24 The Last Duel

"The general snarled and lunged fiercely toward his opponent. For he always was the one to make the first strike. He slashed both of his glowing blades downward with an unrelenting savage fury that cut right through the thrashing rain being cast down upon them both. He was cleary going to enjoy every brief moment of this fight for all to see.

The retired gladiator's children began to cheer their father on as he rushed forward. The enthusiasm of the small crowd reminiscent of his younger days fighting in front of his thousands of spectators and siblings. His final glorious performance. The general grinned as he glided across the battlefield, shaking aside the pleasant nostalgic memories and began the assault, now even faster and more determined than even before at hearing the unrelenting cheers all around him that craved for blood to be spilled tonight.

The two slammed against one another in the very center of the arena in a savage duel. Hacking and parrying. Only it wasn't metal against metal. It was screams and wails of cold against heat. The water from the aquatic's thin blue blade trailed boiling hot steam as it collided violently against each of the general's searing yellow sabers being knocked aside one after another, casting the two in a faint moist fog. The General continued to bring each of his blades downwards like a whirlwind of heated death, before then joining both swords together for a single combined powerful strike which radiated heat and released a horrendous sizzling noise that resounded between the two combatants. The weapons shrieking as they made contact against one another. They did not belong together. Nor did they want to be.

"Kill him father!!!" The young raiders began chanting excitedly in the cascading dark rain. The crowd's excitement was building exponentially from the deadly entertainment so kindly provided before their eyes. They could not turn away. For they would never be able to see this performance again. This wasn't an arena. It as a stage. And he was at it's center. A true warrior returned to his purpose in life. His soul practically bursting with pride and energy. He had not felt like this in years. The general pressed his attack even faster. His swords trailing white hot steam that shrieked behind him with each mighty blow.

Sparks and water went flying like a burning torch in between the two combatants as Fereen pressed his sword slideway's, barely able to hold both of the searing weapons at bay as they inched closer and closer toward his throat. He could feel his nimble legs shaking from the overwhelming pressure being thrust upon them so suddenly.

Unable to defend against the overwhelming strength. Fereen curled his stomach and kicked his entire body off from the ant's armored torso in a swift sudden spiral. He summersaulted back through the air to the farthest corners of the muddy arena like a well trained acrobat. Focusing on keeping his distance from his more powerful opponent and hoping to lure him away from Shena while she went for the gun.

The large army ant hardly even moved in place from the sudden forceful kick or even minded it and still stood tall and mighty. Unaffected in the slightest despite Fereen having used all his strength hoping to push him onto his back. The insect's black devilish eyes gleamed with a twisted excitement at the aquatic's craftiness and desire to survive against his unmatched skill for just a brief while longer. He pointed his saber forward and slowly approached.

You're quick! The general called out to his smaller opponent. "But you'll have to do better than that. "Many have tried to bring me to my back. Only for them to end up dead on theirs."

"Nah! It was Just a warmup bug. Fereen calmly replied, bouncing side to side on the heel's of his nimble feet. "Wanted to see if you can take a good hit. Wouldn't want this fight be over too soon now would we?

The general smiled in agreement. Flexing his mandibles ever more intensely.

"Indeed."

The two began circling each other in the rain. Now more cautiously. Both unaware of each other's strengths and looking for any weakness either could exploit. The General saw right through the aquatic's desperate ploy of flexing and twitching his colorful wings wide apart as a sign of hopeful intimidation and began to play along. He slowly stalked around the aquatic's twitchy movements like a cat circling a feeble frightened mouse. Fereen realized he could not win by strength alone and would have to be patient yet again until an opening presented itself for him to exploit as he had done countless times before with this warrior's children. Still. He could do with a bit of help.

"How's it going!? Fereen whispered to Shena as she came in his path behind him, raising his wings to block the swarm's view of her and her mission for a brief moment.

"I'm working on it! Ask me again in a few moments when I've moved farther than a couple of fucking feet!" Shena grunted in discomfort. Continuing to crawl toward the gun with her face in the dirt. "Just keep him busy. If you keep talking to me they'll grow suspicious! and then we're both screwed."

