AN: Sorry for the delay. RL got hectic for a bit there, so I didn't have the energy to write anything up. It looks like it's calming down again, but it should be clear by now that life is just trying to lull me into a false sense of security before the next whammy.
4
You don't even hesitate as you
rush forward, spear swinging towards the closer armour as you rapidly close. Almost as if they were expecting it, the closer armour moves to block your spearhead, while the mace wielder rushes to meet with you. With a grin, you twist your spear away from your feint, and thrust it directly at the far armour. It was a testament to his skill that he managed to parry it at all, but your spearpoint pierces his armour's leg, sending sheets of armour and metal flying, before your cross-guard slams into it, sending him sprawling.
You had always hated it during training when Hillar would constantly taunt you by predicting your next move. It had been galling, but it had taught you the value of being unpredictable in a fight, and how throwing something unexpected could throw off anyone's game.
The still standing armour swung his sword, and you only manage to partially block the blow with the butt of your spear. It hammers into your right pauldron, and you feel a slight vibration from the hit. Fortunately, your feint had landed you too close for him to use his blade with full effectiveness, so it looked like he didn't breech your armour. While you had enjoyed surprising them, you remember the other lesson Hillar had taught you about predictability. It favored the stronger warrior. You can't help but shake the feeling that you could have avoided that hit, but it wasn't anything serious. When it came down to your enjoyment or your pride, you'd go with enjoyment.
You push the armour away from you with a shove from your spearhaft, causing him to stumble back into the wall of the gully. You turn your attention back to the mace wielder, to see to your surprise that he has managed to stand. Yes! You felt lucky that you had opponents who could take a few hits. You swing you spear overhead, bringing it down on him like a hammer. For a brief moment, it appears that he managed to parry it successfully before his damaged leg gives way, destroying his posture. Your spearhead smashes into his armour's head, and the crossguard punches into the chest of the machine, almost certainly killing the pilot.
You hear a roar of rage from the other enemy. You give your spear a heave, and quickly wrench it free in time to see him charging towards you, already swinging. He was spirited, but his anger was ruining his form. You counter-attack, taking advantage of the hole in his form to land before he completes his swing. Your spearhead slashes through his amour's forearm, sending his hand and sword flying to land behind you. You thrust immediately, not giving him the chance to try something clever in desperation, and his armour's chest crumples.
The thrill of victory floods you, just like it had after the fight against two older boys who had tried to take your supper. It was after that fight that Hillar had taken you in, and told you because it was you understood the truth of the world. Life was a battle, and ultimately, defeat meant death. He had laughed when you told him he was wrong, that victory was life. He demanded you prove it by landing a blow on him before the sun set, and you had, and you had felt it then too. And every time after.
You pull your spear free, and resume your chase. It is only after a minute or two that the gully you are in begins to narrow and deepen, and your footing worsens as the ground beneath you turns to mud. You go around a bend, and before you stands a single enemy armour. You take note that it stands taller than the last two, probably around 12 or 13 meters, and is unusually wielding an axe and a shield. The last armour is nowhere in sight, either waiting to ambush you from above, or more likely, contained the royal family member and continued on. If that was true and his final bodyguard had decided to wait for you here...then their final destination, some sort of fort or shelter, must be close by. No bodyguard would leave their charge without protection for a long period of time.
Deciding you have no time to waste, you try to rush him, spear thrusting towards him. He barely shifts his shield, efficiently blocking it, as well as your follow up strike, before striking out with his axe. You barely keep him from knocking your spear down into the soft mud below, where it would take you a moment to retrieve it. You take two steps back, and he stands impassively, having already returned to a guard position.
Your curiosity piqued, you take a closer look at your opponent. His armour, like the other members of the royal guard, is covered in white enameled armour, accented in blue and gold. Unlike the other members of the guard, he had a bright blue plume on his helmet, and a white, flowing cloak that was almost as long as your own. His shield, an expensive choice for an armour, is painted in a checkered pattern, blue on white, with the golden boss shaped into the likeness of a tiger on the prowl. He wields a bearded axe, which should be unwieldy, but he moved it gracefully when he counterattacked.
This opponent was surely strong. You felt you had made the right choice in pursing this group yourself. This...this was the type of battle you were looking for!
You trigger your chin lever and shout, "I am Isaac, Knight of the Garden! Who stands against me?!"
Silence follows for a long moment, and you begin to think he had declined to respond, when a deep voice booms out in response, "The White Tiger of Eteran bars your way. Know the name of your killer, for it is Pierre!"
Despite his boast, he makes no move towards you, content to leave the initiative to you.
[] You don't have time to draw this out. Present an opening, take the hit, and use the opportunity to kill him.
[] You don't have time for this. Fall back, climb out of the gully and circle around.
[] If he wants you to come to him...then you want to force him to come to you. Taunt him into attacking you instead!
[] This is a dangerous opponent, but your machine is much easier to use. Keep aggressively attacking him until he tires.
[] This is a dangerous opponent. You should cautiously probe his defenses for weaknesses.
