“There are so many,” Arix thought while running and slashing yet another Nyctona.
The Nyctona's head fell beside Arix's feet. Arix paused to catch his breath when he saw a burning house. "Help!" a voice screamed from inside.
Arix ran toward the house. Amid the flames, a heavy plank lay across the entrance, blocking it.
“Anyone here? Help me!” a voice came from inside.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you out in a moment!” Arix shouted back.
He searched for a way inside. He tried lifting the plank, but it was hot and heavy. He tried looking through the gap, but it was too small. Arix quickly ran to the other side of the house to look for a window he could climb through. He found one, but Bromgar was already there, trying to force it open.
“Don’t just stand there. Help me,” Bromgar said, glancing at Arix.
“Yes, wait.” Arix rushed over and grabbed the window frame, pulling with all his strength.
The window opened with a creak. "You're smaller–you can fit through easier," Arix said to Bromgar, stepping aside.
"I'll go in." Bromgar pulled himself up and climbed through the window.
Arix waited outside, ready to help however he could.
Night had fallen, the stars hidden behind thick smoke. Arix heard screams and cries from all around the village. He stood still for a moment, overwhelmed by the sounds, when a voice snapped him back.
"Lift him up, boy!" Bromgar appeared at the window, pushing another dwarf through.
Arix grabbed the dwarf’s arm and pulled him through the window, helping him out of the burning house.
"Th– Thank you so much," the dwarf said as he found his footing.
“Go. Find a safe place,” Arix said, urging him away.
Bromgar climbed out the window as well.
"Those Nyctona… I swear I will kill every last one of them," Bromgar muttered, clenching his fists before turning back toward the fight.
Arix stood there for a moment, then turned to leave as well.
But just outside the house stood a Nyctona with a long sword in his hand, his horse beside him.
“Oh my. A human?” the Nyctona said.
“And who are you?” Arix asked, drawing his sword and holding it with both hands.
"Hmm, me? I am Orul-Kael, mightiest general of the Nyctona clan." Orul-Kael spread his arms as he walked closer to Arix.
“Is that so?” Arix tightened his grip on his sword and stepped one foot back, ready to attack.
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“What is a human doing here?” Orul asked as he kept walking closer.
"Killing your kind," Arix answered as he ran toward him and swung his sword.
But Orul dodged easily—the blade didn't touch him, and he didn't bother counterattacking.
"Killing my kind, huh? Weaklings like you think you can kill us?" he said, holding his long sword loosely.
Arix turned and swung again, but missed.
In an instant, Orul was gone from in front of him. Arix felt someone behind him.
He turned and swung immediately, but Orul leapt back again, dodging the strike.
“How can a weakling like you survive this long here?” Orul said as he walked toward Arix.
Arix didn’t answer. He stayed in his stance, ready to attack when Orul came closer. “He's fast. I can't win just by charging at him”, Arix thought.
"Well, no matter. I will kill you right now." Orul rushed forward and swung his long sword.
Arix blocked the attack with his own blade, but the impact was heavy.
Orul raised his sword again and struck. Arix blocked it again.
With every blow, Arix's stamina drained, and he was forced backward.
“He's strong too”, Arix thought as he blocked another strike.
On the next swing, Arix dodged to his left, but the long sword still grazed his shoulder. He countered, slashing at Orul’s stomach. The blade landed cleanly, but not deep enough to kill him.
Orul stepped back, and so did Arix.
Arix glanced at his shoulder. “Not that deep. I can manage”, he thought, then looked at Orul, who was clutching his own wound. Blood seeped from Orul’s stomach.
“Now you’ve done it,” Orul said as he rushed forward, raising his sword again in an instant.
Arix had no time to react. He tried to lift his sword to block, but it wasn’t enough.
Orul’s strike slammed into Arix’s blade with crushing force. Arix was thrown backward and crashed into a house.
“I will kill you, human,” Orul said as he charged again.
Arix hadn’t even gotten up when another strike came. He rolled to his left and tried to stand, but Orul had already launched another attack.
This time, the longsword struck Arix in the stomach.
He was bleeding too.
Orul was about to land another attack, but Arix stopped him by kicking him in the stomach—the same place where his wound was.
Orul staggered for a moment, screaming in pain, as Arix pushed himself up to his feet.
Arix was gasping for breath when Orul said, “You are strong. Tell me, how many men fucked your mother for you to be born so strong?”
Arix’s eyes widened. “How dare you!” he said as he raised his sword.
He tightened his grip, and a black flame erupted from the blade.
Orul’s eyes widened too. “This sword… damn, I didn’t notice!” he said as he turned to run. “Who is this human? Why does he have this weapon?” he thought while fleeing.
"How dare you say anything about my mother?" Arix snarled and swung his sword through the air.
The black flame burst from the blade and flew toward Orul, scorching the ground beneath it. When it touched him, he caught fire.
"Agh—" Orul screamed, desperately trying to smother the flames, but they wouldn't go out.
Arix drew in a long breath as he walked toward the burning Orul.
Upon reaching him, Arix raised his sword and slashed off Orul’s burning head. His body and head fell to the ground beside Arix.
“Don’t you dare say anything about my mother,” Arix said.
He took a deep breath and looked at his sword. “I have to feel the attack first before launching it,” he muttered.
Then he heard a voice from a distance.
A horn blast echoed across the village. "Both generals are dead! Retreat!" a Nyctona commander screamed, and the remaining Nyctona began fleeing.