I think that ship has already sailed ma'am." He chuckled nervously. Fereen nodded and quickly turned away. Trusting her to watch his back.

After a few moments of deadly courtship, Both enemies' charged at each other once again, ready to resume their deadly contest of survival and skill. The general was admittedly impressed as the two made contact. The aquatic fencer was quite light on his feet as he dodged and whirled his blade swiftly around with a gentle flick of his wrist to knock aside each of the general's attacks. It was as if he were dancing and spiraling through the air all around him in perfect trained fashion. But none of the fish's own blows were of any serious threat to him. A dance is all it was.

Fereen was starting to discover that this raider was different than his sons.

This veteran warrior was not hacking and slashing randomly with foolish rage desperately as his young children had. Every attack was precise and carefully planned as they struck one after another, all with the intent not to kill but to maim him with perfect control in hopefully the most agonizing manner possible. He wished to make him suffer for as long as possible. And he was doing a pretty good job at it.

Fereen's arms began to ache, Gripping tighter to his sword as it struggled to keep up with the unrelenting onslaught testing the limits of the liquid saber like never before. He could reel each and every harsh impact unleashed against him. Pushing his entire body back through the mud with each desperately timed parry. The old raider was more spry than he thought. It was as effortless as breathing for him. So much for tiring him out.

Fereen pulled his saber backward and thrust swiftly toward the general's exposed face struggling to keep up. Only instead for the blade of water to be abruptly knocked downward and collide harmlessly against the center of the general's golden breastplate. The blade of water bent and flexed inward from the intense strain, losing its shape as it folded in on itself and splashed harmlessly against the heavy armor. The general smiled and slammed the blunt end of each of his four saber handle's into the top of Fereen's battered helmet. Causing a loud painful ringing to echo and resonate from the dark insides of his helmet that would seemingly never cease in creating agony in the prison of his mind.

Fereen stepped back momentarily stunned, clutching both hand's to his aching head. Struggling to catch his breath as his mind spun all around him in every direction. After finally managing to return to some semblance of focus. He looked upon the general now folding his arms and laughing at his confused dazed state. Along with all his brat children behind snickering at the sight of him stumbling through the mud like a drunken fool.

Fereen's gripped his saber hilt tighter in anger. His mind began to race with desperate ideas as to what to he could possibly attempt in even harming such a seemingly invulnerable threat. There had to be some weakness. There always was. Should he spread his wings and fly in closer? Would that provoke the children to join the fight?

Could he take them all at once and protect Shena at the same time?

The General abruptly charged and swung his swords for his distracted opponent's leg. Fereen tucked in his sparkling wings and rolled out of the way at the last second. kneeling up clumsily against the dirt covered in mud far enough away struggling to catch his breath.

Fereen cursed under his breath. He couldn't even have the privilege to think to himself long enough to fully form a plan. The general's unrelenting onslaught was too much for him to ignore. Even for a split second. And the raider knew it. The general smirked at keeping the small fool on his toes panicking in the cold. He loved to see his enemies crumble before his eyes.

Fereen had begun to realize that he was at a clear disadvantage trying to fight against someone with four arms and could also easily lift ten times his own body weight. Fereen had been fighting so desperately just to stay alive on brute force alone, that the thought of using his own evolutionary advantage hadn't even occurred to him. He finally decided he had enough this nonsense.

Fereen suddenly raised and slashed his hilt in an arc above his head through the air, collecting the rain droplets to fill the form of a fresh blade. He then knelt to the ground to build up velocity and charged. His crystalline wings fluttering quickly to enhance his charge through the air and give him an added boost of speed.

The general just grinned at seeing him having to resort to his wings. As if that would help somehow. He thought to himself.

The insect slid his foot aside, easily avoiding the charge at the last possible second with a quick twist of his torso to top it off. The warrior then grabbed tightly onto the flyer's leg as it raced past him and swung his opponent's entire body forward through the air. Slamming his head against the dirt with a loud smash. Fereen felt the painful impact against his face and closed his eyes as his helmet visor shattered against the ground with a loud horrendous crack. Sending it's numerous scattered pieces of broken glass in every direction.

