A Sword Master of Lugnica

The Loot House in the Slums

The atmosphere was tense as everyone seemed to be waiting for the slightest twitch. That moment came when Elsa made the first step forward. Ulric moved in front of Emilia as the assassin crossed the room in hardly a second with a ferocious horizontal strike. But having seen the same attack before, Ulric was able to parry the blow and counter attack with a strike of his own.

Elsa was no fool, however, as she dodged around his blade and swung at his neck. Ulric parried this blow as well in what became a short but vicious exchange of slashes. As before, Elsa's speed was overwhelming and before long she managed to parry and counter with another strike aimed at his stomach. Ulric just managed to step back and use his sword to redirect the blow, but left himself wide open to a kick in his midsection which sent him stumbling back into the bar.

As Elsa was advancing on him, a few ice shards forced her to back up. "Sorry for the wait Sir Ulric," Said Puck, "We needed time to gather mana for this little trick." As the floating cat spirit spoke, a mass of ice crystals formed in the air above him and Emilia. "As for you little girl, the name's Puck, so remember it on the way to your grave!" The mass of ice crystals were all sent flying at the assassin at once, creating quite an impact as dust and shattered crystals were kicked up, obscuring everyone's view.

"Did it work?" Asked Old man Rom, clearly amazed as what he'd just witnessed. Ulric could hardly believe it himself as he stared at the block of ice that had formed in the center of the room. That was, until it disappeared, revealing the smiling assassin shielding herself with her cloak.

"It's always good to be prepared," remarked Elsa as her cloak, which had apparently had a bit of its own magic, disappeared. She then proceeded to lunge at Emilia, who blocked the strike with an ice barrier.

"Don't take a user of the spirit arts lightly," Emilia said as Puck began shooting one ice shard after another at Elsa in quick succession. The nimble assassin flipped backwards several times before moving around the room in a series of acrobatic maneuvers, avoiding every shard that came her way.

"You're quite accustomed to fighting aren't you," Said Puck as he continued firing ice shards, "I must say, impressive for a girl."

"It's been some time since anyone has referred to me as a mere girl," Said Elsa as she leapt off a wall and continued moving around the room to avoid the ice shards. 'I can't find a good opening,' Ulric thought to himself, 'If I rush out now I'd be just as likely to get speared by one of the shards as I would be to get my stomach cut open again.'

"I'm centuries old," Said Puck as he continued firing, "Most people are infants from my viewpoint. That being said, you're among one of the more skilled humans I've met."

"I suppose I should be honored," Said Elsa as she began deflecting some of the shards, "I've never been praised by a spirit." The exchange continued as Ulric tried to think of what to do next. It was then that he noticed the sun was going down. 'Oh no,' he thought as he realized something crucial, 'Puck can't stay around much longer. If they don't kill this $$% soon, we might be in trouble.'

Fortunately, Puck had been paying attention to the time as well and had a plan of his own in the works. As Elsa moved around another barrage of ice crystals, her foot was suddenly caught in a batch of ice crystals on the ground. "I wasn't just shooting these around at random," Said Puck, "I haven't got much time left so it's best if we wrap this up now." The spirit and his master both put their hands up then as they gathered their mana and fired a large mass of jagged ice at their foe. Just as it was about to hit, the assassin leapt out of the way.

"Oh my," Said Elsa, still wearing her same, sadistic smile, "Just a second slower and I would've died." The killer had managed to pry her foot out of the ice at the last moment, tearing off not only her shoe but the whole layer of skin around it as well.

"Well it seems I may have underestimated her a little bit," Said Puck with a yawn.

"Are you able to keep fighting Puck," Questioned Emilia without taking her eyes off of the assassin.

"I'm afraid my time is up," Said Puck, "I have to return to my crystal for now. But remember, if things get too tough, summon me again."

"I can handle things from here," Said Emilia, "You get some rest for the time being." Puck nodded as he disappeared back into his crystal.

"Ah, gone already," Said Elsa with a bit of disappointment as she cut off a shard of the ice and pressed it to her wounded foot. "And we were having so much fun too." Emilia didn't respond as she formed another barrier and a large, floating shard of ice. But Elsa wasn't about to let her form it fully and shot forward with her weapon held over her head. Fortunately, Ulric was able to move in front and block her blade with his sword, forcing her to move around them and strike from the side.

But Emilia was able to block with her now fully formed barrier as she and Ulric stood back to back. The assassin continued to leap and circle around them, striking at any point she thought was vulnerable. Ulric and Emilia blocked her at every turn, but each time she got a little closer and struck even more viciously over time. 'We need to shift the odds somehow,' thought Ulric, 'We can only defend for so long before one of us makes a mistake.'

