Bowmen

Before Emile could think of something to do, the warriors released their arrows. Thinking it through, if the warriors launched their arrows simultaneously and at the same target then all Emile needed to do was duck.

He crouched down, placing one knee on the stone floor. Above him, three arrows collided, crashing into one another perfectly. The arrows lost their momentum and dropped onto the floor.

Emile lunged up and surveyed around, twisting his torso to see all three warriors. As expected, each one was in the process of knocking another arrow.

Emile stood still. His brain rapidly ran through multiple scenarios. He used to be an archer, he should have some sort of insight here, right?

While watching one of the bowmen, Emile heard the crisp snap of the bowstring releasing, but it hadn't been from the statue he was watching.

Not knowing where the arrow was aimed, Emile leaped to the side—ensuring his whole frame was safe from the attack. The arrow flew past his shoulder and eventually plummeted into the sea of lava.

Immediately following, another bow string snapped. One again, not the statue Emile had his eyes on.

Emile had just leaped. His velocity was still greater than null, performing another leap would be difficult. Not to mention the fact that the second arrow was launched from an entirely new direction.

Emile dropped to the floor, laying completely flat. The arrow soared above him.

And then another snap. Emile didn't have time to stand up so he rolled across the ground. Before he collected himself he heard the arrow slam into the stone.

Emile pushed himself up and spun around. The bowmen were coordinating their attacks now, he needed to stay vigilant.

He found the bowman who was the closest to ready and narrowed his attention. The bowman knocked his arrow and guided his sights between Emile's chest.

The moment it was lined up the arrow was released. Emile stared at the arrow, unwavering.

He guided his sword through the air, either he catches the arrow or he gets hit. Emile turned his blade and angled its edge towards the arrow's tip.

He needed to deflect it.

Emile delicately slashed down, trying to parry the arrow, but the black arrowhead impaled his chest instead. Emile stepped back, buckling from the pain, but there were two more arrows coming.

Ignoring the arrow lodged in his chest, Emile turned to face the next bowmen in line. His bow was drawn, his arm pulled back and locked, but he didn't release.

Emile heard the snap though.

An arrow slammed into the back of his shoulder. It tore through his muscle and broke through the other side, protruding through the top of his chest.

Emile dropped to his knee, but he wasn't done. He side-eyed the final warrior. The second his eyes glazed over the bowman, the arrow was released.

Emile instinctually panicked. He stared at the incoming arrow as it barreled towards him. Gripping his sword, he slashed outward in a last ditch effort to reflect the arrow.

Unexpectedly, Emile's scimitar clashed with the arrow and it ricocheted into the stone floor. Emile's eyes shone and he quickly placed his hand on the back of his shoulder.

He gripped the arrow and pulled. The arrow was sucked back into his body, tearing more muscle and tendon as it ripped through him in reverse. But he got it out and threw it across the arena.

Then, he grabbed the other arrow in his chest and did the same. Unobstructed, Breath of Essence finally activated and his wounds began to close.

Emile stood back up and readied himself once more. The bowstring snapped and Emile spun around like a vortex.

His eye caught the arrow midair and his arm followed obediently. His sword crashed into the arrow and knocked it into the ground.

Then, two more arrows were fired simultaneously. Emile found one and tried to parry it, but it was too sudden, he missed and the arrow penetrated his abdomen. At the same time, another arrow flew into his thigh.

"Why do they keep changing the f****** pattern!" Emile yelled in frustration.

Due to his outburst, Pyra appeared above the lava and offered some timely advice:

"If you're having trouble, try avoiding or blocking the arrows!"

As Emile ripped another arrow from his stomach, he stared daggers at the labyrinth's guardian.

He wanted to retort, but somewhere around him the sound of the bowstring snapping reverberated.

The hairs on Emile's body all stood up. Tingles washed over him as anxiety took control.

He didn't have enough time to find the arrow.

His eyes focused on the distance. Just in front of him, ten feet across the lava, a small stone island existed.

Out of options, Emile activated Nimbus and leaped. He flashed across the air, soaring above the sea of lava before crashing into the ground.

Taking a second to compose himself, Emile stood up and looked out.

The bowman closest to him was now two small islands away, situated on the third. Meanwhile, the other two stood comfortably across the pond: three islands and the center platform away.

An arrow was released and Emile slowed his breathing. Watching the arrow, he guided the tip of his blade. The arrow crashed into his sword and deflected into the lava.

Another arrow fired and Emile did the same, successfully blocking the arrow. Then finally, the bowman closest to him released his arrow.

Emile sidestepped it, the arrows tip grazing his loose shirt as he dodged. The second the arrow passed, white light exploded forth.

Emile's figure blurred as he flashed to the next island, but he didn't stop. Another burst of light got him to the next island and then one final burst sent him crashing towards the bowman.

Before Emile's feet hit the ground, the bowman dropped his bow and pulled a beautifully crafted, onyx blade from his waist. Slightly curved and longer than the average sword, Emile recognized it immediately.

Emile hit the ground and kept on running. He charged at the stone warrior, opening with a horizontal slash.

The warrior parried up, gently raising his katana and gliding its edge along Emile's scimitar. Emile's sword flew up, redirected by his opponent.

Before he could pull it back down, the warrior took one step forward and placed that momentum into his palm. His forearm exploded outward, his open palm obliterating Emile's chest.

His stone hand sunk between Emile's ribs, cracking three of them before Emile was launched back from the sheer force. With crazed eyes, Emile impaled the stone, preventing him from sliding any further back.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood and spit it into the lava. His chest screamed and his diaphragm was crushed making him unable to take a breath.

And just when he thought it couldn't get worse, an arrow sunk into his lower back. Immediately following, another arrow crashed into his shoulder.

Blood now flowed from his lips uncontrollably. Emile's strength almost entirely vanished and he crashed onto his knees.

He painstakingly reached around, trying to find one of the arrows impaled inside of him, but his body was too sore, his muscles were too tight and he couldn't reach far enough.

As his vision began to blur, the stone feet of the warrior stepped into his frame of sight. Looking up, the warrior's katana was raised in the air. From an onlooker's perspective, Emile's situation looked like a beheading.

Tears swelled in Emile's eyes. Snot seeped from his nostrils and mixed with the river of blood that poured from his lips.

The warrior swung and Emile closed his eyes. One second. Two.

Emile felt a slight sting on his neck, but that was all. Opening his eyes, the warrior remained before him. Emile turned his head, following the katana that was hovering beside his head.

The sword's blade was gently knocked against his neck, drawing a single drop of blood. Before his eyes, the stone warrior cracked and exploded into a storm of dust.

"Don't feel too down! I'm sure you'll succeed next time!" Pyra's high-pitched voice erupted into Emile's ear, "Until then!"

Suddenly, Emile's surroundings turned black. The lava vanished. The islands vanished. Any and all sources of light miraculously disappeared.

Moments later, a delicate glow illuminated on each side of Emile. Looking around, it was the same magma that he saw at the labyrinth's entrance.

Before he could stand, he heard the scraping of doors opening. He felt a gust of wind brush against his back and the sound of footsteps pressing against the stone.

"Wow, you look like hell," Blood commented as he walked around Emile, eventually standing before him.

He outstretched his hand, offering it to Emile to stand.

"I feel like hell," Emile agreed, taking Blood's hand and forcing himself up.