Still not done, the insect continued to drag his opponent's face through the mud by his ankle multiple times in a carousel of mockery before finally tossing him far away against a dead tree on the very edge of the soaked muddy arena. Much to the cheer and amusement of his spectators. Fereen tried to correct his trajectory but there was not enough time he was spiraling through the air so swiftly. He braced for impact as his back slammed hard against the decayed oak with a loud force that rattled every bone in his body. By some sheer miracle Fereen managed to hold his grip of his sword just enough so as not to lose it. But still he would need more miracles by the nights was done.

As Fereen started to weakly tilt his head upward searching for the raider, his lone red eye revealed through the cracked blue visor suddenly widened in fear at seeing the dreaded heated sabers slashing toward him all at once.

Fereen ducked and spiraled out of the way with a sloppy hastiness. Making the general miss while instead while slicing impressively right through the base of the dead tree in one perfect strike. Felling it and setting it alight in a glowing contagious fire that immediately started to fight against the rain in a battle for its burning survival. Fereen dragged himself through the mud away to hastily fought to stand and turn around. Seeing the tall insect leap over the burning branches, ready to keep tormenting him with a sick glee. His dark four armed silhouette illuminated by the blazing inferno and glowing embers of leaves rising upward to fight against the rain as it ate and scorched the burning tree raging behind the invincible Gladiator's form.

He was terrifying. A savage creature of pure unrelenting instinct. And he would never tire of this.

Fereen kept blocking the fatal slashes one after the other as he tried to land a hit himself, unleashing a series of quick pointed jab's and a flurry of controlled strike's right for the insect's exposed leg's arm's and head, but nothing made contact no matter how fast his hand thrust forward. His arm grew weaker by the second as the one sided duel continued for all to see. His left hand which had stayed behind his back thus far, hastily reached across to support it's now exhausted brother clinging to the handle in a struggle to keep it from making a fatal falter.

Shena become nervous as she observed the fight worsen for her friend but continued dragging herself through the dirt, only allowing a quick glance behind every so often. The sight of him wielding his saber with both hands was enough to make her all the more worried, he never did that. She wanted to keep watching, but forced her attention back away to slowly resume her crawl toward the pistol just out of reach in front. Begging that the raider's wouldn't notice her deception and for him to hold out just a little longer. But luckily the spectacle in front was impossible for anyone to ignore.

Fereen collected enough rage and lunged once more He leapt high into the air, bringing his blade downward for the ant's unarmored head; Only instead for it be intercepted by both the ant's sabers quickly crossing together in the shape of an x in front of his black emotionless eyes. The sound of sizzling water vapor erupted from the prolonged contact between each of the weapons held in place pushing strenuously against one another. The general sneered. He had hardly broken a sweat so far. but he felt it time to start getting serious. The general unfolde his two lower arms from behind his back to grab tightly on to the flying fish's arms in a sudden unbreakable grip.

Fereen's red eyes widened in sudden fear as his own sword slipped out of his fingers contorting from the pain. He had forgotten about the extra arms. The general smiled and lifted his smaller enemy high in the air. Squeezing tighter and tighter around his enemies' wrists. Fereen screamed in pain, unable to fight back as his wings began to flutter strenuously trying to escape his clutches. He let out a barage of kicks toward's the general's chest. It it did nothing. It was as if he were fighting a wall. Seeing no other option Fereen then headbutted his metal helmet hard against the General's unprotected face. The general then simply wiped away the fresh blood from his mouth. And smiled back pleased.

"Dirty move aquatic." His voice swelling with excitement. "Excellent. Honorable opponents make for boring fights."

The General then rammed his captive prey in the stomach with its powerful fist with such force, it knocked the wind out of Fereen's lungs instantaneously. He then releasing his grip unafraid, letting the pathetic fish fall gasping atop his knees in the dirt. The old gladiator stood there in silence for quit some time considering if he should just end it right here and now. But he could hear the enthralled cheers of his children all around him, and they clearly wanted more. This was the most fun they or even himself have had in the slog of recent weeks. Was he so cruel as to deny them of such entertainment? He looked down at the stunned flyer gasping for air and groveling at his feet, ready with his answer.

