Chapter 26: Enraged

They clash head on, Both dealing and taking damage equally the air around them getting dense and dense. After every slash and thrust, They both started staggering and running out of breath.

"Fuh, You're skilled, Kid"

"Save your breath for the killing blow"

"Woo scary"

But Vade got so many trick with his dagger, He can create a counter attack but first he need to take stabilize his breath to make this tactic work. So he stare Ray as long as possible, Until his breath his stabilize of course Ray also got his own trick but for now he also want to stabilize his breath.

Once his breathing is stabilize he will immediately take down Vade. After staring for a couple of minutes of staring their breathing has stabilize and ready to be in action.

"This is it"

"Yeah but it will be my win"

"Don't push your luck kid"

They both once again clashing head on, But this time their speed and power of every strike are increased dramatically. Blood start to sprout out from their body but their both manage to dodge the fatal blow from each other.

The flow of the battle start to change when Vade manage to land a hit on Ray chest, Ray barely dodge the slash and Vade start to charge again giving no chance for Ray to recover from his wound. The slash also tear Ray's cloth.

His speed and strength gradually decrease because of the wound that Vade inflicted, But he's not giving up he still can fight although he's on the bad shape. Ray's willpower is still strong, His willpower also send a chill towars Vade's spine.

'What an unyielding willpower, I never once met someone with an unyielding willpower'

Vade's instinct told him to end this fight as quickly as possible, Without any second thought Vade charge towards Ray's again with an intent to finish Ray in one strike. But Ray didn't move from his place he stay still like he's waitng for something to come and as expected once Vade enter a certain amount of range, Ray's blade start to slash immediately.

Vade also barely dodge the slash and Ray manage to scratch his chest they're both even now, Wound on chest and now fatigue start to affect them they both once again staggering.

'I should finish this while I can I didn't have much time yet, I could easily finish this but why my body won't cooperate with me, Am I scared?'

Vade started to realise that his body won't listen to him, So what can he do right now is to use his trump card once again 'Assassin instinct' but this time he can solely focus on one person and not four. Ryo, Zed, Bell just watching Ray struggling from but they can't interfere because Ray wanted to duel Vade.

Since Vade has activate his trump card, He will go all out against Ray and will try his best to defeat Ray no matter what it takes. Of course Ray is also on his limit he can fall anytime. So they both can't waste time from now on.

Vade start to attacking Ray and use some of of his afterimage to confuse Ray, So many autoimage attacking Ray but he's still calm he knows if he attack the afterimage he will become vulnerable to Vade next attack. So he wait patiently. On Vade side he can't messed up if he messed up just once, It will be over for him.

So it become waiting game, But the longer they drag this most likely they will faint before they could finish the fight. In the mist of battle an idea pop up on Ray's head, He will bait Vade, The moment Ray attack his afterimage Vade will immediately attack.

Meanwhile on the other side of battlefield Taiga still enjoying the sight of battlefield, But he feel strange, Why vade took too much time just to dealing with some kids. He try to be positive by thinking that Vade is playing with the kids right now, But that is not the case, it's quite the opposite.

"Heh I worry for nothing huh"

On the blacksmith the old man is still forging their weapon without even care about the situation that is happening right now. He thought the kids is playing some games, He didn't care what was happening on the outside.

"Kids nowadays can't they just shut the hell up for a second"

Ignorant is bliss, That is the legendary smith only for you.

Ray's friends who watch from the side can't help but to admire Ray's courage, Although he can be selfish sometimes.

"If it were me I'll be dead in any second now"

"Heh really Ryo?"

"Yes this kind of battle is so intense, Both of them is under a big pressure"

Even Ryo admit he will collapse in any second if he is the one who is fighting Vade, But Tezz never doubt their skill, They still can catch up with Ray. So next time Ryo will be the one who fight this battle.

This is crucial for both of them, So they can't afford to make a mistake, Since this will take forever Ray start the first move by attacking on of Vade's afterimage. Vade see the opportunity to strike but his body won't move. He force his body to move but still can't.

"Shit what should I do, This is the only opportunity for me to move my damn body!"

Ray is also waiting for Vade to strike but he's surprised because the main body is not attacking him so he stop attacking for a bit and wait for another chance.

"shit I can't afford to miss this the next one will be my last strike ths fatigue is killing me"

After clearing his head, Vade finally can move he thinks too much before so he is ready for now same with Ray Vade is also on his last stand. He start to focus more and wait for Ray to make a mistake again.

"I think he is ready now I should lure him now"

Once again Ray seems to attack blindy without considering anything, On the other side Vade already going for the kill he dash with full speed just when he enter Ray's zone, He immediately realise that Ray was waiting for this moment.

"Ah it's feint, What a wonderful tactic"

Vade can't stop anymore with the full speed all he can hope is his dagger can reach Ray's body. But Ray's blade already reach his chest, It goes through his chest and Vade's dagger only reach Ray's hand. In the end the winner is Ray but he's also suffer from a great damage.

After he pull his sword out of Vade's chest Ray collapse, His friends immediately rush towards him. On the other side Taiga feel pain in his chest, He is also surprised, He never got his felling of pain. So he immediately rush to find Vade.

After searching for a while, He found someone laying on the ground, He immediately rush towards the body and what he found is his advisor laying in the ground lifeless and so much blood. He immediately grab him and scraming in agony.

"Tai...ga be care...ful wi..th the zom..bie boy"

That is his last word, Taiga scream and cry in agony he can't hold his tears anymore.

"UWARGGGGH!!!"

His scream is heard by the whole kingdom, Enrage by his advisor's death he immediately search for the kids luckily the kids already hiding inside an abandon house. While trying to take care of Ray's wound. They also heard that screaming but they can't do anything right now.

"I will hold him up until Ray is awake you two stay here with Ray"

A word from Ryo, Simple yet they can't disagree with him so Ryo will try to hold Taiga as long as he can.