Chapter 38: Fight to Live…
-Tttthhhuuudd-
Grada spewed into this world from the rift.
-uhhh. hhhhhuuhhh.. hhhhrrrmmmm..
Panting and grunting, the tips of his robes still smoldering from the attack, Grada barely escaped with his life.
(BlackBlood) And they say blue flames are the hottest... Tuh… What do you think?
(Grada) Huhhh... How did you find me in the rifts?? You can't see me through someone else's creation... How the hell...
(BlackBlood) No need to worry about that... How about we just fight instead...
-Woooosh-
BlackBlood rushes toward Grada and in an instant she's within range to strike...
Grada was awaiting her to come in and try to finish him, maybe even banking on it as he sidestepped and avoided her. BlackBlood rushed in, throwing off her balance a little.
-Whap.. -Nnnnnnrrrrrnnnn...
His sidestep proved useful and as her momentum led her into his range he parried her attack, and with her being so close his best move was an elbow right to the head of BlackBlood. He went for it.....
-Wham.. -Wham.. -Wham.. -Wham.. -Wham....
Five rapid punches in succession, starting at the left side of Grada's midsection, then right midsection, two more to each side, then one right to the chin...
-plmfp...
Grada was floored by the flurry. She changed from being in a vulnerable position to attacking before he could see it. BlackBlood doesn't have as much punching power as Grada does, but her speed and agility can't be matched...
(Aet) Damn.. They're polar opposites indeed, Grada has physical power enough to go head to head with almost anyone, even though that's not the strength of Druids. He has proven to be physically gifted with natural power, but he tries to battle from the shadows or rather he seeks those types of battles. BlackBlood is the fiercest Mancer I've ever come across; most of her strength comes from her powers and magic but here she is pushing the pace and being the aggressor towards the more physical fighter. If she could strike as hard as Grada, he would be dead.
-Ccrrggghhh.. Hhhhrrrrmmmm... Cccrrrggghhh...
Coughing and grabbing his rib cage from a bent knee, Grada takes his time to gather himself...
(Grada) You sure stunned the shit out of me, I couldn't predict such a situation playing out that way. It was the farthest thing from my mind, I'm not overlooking you at all and for that very same reason, I KNOW I CAN BEAT YOU....
(BlackBlood) Eh...
Both were done talking and decided it would be best to rush each other; same thoughts, same actions, kill the opponent.
-Whooooh -Whoooh
-Thoooomb...
Head on clash, as they met in the center of the Oasis, Grada threw a powerful straight kick. BlackBlood dodged it with precise head movement and countered with a side kick to Grada's section..
-Hhhhrrrrmmmpppff..
Grada took the kick in stride and kept applying pressure to BlackBlood.. But this time he would shorten his punches and try to match her timing...
-Whhhaaapp, Whhhhaaaappp..
He belted BlackBlood with two good punches; one was a jab which landed on her chin and another was a stern heavy cross that landed in the center of her chest...
-Ssssssssszzzzzz
BlackBlood was sent sliding backwards. She didn't fall, but there was a noticeable leakage of blood coming from her Diaphragm. BlackBlood was standing in a posture which showed injury, her hands on knees and doubled over. A dark shadow cast over her face as if this was a major deal...
(Aet) Could that have been the deciding moment?? Grada landed a power shot and it's done a significant amount of damage. The trail of blood stretched from Grada's hand to her feet... Wait... I can hear that...
-Plooomp.. ploomp.. plooomp... The blood was echoing off the floor of the Oasis now that it was just those two left...
-Why isn't Grada finishing her off...? How???!!!!
(BlackBlood) That tingling in your stomach? That gut-wrenching feeling; the sweat that's dripping off your brow. And the light weakening of your legs? That's all my power. Sapping your life force as you bleed...
That sound was coming from Grada, not BlackBlood....
(Grada) You FUCKING HornHead Mutt!!! When did... How did you cut me??!!! -nnnnrrrgghhh... It burns...
Grada had a gash from his armpit down to his palm and blood was oozing out onto the Oasis's floor... Gnashing his teeth and grinding his jaws in anger, Grada looked at his arm.
-TEMPER.
Grada's wound quickly welded itself shut, stopping the blood flow.
-I'm going to kill you!!
BlackBlood stood up straight and looked Grada in the eyes...
(BlackBlood) Do you feel it now??? Do you feel the hopeless position you're in???
The look on Grada's face is one of anguish, as BlackBlood is no longer wounded. Puzzlement is flowing off of Grada...
(BlackBlood) I can heal just by cutting through your flesh and getting your blood. So I took a chance on being able to withstand your best shot, knowing it couldn't kill me. So yes, my self-heal is weak but I can make up for it by slicing you open...
{BlackBlood takes a step toward Grada slowly then....}
-Whoooohhh... She rushed him quickly and was right back in his face...
-Ffffftttttkkk... Fffffttttkkkk... Fffffftttttkkkkk...
Three Slashes ripping and slicing through Grada's clothing as he dodged and contorted his body out of the way. He was putting on a premium defense now, instead of being the attacker. He could not block the attacks or she would gash his forearms open which would be beneficial to BlackBlood...
(Aet) Another shift in the momentum, Grada can't mount an offensive because BlackBlood is applying so much pressure and if she manages to cut him he's slowly dying... What a bad position to be in...
-Ffffffttttttkkkkk... whooosh... Tttthhhhhoooommmbbb....
This time Grada countered with a kick and used that to springboard himself away from BlackBlood to gain distance...
-Strength of life, bone of the forest I summon you forth!!!!-
Grada put his two hands together, an oval ring circled his palm, then suddenly a hilt of a weapon started to form and was followed by a blade of darkness and light swirling as if mixing together, leading all the way up to its flat tip. The ring was its pommel and he swiveled the sword around his hands...
(Grada) This is OakMilk. A sword forged by the Soul elders of Juniper Way. This is the sword I used to cut down your kin, and now it will serve the same purpose once more…
Grada brought out a legacy weapon to counteract BlackBlood's pressure. How will she handle it??!!
To be Continued...
Next chapter 39...
~Blood Oasis~