As it turned out, it was Emilia who made the first error. When Elsa came in for another strike, she feigned striking high before spinning around and kicking the half-elf in the side, sending her into the bar. Ulric was able to react in time and force the assassin back with a few swings of his sword. The maniacal woman retreated and was about to strike again when Rom finally charged in with his club held high.

"How rude," Said Elsa as she flipped out of the way, practically flowing around Rom's strikes, "Cutting in on someone else's dance like this."

"I'll show you some real dancing," Said Rom as he wound up for a massive strike. With one wide swing, the old man smashed most of the ice which had accumulated at one side of the room. But it wasn't near fast enough to catch someone like Elsa.

"Rom, move away!" Yelled Ulric as Rom's target was standing on top of his club.

"My, how strong you are," Elsa said as she raised her weapon, "Being able to hold me up while I do this!"

"NO!" yelled Felt as she threw her own knife which bounced off of Elsa's blade. It didn't stop the strike but it did move it off course enough to not be fatal when the blade slashed his neck. The giant of a man collapsed from the blow as Elsa turned her attention to the one who interfered.

"What a naughty girl," She said, "I was going to get to you, but since you insist, you're next." Elsa launched herself towards the frightened girl but was intercepted by Ulric as he once again stopped her blow with his own weapon.

"Felt," Said Ulric as he parried another few blows from Elsa, "Run and if you can, get help. We'll hold her here."

"But I can't just," Felt was about to say when Elsa skirted around Ulric and tried rushing at her. But the knight was ready for her maneuver this time and managed to kick her in the side. The assassin stumbled a bit as Ulric moved in front of her again.

"If you don't, we'll all die for sure," Said Ulric as he swung low a couple of times, forcing Elsa to flip backwards. The thief still looked unsure, but did as instructed and ran for the door.

"As if I'd allow that," Said Elsa as she reached for a throwing knife, only to have an ice shard nearly hit her. The annoyed assassin looked over, noting that Emilia had managed to get back on her feet. The distraction was more than enough to allow Felt to escape. "Now look, one's gotten away."

"You won't be killing anyone today," Said Emilia as she fired a few more shards at Elsa who deflected them easily.

"This game has gotten a bit bothersome," Said Elsa, "I think it's time we wrapped this up." The assassin leapt towards Ulric once again, all manner of playfulness gone from her movements. The knight did his best to hold off her vicious assault, parrying and blocking. At one point, he attacked during a lull in her onslaught, only for her to leap over the strike and slash him on the shoulder. The knight reacted by swinging where she landed.

But the assassin parried the strike and cut his upper left arm, forcing him to move back. The assassin then moved around to his left side, insuring that he was between her and Emilia, making it impossible for her to fire any ice shards without risking hitting Ulric as well. In an effort to surprise his opponent, Ulric let his guard slip a little when her blade hit his, causing the assassin to stumble forward as he punched her in the face with his left hand. Elsa let out a small shriek as she managed to swing her weapon blindly and slash Ulric's left leg. The knight stumbled backwards from the attack, leaving Elsa an opening to cut his head open.

But just as she was about to, a rather unexpected occurrence happened. Someone crashed through the ceiling of the loot house. "It seems I made it in time," said a red-haired man wearing a large white coat which nearly went to his feet, black gloves and white pants. But the most striking feature about the man, was the highly decorated sword he wore on his side.

"That red hair and that blade," Said Elsa with yet another smile gracing her lips, "Am I by chance in the presence of the sword master from a long line of sword masters, the great Reinhard?"

"I am indeed," said the swordsman with a smile of his own, "And you, a black haired woman wielding a blade found in the Northern provinces. You must be the infamous bowel hunter, Elsa. But unless you surrender, your infamy shall end today."

"And miss out on the chance to carve up such juicy prey," Said Elsa with a wicked smile, "Don't be so naïve."

"Very well," Said Reinhard as he glanced at Ulric. "Young knight, I'd advise you move back over to where the young lady is at." Elsa took this moment of distraction to try charging at the sword master, only for him to create a shockwave of sorts by slamming his foot on the floor, slowing her attack before kicking her away. "You shouldn't underestimate your opponent," Said Reinhard.

"You seem to be underestimating me," Said Elsa as she resumed her stance, "I've noticed you haven't drawn your weapon."

"If the circumstances demanded it," Said Reinhard, "My blade would've left its sheath already. Since it hasn't, I will likely not draw it now. But since you seem to insist," The swordsman gestured towards Ulric, "Would you mind lending me your weapon?"

"Fine, just take it," Said Ulric as he tossed his sword to Reinhard, "And make sure you kill her with it."

"I do hope I can meet such expectations," replied Reinhard as he turned back to Elsa, "Now then, will this do?"

