Shout Outs...

Maxmagnus20019: And with any luck it'll be quite the battle. Because... I honestly haven't written a lot of fight scenes...

Dragon Chyld: Yeah, that's true. Of course you should remember one of Murphy's Laws of Warfare: Professional soldiers are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs.

Staring down Albel wasn't something I wanted to do so damned early, but I didn't really have a say in that. Outside the fact that I most likely had help coming I had a few things in my favour, I outweighed him, I probably hit harder, and I could come up with some very odd offence if I was pressed.

On the other hand, Albel was probably faster, had a height advantage, and an experience advantage. A very large experience advantage.

Joy...

James kept his grip solid as he looked across at his opponent. Albel grinned back, the fingers of his claw twitching as he looked across at his enemy. At some unseen signal both men charged, swords meeting between them. They pushed away from each other, James deflecting a swipe of Albel's sword before returning with one of his own. Albel stepped back before charging in with a stab that was sidestepped. James swung his sword in an overhand swing, following with a stab, both of which were dodged, Albel counterattacking with an overhead swing of his own, James blocking it by spinning on his foot and holding his sword behind him. James followed by leaping back for distance.

For a moment both men slowly circled each other looking for holes in the defence of the man standing opposite of him.

"Quickly, get that wagon ready!" The Aquarian solider called out as a silver haired, yet still young, woman walked out.

"What is going on here?" She said to the solider that was arranging... whatever this was.

"Lady Clair." He began saluting. "There is a fight outside our walls, one of them matches the description of the man our agent in Kirlsa met. The other is Albel."

"Are you certain?" Clair asked, her response being a nod. "Then we have to hurry... If he is an engineer of Greeton as we suspect we cannot allow Airyglyph to take him."

"Yes Lady Clair."

Albel was the first to charge, swinging his sword horizontal with one hand, an attack blocked, a he gathered his energies in his metal hand.

"Palm of Destruction!" Albel cried out as he thrust his open palm. Leaping back James avoided the attack, but placed himself in front of a stab, Albel's follow up attack. Albel grinned until James dropped backwards, landing on his shoulders. Albel all but paused in confusion until James bunched up his legs before kicking out, slamming his feet into his chest. Albel staggered back a few steps as James kipped himself up, rushing forward with an overhead slice. Regaining his wits, Albel blocked it, countering with a front kick to James' chest, knocking his opponent off his feet. James managed to roll over his shoulder before standing back up, facing his opponent.

Albel pressed his offence, charging forward with another overhead swing, James turning on his foot, blocking again with his sword behind his back.

"Palm of Destruction!" Albel cried out, slamming his energy filled palm into the back of James' left shoulder. James shouted out in pain as he fell forwards, instinctively rolling to his feet. He grunted as he tried to work the pain from his shoulder, deflecting Albel's next attack with his sword in a one handed grip. He managed to deflect the next two swipes before Albel swung his sword with enough precision to force The Protector's Edge from his grip, the blade spinning in the air before landing, point first, into the ground. James leapt back from a swipe by Albel, ready for a follow-up that never came. Albel grinned slightly, dragging the tips of his claw along his blade. "Poor, poor worm. Now you're all defenceless. Poor... Poor... Worm..." James frowned as Albel approached with deliberate steps...

At this point it was clear that I was in deep trouble. But Albel was wrong on one point; I wasn't defenceless, not by a long shot. And while I didn't have my sword at the time, Albel had unknowing given me another weapon.

His own arrogance...

Albel stalked forward, taking two sloppy slices that James easily avoided. As Albel chuckled an idea came to him. As Albel raised his sword, James charged forward. Not expecting such a reckless charge Albel froze for a brief, but vital moment. James darted behind him, hooking his arms around Albel's waist. Reaching down with his free hand, the metal claw, Albel tried to dislodge his opponent. "Let go of me you little woorrrrrrrmmmm!" Albel shouted out as James lifted him off the ground, bridging backwards until Albel's head and shoulders slammed into the ground in a move called a German Suplex. James rolled them both back upright before repeating the move a second time. "Damn you... Worm..." Albel managed before James lifted him for a third Suplex. Forcing both of them back to their feet James hauled him up once more, this time letting go, causing Albel to fly back a few feet before impacting a fourth time, sword still in his grip.

