158 Chapter 145 - Adam vs Adam.
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Note: the next arc, is quite short.
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[Adam C. POV.]
After the explosion that had shaken the foundations of the Guild, and leaving Erza to evacuate everyone, as I made my way outside to greet my opponent. If Mystogan was right on his assumptions about the guy, it was now only a matter of time before he arrived at my location.
Pushing the massive doors of the guild open, the sudden influx of light and heat made me squint. Before me sprawled a desert landscape, the sun-drenched sand gleaming golden as far as the eye could see.
"Are you ready, girl?" I asked my Zanpakuto, feeling a low hum vibrating through her as my answer. "I guess you are."
I could tell she wasn't too happy about our situation; about the fact someone had dared to weaken us this much. But, despite that, she was still excited about the prospect of a good fight, even if that came at the cost of fighting in a weakened state.
I sighed at the thought, patiently waiting for the enemy promised to me.
Thankfully, it wasn't long before something changed in the vast expanse of sand.
There, on the crest of a nearby dune, a solitary figure stood, an ominous silhouette against the glaring desert sun, the man wore an armor dyed as dark as night, sporting an eerie, skull-like mask that obscured his features.
From the distance, I could see their hand resting on the pommel of a sheathed sword, a claymore, of blackened steel that seemed to go with the armor.
It seemed like Mystogan was right.
"Adam," Erza's voice rang out behind me, "The guild has been evacuated."
"Great, now go help the others," I replied, keeping my eyes locked on the figure in the distance. "I'll handle this."
Erza hesitated for a moment, for reasons I could understand, before nodding and running off.
Cracking my neck from side to side, I smiled, taking the first step forward to meet my adversary. As I walked, the wind whistled a lonesome tune between us, as if mourning the peace that was about to be shattered.
"Hello there," I waved, a friendly smile on my face.
The man didn't reply, hell, he didn't even acknowledge my greeting. Instead, he simply drew his claymore out, the metal ringing out like a bell in the silence of the desert.
I chuckled, watching as he began to walk towards me, his steps slow and measured.
"By the orders of the King, you are to come with me, dead or alive," The man finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly.
I raised an eyebrow in amusement, unsheathing my Zanpakuto and twirling it around in my hand. "Is that so? Lovely invitation, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer. You see, I don't like people telling me what to do."
The man didn't seem fazed by my words, only continuing to walk towards me. As he approached, I could feel the weight of his presence, his aura emanating a sense of danger and power I hadn't felt in a long time.
At this, I couldn't help the broad smile that crept up on my face, my eyes glinting with excitement and a strong desire to fight the man in front of me.
"So, what's your name?" I asked, readying myself.
"What purpose does a name serve to someone who's about to die?" The man replied without any emotion behind his words.
I suppose he's beyond introductions then.
In that case, I will simply acknowledge him by his last name to avoid confusion. Cromwell.
"Fair enough," I replied, taking a step forward.
In the blink of an eye, Cromwell launched himself at me, blurring out of sight, as the sand erupted where he had been standing, shooting in all directions.
I, however, remained unmoved, the grip on my blade tightening as I readied myself.
Cromwell's attack was swift and ruthless, his claymore aiming to rip through my flesh, looking to end me in a single strike. But unfortunately for him, I was faster than I looked. So, in a graceful arc, I moved aside, my Zanpakuto parrying his claymore in a flash of sparks.
Our weapons clashed, echoing through the deserted landscape, sending out a powerful shockwave that surged through the air, rippling outwards across the vast desert, stirring up clouds of sand that expanded like waves around us.
Without losing momentum, I retaliated with a swift upward slice, increasing my speed to test the waters. And much to my surprise, Cromwell ducked fast, his body almost melting into the ground, slithering like a snake before rising again, his claymore flashing towards my face at twice the speed he had shown so far.
Taken aback by this, I barely managed to parry, the force of his attack pushing me back, dragging my feet across the desert for several meters. Wasting no time, Cromwell pressed on, his movements erratic yet dangerously precise, like a wild beast homing in on its prey.
He was even better than I imagined.
Grinning at this, I focused on his movements, pressing my senses to read and anticipate his attacks, my battle hungry smile never wavering.
And once again, the sharp ring of metal struck the desert air once more, creating a symphony of steel, as sparks erupted with each continuous clash, igniting the sand around us.
In a sudden burst of speed, I moved forward, my Zanpakuto a silver blur in the desert sunlight. Cromwell, taken by surprise, failed to dodge in time, as my blade grazed his side, drawing a line of crimson through his armor against his skin.
"What's your name?" Cromwell asked, the tone of his voice sounding different from before, carrying now a mix of respect and curiosity, instead of total indifference.
"Adam," I replied.
"Ah, I see. That actually explains a lot," Cromwell replied with a dry chuckle escaping his mask. "You're that world's version of me, aren't you?"
"Bingo," I replied.
Wait a damn minute, he needed my name to get to that conclusion?
But... I'm not wearing a mask.
Is this guy blind?
As if reading my thoughts, Cromwell let out a deep, throaty chuckle that seemed to echo in the room. "I'm not blind, if that's what you're thinking." With those words, he slowly reached up and peeled off the skull-shaped mask, revealing underneath a face similar to mine, with a blindfold covering his eyes.
"A blindfold?" I replied.
"He who can only strike what he sees is a second-rate warrior," Cromwell replied, taking a step forward. "Now, show me what you got, and perhaps you will force me to use my eyes."
Haha.
Cocky little shit.
Very well then.
I will make you rip that blindfold out of your face, bastard.
"Don't underestimate me," I replied, getting into position to resume our fight.
How fun, how fun this truly was!
