| Chapter 11 "So you're the one who has been causing me so much trouble," spoke a rather short woman, she smiled darkly. She was a very petite woman with green eyes. Her black and purple-highlighted hair blew in the East wind. The clothes she wore were close-fitting with the exception of the sleeves. They were white with a light purple belt and black boots. Her hands were clothed with black gloves that allowed the finger to be free. A figure stood opposite her with a massive sword in hand. The sword was taller than the man himself. It was made of an indistinguishable metal and flashed silver in the moonlight. His white and black-spotted hair was pushed backwards out of his face. He stared through eyes that were ice-blue and lacked emotion. "I would say it was to help your sister, but that isn't your style, is it?" The man said nothing but continued to stand ready to fight. "Perhaps you're wise not to say anything. Let's see how well you can wield that bulky sword." She drew an elegant rapier from her side and assumed her combat stance. He uttered his first sound, "Hmp." "Never underestimate your opponents," she said. His blade swung down quickly and narrowly missed her left shoulder as she rolled out of the way. She was once again on her feet staring at the man contemptuously. He lunged at her and swept his sword along her middle. Once again she scarcely missed her death. She leapt backward with ease keeping excellent balance. "You're quick," he said. This time she was the one who said nothing but instead she leapt forward and flipped her rapier back and forth. Two very thin slashes remained in his silver cloak. The giant blade whizzed past her eyes as she leaned backwards. She sprung forward and left another thin slice in his cloak. "You're playing with me, aren't you? Come on and fight me like a man!" she cried defiantly. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "As you wish." He stabbed the ground with his sword and allowed his cloak to slide off his shoulders. The silver wrap landed with a thud. "What did you have in there?!" she exclaimed. "Just my necessities," was his response. He pulled his massive blade out of the ground and once again assumed the fighting position. He thrust forward but missed her as she pivoted out of the way. He maneuvered the blade over her head as she ducked to escape the blow that would have inevitably been fatal. With great agility he grappled the pommel of the sword with both hands facing the same and thrust it over his head. In a great arch he allowed the sword to fall faster and faster towards the crouching woman. The blade crashed against the ground as she evaded it once more by rolling. She stood up and began to contemplate his next move. Her brain was calculating his every move but she was becoming weary. He, on the other hand, only appeared to have more energy as she had less. He jumped over and swung the sword over his head again, he once again assumed the normal grasp on the pommel. The woman leapt to the side and flicked her thin bladed weapon upward leaving a thin slit in his forehead that exceeded into his hairline. Blood poured over his face from the wound that would someday leave a scar. The woman ran quickly past him as he growled in anger and swung his blade. His sword slashed many more times in great sweeping motions. The woman dodged the attacks but her energy was failing faster. He chased her across the open plateau until they reached the edge. The woman looked over her shoulder at the seemingly endless drop. She looked at the man warily once more before she leaped backwards off the side. The man walked over to the edge and gazed downward. About twenty feet downward there was another ledge that protruded from the side. He watched as the woman’s black and purple hair disappeared into the rock-face. With one leap he landed on the ledge. He walked down the sloping edge and into the cave entrance. Once inside the cavern he came up to a metal wall. He bashed his sword against it. Before long a hole large enough for him to fit through was formed. He managed to climb through and on the other side there were four penguins. They were abnormally large and wore boots with their sharp talons protruding. In their wings they held lasers with an opposable thumb. A penguin opened its razor-like beak and let out some sort of war cry. The penguin pulled the trigger and a laser shot flew towards the man. He deftly deflected the blast and it went harmlessly into the cave wall leaving a smoking hole. The man charged forward and managed to deflect two more shots from the frenzy trigger happy penguin. He cleaved the penguin leaving a gash from it’s left shoulder to it’s right hip. The mutant bird fell dead and white blood fell from its wound. The three remaining penguins opened fire. Several more shots ricocheted off his sword but one hit him in the left thigh. He dived behind a column, one of four supporting the chamber. Then he leapt back and managed to repel a shot from the nearest penguin. The other two held their fire in order not to hit their comrade. The man leaned to the side as a shot buzzed past his head. He then slashed the penguins middle section. He pivoted forward and shoved his shoulder into the dying penguin causing it to fall over lifeless. He jumped up to a table in the middle of the room. From the table he soared through the air and thrust his blade downward slicing the penguin in half. He pivoted around and slaughtered the last and final penguin. He then turned around to see the massacred penguins. The only leaving creature left in the room was a small black cat with gleaming green eyes. The man strode determinedly out of the room feeling as if he conquered. |