'The show must go on.'

The raider violently kicked Fereen in the chest and across his chin with a loud thunderous crack that sent shockwave's throughout his entire body like ripples in a lake. The deadly blow from just the insect's strong leg sent him spiraling through the air uncontrollably and crashing atop his back. Sliding headlong in the mud before coming to a halt, with the sight of the dark night above looking down on him. He was having trouble breathing. Something hurt. He felt broken ribs. His wrists felt weak and limp. Fereen had never realized how much he disliked pain until now.

"Crap." Fereen wheezed weakly. "He's good."

Fereen tilted his battered head up and attempted to push himself up off the ground, wincing in agony and clutching tightly to his stomach. He immediately raised a fist, expecting the general to slay him while he was down and completely unarmed. To his surprise, the general instead picked up Fereen's saber off the ground, calmly shook off the mud obscuring it's golden hilt, and tossed it neatly back in front of his Fereen's feet.

"I will not fight an unarmed prey. I want you at your best when I destroy you." The general said aloud confidently. Fereen could only scowl at the seemingly honorable and kind gesture, seeing it for what it really was. A better show of beating him to a pulp within an inch of his life for all his children to see. He wasn't done with him yet. And he wanted him to know it.

"Aww for me bug? You shouldn't have. I didn't.... He coughed. "Didn't... get you anything." Fereen said greatly annoyed as he fought to regain his breath, his innards aching and pounding.

Fereen sighed as he limped over and pick up his weapon. His chest and stomach hurt immensely, but he had to keep fighting. That was all that could be done. Just a bit longer.

He leaned down and picked his saber out of the dirt. The general still kept his distance, waiting intently in the rain until he could resume the humiliation of this weak soldier. This was the fool who bested his sons? He was no longer impressed.

Fereen reignited the liquid blade as both the opponents raised their weapons and lunged viciously towards one another. The deadly duel continued to unfold in front for all to see. One fighting for entertainment. The other survival.

But not for himself.

Shena could hear the desperate duel unfolding, as well as the cheers of the raiders. She could tell who losing. She fought the urge to stop and look at her friend's desperate struggle, but she had to focus on getting to the pistol. That was all she could afford to think about now. Nothing else.

Shena grunted as she strenuously reached her weak arm's in front one at a time. Dragging her bruised body through the muddy water with every shred of her remaining energy. Her head felt like it was going to burst at any second. But she could see the pistol just in front of her. She was almost there. As she continued her struggle she saw something buried in the mud that caught her eye just enough to make her stop briefly for a second.

The severed antenna she had spat out from earlier.

An idea formed instantly in her mind that might assist her desperate friend in his battle.

Fereen fell back against the dirt hard after failing again to make contact yet again. Having been tossed aside effortlessly by the raider. The general then turned his back confidently to raise his arms and let off a mighty roar of excitement towards his offspring. His children loved it and cheered aloud in response as gratitude for the entertainment provided tonight so kindly from their mighty father.

'Cocky bastard.' thought Fereen, greatly annoyed while wheezing for air. 'Someone's a bit of an attention hog. Although to be fair so was he.'

Fereen weakly stood up shaking and covered in dirt yet again. Hearing a faint hissing noise being created behind his back.

"Pssshh!" Shena whispered trying to get his attention without attracting the attention of the crowd.

He briefly turned to face her staring slyly right at him from on the ground. Raising two fingers with one hand to rest atop her head like rabbit ears, and with the other, began gesturing a cutting motion with her bloodied palm across.

He got it immediately.

Fereen was now exhausted and bruised, but regardless he raised his saber, positioned his feet, and charged to slash at the distracted ant with his back turned yet again. Only now with a renewed vigor and confidence. The general shifted his eyes behind toward his hasty opponent and grinned. He loved letting his enemies think they had an opening. He turned around and attacked with both saber's simultaneously. His intent was to go for the legs not to kill. He wanted to keep the excitement going for just a bit longer.

