Chapter 4

Black warrior

Night was peacefull. Stars where shining bright on the sky. Nero was standing on a balcony looking at them with just his pants on. He was thinking about past. On what he has lost. He noticed Dulcinea walking through a courtyard. It was pretty late and she still wasn't asleep. He sighed. Black feline looked up again to fall to his memories again. He was brought back to a reality with a small unnoticeable flash. He looked down. A stranger was raising his sword behind Dulcinea. There was no time. His eye pupils went narrow, he stepped on a balustrade and jumped as fast as he could towards a gray cat. Blade fall down.

Dulcinea layed on the ground with her eyes closed. A hit was pretty hard.

-"Are you ok?" - She heard a low voice. She slowly opened her eyes to see Nero getting up above her.

-"Yeah, I think so..." - She noticed a deep cut in Nero's left arm. Blood was going down his hand and was dripping on a ground. - "You are hurt!"

-"There is no time for this." - Said Nero facing his opponent. The boar was twice as big as he was. His sword was wide and curved on the point. Nero had none. He looked in villain's eyes. There where full of desire to kill.

-"Run" - He told Dulcinea as boar charged at them. He was fast. He cut from above aiming at Nero. Feline moved to a side barelly avoiding a blade. - "Now!"

Dulcinea snapped. She run to the canteen which was closest. She hoped that Pajuna haven't closed a door yet.

Nero evaded another strike. The boar was fast for his size. Feline jumped back to make some space but thug at once closed the gap and attacked again. Nero spun to the left and hit a boar in the face with a healthy hand. But there was almost no effect. Bandit swung his sword to the side. Feline ducked to see a blade coming back with incredible speed. He jumped over it and send a powerfull spin kick to the enemy. Boar stepped back holding his face. He shook his head and looked at cat just to see another punch.

-"We need to do something." - Dulcinea said to her cow friend as they observed a fight through a door.

-"Right. Stay here, I will go around him and help Nero." - Pajuna took a broom and left cantina.

Nero was still "dancing" around the attacker. He spined to the right and was ready to deliver another blow but when he turned he noticed incoming thrust. He jumped aside but blade reached his right side and cut it lightly. Nero was getting tired. This guy was incredibly fast. And he was made to fight with no weapon. Then feline noticed Pajuna sneaking behind a boar. What was she doing? Nero rushed at bandit. The boar was ready to strike but then he choked. Cow grabbed him from behind and used a broom to throttle him. Nero was in range. Villain hit Pajuna with a back of his head causing her to daze a little. Then he freed from her grasp and turned with a strike. His blade was sent up right above Pajuna's head with a kick from below. It was Nero. He immediately jumped and sent another kick, this time staight to boar's face.

-"What are you doing? This is not some random bandit."

-"I..." - she couldn't finish. Nero punched her with open palm to her stomack sending her few meters back. A blade missed cow just by a hair's breadth. She regain her sences after punch. She saw the two fighting with incredible speed. She was barely able to see their moves.

Nero was able to steal one of thugs knives after he punched Pajuna away. Now it should be easier. He grabbed a knife with a blade faced down and charged the boar. They again clashed in close combat but this time Nero was able to block some of attacks. He could tell that his opponent isn't just fust but also strong as hell.

Nero has no time. His wounds was still bleading and he couldn't afford to fight any longer. After another split he rushed at enemy so fast that dust from the ground raised to the air. He parried a strike from above and with a spin jump he aimed for a neck. He was surprised when a blade hit only air.

-"Shit." - He saw it. Incoming strike.

Boar was able to anticipate next move of his opponent and ducked a blade. Then he pinched a cat on his tusks. Feline caughed with blood. Tusks went deep in his torso. He dropped a knife on the ground. Thug just throw him away. The cat hit the ground hardly. He couldn't move. He looked around. Dulcinea helped Pajuna get up and they where running to the canteen. The boar was getting close. And behind the corner was... Esme? How long she has been here? She was looking at him with sad eyes fulled with tears and fear. The boar noticed that Nero was looking there and he turned to see a small girl. He looked once more at black feline and laughed. He started to walk towards Esme.

-"No." - Nero was barely able to speak. He closed his eyes. His past came like a vision. A memory of a slaughter and loosing his whole life. He snapped out of this. His left eye changed color from golden to dark red. His expression also changed. There was killer in this eye. Cold wind blew. The black cat raised his body a little and with no time he rushed towards enemy. He picked up knife that was still on the grund and slided between boar's legs cutting him under his knee. Boar roared in pain and fall on it. Nero still moving throw a knfe right in his chest. That made thug angry. He looked up at the feline. Their eyes met just for a second and Nero's left eye flashed with a dim light.

Feline got up quickly and jumped on a wall. The bandit was angry. He rushed at Nero forgetting his surroundings. The cat was jumping from a wall to a wall just like there was no gravity. He noticed Pajuna in canteen door watching them with fear. He landed few meters away.

-"Pajuna! Broom!" - A cow throw him it after a second.

Nero turned on his heel just in time. The boar was already here. Feline blocked incoming strike but broom broke on two. He got a diagonal cut to his chest. But there was no reaction on his face. He used a force of hit to spin and hit a boar with one hand. Enemy turned his head back to see Nero but then a thrust was delivered to his neck. A broken broom stucked in his body. Nero immediately thrusted second half to the other side and kick him away. Thug felt on his knees dropping a sword. The feline charged at him one more time. Villain looked at running cat and got angry. He reached for a blade and with roar he swung it. Nero ducked it and deliver a powerfull kick under his chin. A laud crack was heard. Bandit flew a few meters back with broken jaw. He hit a ground with loose neck. His spine was also broken. His dead eyes slowly turned from bloody red to dark green. Nero was standing in a blood puddle.

-"Nero?" - Said Dulcinea. Feline felt on his back unconscious.

-"Nero!" - Two females screamed at once and rushed to him. First drops of rain appeared at streets.

A sight of a warm fire in a middle of a cold night was convicing. Puss slowly moved towards a camp. He felt nothing but sadness and anger. It was a desire of revenge that brought him here. When he reached a camp he noticed Garo talking with someone hidden in shadows.

-"And who did you sent?" - Large lizard whispered.

-"Neige. You can consider it done."

-"I know that he is your best man but i pay for results. Let me know when he get back."

-"Better pay without running away."

Puss slowly passed them and sat by the fire.

-"So you decided to join?" - A question was asked after a moment.

-"I already told you." - Puss answered with no emotions in his voice - "I will kill anyone who did this."

-"I belive you will. But alone you won't be able." - Garo sat next to a cat.

-"I will join you. But first I must go to San Lorenzo to finish something."

-"We won't wait for you. Tomorrow we go south. We found a track."

-"I will find you. Do not worry. I will leave in the morning."

They talked for a few more minutes about El Diablo's skills and methods to fight him. It slowly started to rain while they were talking. That was a long day for Puss. But will next be better?

What fate awaits Nero? Will he survive? What Puss want's to finish? Find out next week.

Thanks guys for reviews, I never thought that you will like it so much. I will try to upload next chapter as always on Sunday but I can have some delay.

Also if anyone has an idea for cover, you can send it to me in private message.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed that one, feel free to review and look for next chapter.