"It will do wonderfully," Said Elsa as a look of pure joy and insanity crossed her face, "Now entertain me!" The assassin moved like a black wind as she swung towards the newcomer. But whoever this Reinhard was, he deserved his reputation. He seemed to easily deflect each and every strike from the bowel hunter with his expression showing no signs of concern. Elsa changed her tactics and started jumping off one wall to strike, then another, and another.

'I had my work cut out for me from the start,' thought Ulric as he moved towards Emilia, who was holding her hands over Rom's cut on his neck. She was emitting a type of green light, which Ulric was certain was another form of magic. "I hope this great swordsman is all he's cracked up to be," Ulric said as he watched the two of them exchanging blows at an incredible speed. For some reason, Reinhard only seemed to be parrying his opponent's blows.

"I'm afraid he's not fighting as seriously as he could be," Said Emilia, "He's waiting on me to finish healing this one."

"What exactly does your healing have to do with his sword technique," Questioned Ulric with a good bit of confusion.

"His most powerful attacks use mana," Said Emilia, "If he were fighting seriously, all of the mana in this room would be going towards him. But I'm almost done healing this wound, so when I give the signal, let Reinhard know it's okay to go all out." Ulric was still very confused but he nodded his head anyway. The light from Emilia's hands lasted another few moments as the cut closed up completely. The half-elf then gave a nod.

"Reinhard," Called Ulric, "You can quit playing around now, finish this!" The swordsman nodded as he took a more pronounced fighting stance and, if Ulric wasn't seeing things, his own sword was glowing. Elsa halted her assault in curiosity as she watched the change in his demeanor. It was then that a pressure seemed to fill the room as the glow got brighter and brighter.

"This is how the Astrea family wields a sword," Said Reinhard as a mass of light suddenly sprang from the sword, making it practically impossible to see as he swung towards the bowel hunter. Ulric instinctively moved to shield Emilia as the resulting blast completely annihilated the back half of the loot house while also sending dust and debris in all directions. 'A master swordsman from this world, is capable of doing something like that!' Ulric thought with astonishment.

"What kind of sword play is that supposed to be," Exclaimed Ulric, "You destroyed this place!"

"A special technique of the Astrea family," replied Reinhard, "Though it seems I must apologize, it was a bit much for your sword." He emphasized his point by holding up Ulric's sword, before it crumpled to dust in his hands. The young knight let out a sigh, a bit disappointed that the weapon which had managed to help him fight through much of the crusades was now dust.

"I suppose it can't be helped," Ulric finally said as he lent a hand to Emilia, "If that's what it took to finally kill that monster."

"You make it sound like you've encountered her before," Said Emilia with a questioning look.

"It's a bit of a story," Said Ulric, "Let's just say I've experienced her work up close and personal."

"Well fortunately for the both of you," Said Reinhard as Felt entered the room, "Your little friend led me here. What was the reason that assassin was here in the first place?"

"Oh right," Said Ulric as he stepped forward, "We still need that insignia-." A sudden shifting of the rubble drew his attention. "Oh you can't be seri-." The mass of boards burst open as the wounded form of Elsa charged out with her blade aimed at Emilia. Ulric reacted on instinct and moved in front of the woman with his dagger drawn. The force of the blow knocked him over as Elsa glared angrily at the knight.

"Still getting in my way," Seethed Elsa as Reinhard stood between them and her. The assassin reacted by tossing her blade which missed and landed next to Ulric. "Don't think this is over," She remarked as she leapt onto a large stack of rubble, "I'll be seeing you all again, so take care of your insides til then." She then made her exit by quickly leaping and climbing out of the destroyed roof.

"Are you both alright," Questioned Reinhard with a note of concern in his voice.

"I'm fine," Said Emilia, "I'd be more concerned about Ulric over there."

"I appreciate the concern," Said Ulric as he staggered to his feet, "But I've survived worse than a blow like that." The knight dusted himself off as he picked up Elsa's blade and tucked it in his belt.

"Are you really sure you want to keep something like that?" Questioned Emilia, "I never took you for the trophy collecting type."

"It's just temporary," Said Ulric, "I'll need something to tie me over until I can get a proper sword again. After all, thanks to this whole incident all I have left is this dagger and-." Ulric stopped speaking when he noticed his dagger was missing a good bit of its blade. It was shortly after that that his chain mail on his chest split open and a large gash appeared. "Well $ $ and I was so close to-."

The pain of the wound suddenly hit him as he collapsed on the floor, unconsciousness taking over. 'Maybe the third time isn't always the best,' he thought to himself before his eyes closed completely.

Whew, that was a lengthy fight. But finally the assassin is dealt with, for the time being anyway. But what condition does this leave Ulric in? Well you'll just have to read the next chapter to find that out. In the mean time, I hope you all enjoyed this latest chapter and feel free to leave whatever reviews or comments about what you think I can do to make this story better. Stop in next time as the knight again awakens to an unfamiliar setting.