But to the General's great surprise, The aquatic didn't follow through with the desperate assault.

Instead the flying fish jumped over the two swords and spread his wings far apart. Flapping them just once in order to soar over the general's head. The acrobatic aquatic spiraled as he severed cleanly through both of the insect's thin sensitive antenna in one precise motion, before then grabbing them right out of the air with just one hand for a bit of added flair as the finishing touch.

The other raiders feel dead silent, as Fereen landed on his legs in perfect skill behind their stunned father.

"Aghhh!!!" Belowed the general in agony. He clutched the top of his bloodied head with two of his arms as he knelt down in great discomfort. The pain was absolutely unbearable, more so than losing even a limb. He could barely think let alone stand.

Fereen was breathing quickly, his heart pumping blood like a machine. He shifted his stance and looked over toward Shena in the distance. She had reached the pistol. Shena loaded the last mag into the small gun and hid it behind her back. She looked toward her corporal just standing in the rain, doing nothing.

She decided it was time to give her corporal a little bit of friendly advice.

"Quit beating around the bush and Kick his ass Fereen!!!" She grinned.

Fereen smiled under his helmet and turned back toward the enraged general clutching the top of his head in pain.

"What? I thought you liked fighting dirty bug." said Fereen amused. Tossing the insect's severed antenna dripping yellow blood with a flick of his wrist into the dirt right in front of his dumbfounded children.

"Well now were playing by on equal footing."

Fereen raised his saber, spread his wings wide apart and charged. Forming a heroic and swift arc of motion with his blade to aim right for the general's hand reaching hastily for two his yellow swords. The raider slashed his glowing saber desperately hoping to counter. But the aquatic was now far to swift for him to repel in his current state.

Fereen cut off the attacking arm in a quick strike before slicing off the left by its wrist for good measure. The old warrior screamed in agony clutching the two stumps of his now amputated larger arms. Fereen then slammed the old raider bluntly atop its head with the palm of his sword. Before finally kicking the elderly insect across it's face with the ball of his heel. Bringing the famed gladiator to rest atop his knees concussed. And completely at his mercy.

Everyone remained silent. Only the sound of the rain filled the void across the soaked battlefield.

The flying fish approached closer panting and exhausted. Shena stared proudly upon her friend standing in the rain victorious despite the odds which had been stacked against him.

He had done it.

The rain continued pouring and washing off the generals blood atop its skull as it looked up, dazed and stunned. Struggling to regain his footing to keep fighting for his children. Fereen was expecting the old insect to do something stupid or beg. But was only surprised when the general turned his bloodied head up to face him.

He was smiling. Almost slightly impressed at being mutilated.

"Good fight." The general coughed. "But it's not over yet."

"Yield...General." Tell your children to stand down. Or I kill you. Fereen said sternly. Pointing his saber at his head.

The general grinned unafraid.

"Go ahead." The old warrior said calmly. "Then my children's vengeance will only be swifter. The moment your blade strikes me, theirs will do the same to your friend over there before she can even lift her dirt stained weapon..."

"But you.."

Fereen slowly raised and flipped his blue saber over in the air to prepare a final downward stab, uninterested in finding out what the insect's last words were. He held tightly to the handle as he carefully positioned the sharpened glowing blade to aim right for the raider's head and at last deliver the quick justice that was all this beast deserved for everyone to see.

"You're fate is sealed now." Whispered the general. "Because you have forgotten one crucial thing about me and our family, something you will never understand...."

The general was no longer making eye contact with Fereen above him. Instead looking off into the distance behind them both as if he were waiting for something.

"I am never alone." The general grinned victorious one again.

Fereen's eyes widened as he tried to move out of the way. But it was too late.

All Shena could do was watch in as horror as the last soldier under her command and her greatest childhood friend fell forward and collapsed atop his chest in the mud not moving. A bloodied spear and shrapnel bullet. Lodged in his back by every single one of the general's loyal surviving children who had not missed their mark in the slightest.