Despite the rapid slams Albel managed to stagger to his feet. James, already to his feet, dashed to his sword, pulling it from the ground, turning to face Albel again. Growling Albel began to stalk forward until a fireball impacted the ground near him. James turned to look at the origin of the fireball, seeing an uncovered wagon with a silver haired woman and at least half a dozen soldiers occupying it charge towards them, the woman, charging up a second spell, runes in the air in front of her. "Damn it!" Albel shouted out as the dragoon's mount took off from the rock, flying over to the leader of the Black Brigade. Albel paused for a moment before getting on the beast and behind the solider. "This is not over!" He shouted back, as the dragon lifted both men off the ground, turning into the distance. As they flew away, James fell down to a knee, driving the point of his sword into the ground, breathing heavily.

Once the wagon had arrived the soldiers jumped off, the silver haired woman leading as they ran up to the kneeling warrior. All but the woman stood back, the female member of the group kneeling next to James. "Are you all right?"

James looked up into her worried eyes, nodding once, before standing up and sheathing his sword. "Yeah... No worries..."

The woman nodded once before standing and taking his arm, guiding him to the wagon. "Come, you'll be safe once we're inside Arias."

And that, my friends, is how I survived Albel The Wicked. We entered the gates and the damage to the town was apparent, houses stood missing a whole wall or a roof, rubble where a building used to stand. Many had holes or scorch marks on it. One we exited the wagon Clair took me straight to the mansion, bringing me upstairs to a bedroom so one of their doctors could look me over. I had my poncho, shirt and hat off as the female doctor looked over my shoulder where Albel struck me with his Palm of Destruction. It stung like hell, trust me. Adrenaline had to be the only thing that kept me from noticing it, it was only a dull pain when I was fighting, but at the time it really hurt. Thankfully she put some kinda lotion on it. Made it feel a tad numb, but it killed all the pain.

Afterwards I redressed and was escorted down into the dining hall, Arias' makeshift command centre.

James sat down in a seat, looking down at the woman at the head of the table. She nodded to a pair of robed figures, both bowing slightly before leaving the room. "Well then, I'd like to welcome you to Arias and the Sacred Kingdom of Aquaria. I am Clair Lasbard, leader of the Shield Legion. You're from the object that fell into Airyglyph, are you not?"

James nodded once. "Yeah. My name is James, James Jennings."

Clair nodded once, smiling softly. "You must have had quite the journey so far, even with your... 'victory' over Albel."

"Whoa, whoa..." James said, waving both his arms. "Victory? I'd call that a draw at best."

Clair bit her lip a bit, leaning forwards towards him. "Please... I'm not sure how much you know about our situation, but I... we need you to call it a win."

James leaned forwards himself, tilting his head. "Why do you want me to call it a win?"

Clair took a deep breath before beginning. "Our country, Aquaria, and the one you fled from, Airyglyph has been at war for awhile now. According to our reports Lord Vox, Captain of Airyglyph's Dragon Brigade, accused the Church of Apris of conspiracy to assassinate Airyglyph's King. The truth is that the Church planned no such thing. Vox's intentions aren't known, but most of his supporters have eyed our lands, fertile with the blessing of Apris."

"And Airyglyph is located up around a buncha mountain." James added. "I doubt it's a place a gardener would want to live."

Clair nodded before continuing. "Thanks in part to our Runeology we've held them off, but the fact is this: we're losing. Right now we have very little going for us. Morale is beginning to waver, and you've seen Arias, it's been ruined by Airyglyph's assaults. The three Captains, Vox, Woltar and the man you just fought, Albel are the most powerful and skilled warriors in the land. The best we've managed is to hold them back. Yet while Vox maybe have the most influence it is Albel who is the most feared, some even calling him invincible. If the rumour that he was defeated spread..."

"It'd shatter his aura of invincibility and raise morale..."

"Exactly." Clair stood up and walked over to him. James turned into his seat as Clair kneeled in front of him. "Please..."

James closed his eyes for a moment before nodding. "All right." Clair smiled briefly before standing up.

"Thank you. I'll have the word spread around. There are other things I would like to talk to you about, however I think it's best to wait." James nodded in return as he stood up. "Remember the room you were in?" Seeing James nod again she continued. "You can use that room as your own for as long as you need. One of my agents is bringing two of your companions here as we speak. Last I've heard they were in Kirlsa."

"So, they're close huh?"

Clair nodded briefly as James stretched out. "Yes. Go get some rest. I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

Truth be told, between my march over here and the battle with Albel I was a few steps from exhaustion. I was still doubtful about Clair spreading word of Albel's 'defeat' at my hands. But I knew the rematch would come sometime down the line.

I got up to the room and exchanged greetings with the soldiers and the doctor. I entered the room, laid down on the bed and covered my eyes with my hat.

I didn't wake up until late the next day. And during my sleep there was crimson, jasmine, and a field of grass...

Well, I hope that was a good fight scene. I worked hard on it, just so you know.

As always R&R. All comments are welcome.