me.

As I re-divert my attention to the Slytzars, who are eager to tear me apart, I take an aggressive stance ready to strike at them. 'I can't play defense all the time, I need to make some openings to pull the blades when I need to.' Opting for a glancing attack instead of a dodge, I run at the leading Slytzar.

With a loud hiss, the Slytzar's head dives at me from above, picking up my pace, I ready Kiru to left side, prepared to cut at the beast as I evade its attack, crashing into the ground behind me, it kicks up a cloud of dirt, 'This one isn't all that bright.' 

Before it can ready or use its claws, I pass as close as possible, guiding my sword along its forequarter, leaving a harsh deep cut, followed by another one across its hindquarter, crippling its ability to move. I end my attack with a leap to avoid the second Slytzar. 

A large claw grabs at me only to find nothing, as I soar towards the second's head, with a harsh swing, I slash the beast's right eye, partially blinding it. Both of the Slytzars emit howls of pain from the injuries I've inflicted. Glancing at the tangled pair, the one from which I removed the blade is now struggling to hold its fellow beast in place.

One beast has lost its mobility, the other is now half-blinded, the other pair is locked in struggle with each other. 'Provided the tangled pair stay where they are, I can focus on the two close to me, and try to remove the blades controlling them.'

Not seen a blade on the immobilised beast's left side, I rush to its right side while the other is still reeling from my slash across its eye. After spotting the suspected controlling blade, I jump onto the Slytzar's back, gripping the blade with my left hand, I attempt to pull it out.

"Look out!" Kiru shouts in my mind. As I look up, I spot that the Slytzar that I slashed is ignoring its injury and is lunging at me full speed. 'Crap. I misjudged my actions, I forgot that these things are being controlled, so things like pain would only affect them momentarily.'

Everything flows in slow motion as I watch the Slytzar's open jaw, lined with teeth and its two large protruding fangs, draws ever closer to me. Situated as I am, I couldn't hope to dodge, all I can do is watch in defeat, as the beast's head flies away to the side as its neck 'bursts open?'

My despair is quickly replaced with surprise and confusion, as both of the Slytzars bodies burst apart around me. I catch the sound of what I assume is suppressed weapons fire, looking at the bandit leader, with an aggravated expression, he's randomly firing several rounds at me and without regard for the Slytzars.

Dodging away from the weapons fire, I can only watch as the large, powerful bodies of the Slytzars are reduced to large lumps of splattered red flesh. I try to count the number of shots fired but only catch five or six. To my relief, the Slytzars are no longer a major threat to me, however, I now have to deal with the bandits themselves.

"What the hell!" As I follow the voice, my focus is drawn to the man at the base of an outcropping as he screams upward towards the bandits' leader. "They had him, he was as good as dead. Then you had to go and ruin it!"

"I wouldn't have had to act if you and your creatures weren't so useless. You had four of them to attack with, and you couldn't even hurt the guy. He might as well of been dancing around your stupid animals. Useless excuse for a controller!"

While keeping my guard up, I use the moment to catch my breath. Watching the bandits' leader and controller fight is amusing and a good distraction. Oddly enough, I'm not the only one. The others watch the pair trade insults, while taking turns yelling at each other.

"You don't get to talk, you worthless outsider. Without your beasts, you're nothing more than a drain on our resources. They're the only reason you had value in being with us." With that outburst, it becomes clear to me that this bandit group wasn't acting in their best interests, but under someone else's orders.

"And how about the rest of you! How about instead of focusing on me, you hurry up and shoot him!" The leader's words snap everyone back to reality, even me. 

While I reflect on what happened to the Slytzars, my eyes dart around, trying to pay attention to the four other bandits armed with the large powerful rifles, as they begin to take aim at me. Although, I ignore their leader, believing that he has expended all of his ammunition.

'I can't afford to let my guard down now, if I get hit by one of those, even a graze could be lethal.' Kiru's voice then drowns out my own thoughts.

"TAKASHI! Cover!"