The Sword & The Hammer

That morning was long and warm, with just a mist of cold. 

The knights were meticulously cleaning the limbless dead bodies of both humans and animals, while the surviving and chained individuals simply observed and wept silently. The knights added those remains to the pile of corpses, and the entire town of Tenby's Mark was reeking unfathomably. Some of the knights threw up on the open ground as their nostrils got filled with the scent of gouged eyes, decapitated bodies, and scooped flesh. 

A town that had housed hardworking miners, blacksmiths, cattlemen, pretty maidens, and merchants was now nothing but a work of bloodshed led by Arega. Those people are now headless or limbless bodies rotting among that pile of corpses. 

But the town of Tenby's Mark didn't just end there; it stretched further in a wavy, narrow path, with several dugs of mines here and there, and it was deep and dark inside. Some of the knights went inside them to loot their steel and iron resources with the help of the surviving blacksmiths. Tenby's Mark was not really popular with their vegetable and fruit farms. Only the Easterners were good with that. But what they did have were spices. Expensive and exotic spices that come from hybrids of different chilies mixed together give a great and succulent flavor to the right dish, and they have a great market value all over the Realm. So the knights looted those as well, mercilessly. 

And surprisingly, there were no birds in sight. 

The crowd murmured, saying that it could be because of Arega. His demented and demonic presence made even the lesser-sensed birds disappear. They were usually hidden in the dark-oaked trees that filled the town's path, but no. The trees were all alone that day, and they swung gently to the uncertain wind. 

Though the town was somewhat laid-back and simple, the huts they had built were exceptionally decent and impressive-looking compared to the rich streets of Wolkcaster. The huts here had personality and craftsmanship to them, each and every one of them, with intricate and complex patterns hand-sculpted on them. Even the doors had interesting artwork hand-painted on them, which made the kids sit and make up stories for them. It was good—so good that even the merciless Arega did not have the heart to burn them down. Instead, he picked his favorite out of them all to torture the poor girl. 

…

As the knights cleared the mess, they formed a large circle outside Arega's hut for the battle. They kicked away the small rocks that were hidden and stuck on the floor to avoid any trembling during the fight. They also flattened the floor as much as they could, but they knew that this one-on-one battle was going to be a slice of pie for Arega. He and Warbreaker could stop or withstand any kind of obstacle or pressure.

"Hahaha! You really think that false prophet kid can even touch Arega's shadow? Hahahaha!" 

The knights laughed and wheezed every time they thought about Yin. 

"I can't think of anyone else who has held a conversation for that long with Lord Arega." 

"I agree. But that fuckin' dork doesn't stand a chance. He's gonna die." 

"Yeah, and Lord Arega's also gonna have those two hotties. Man, I wish I were at least a little stronger so I could bed with anyone I wish at times like this."

"Yeah, me too. Fuck, they are hot." 

…

Tara and Neil went away to shelter, dress, and comfort the old man's traumatized daughter. 

The rest of the seven stood among the knights in the circle, watching them make the ground for the battle. 

Yin went and stood in the middle of the circle, wielding Destiny in his right hand. 

"Eh! Is that the royal sword of the East? What the fuck! How did he get that?" The knights exclaimed and cursed him.

Vegas walked over to Yin, carrying a worried face.

"You think you can beat him?" She asked with uncertainty.

"V! Hey! Don't worry! I won't hurt him! Nor can he! Haha!" Yin answered with a laugh.

"He looks scary." She admitted.

"Scarier than a giant from hell?" 

"Yeah, I'd rather spear two mindless Molten Giants than whatever the fuck he is." 

"Hahaha! I may slip here and there, but I got this. He can't cut through me, cause I'm probably a lot faster than him." 

"Eh, if at any point it looks like you're losing, I will swoop in and kill him." Vegas said angrily as she recalled Arega's filthy behavior towards her.

"Vegas, no. This is a one-on-one. It has to be fair. After all, I'm a sportsman."

"Whatever." 

Vegas casually walked back to the circle, near her crew. 

"What'd he say?" It was Lars's voice that asked the question.

"He seems confident." Vegas answered quietly.

"Oh. That's…good… I guess…?" 

Lars was still haunted by Arega's presence. His deep blue eyes, his menacing stare, his low and animal-like voice, the scars and tattoos on his body, and on top of everything, his long and hard cock.

"Yuck." Lars vomited inside his brain at the image of that. 

…

Yin stood ready in the middle of the large circle. 

"Hey fucker!" The knights called out to him.

"You are gonna die. Are you aware?" They all mocked and laughed at him. 

"Hahaha! My friends! I have already died once. So yes, I am very aware!" Yin responded with a wide smile.

The crowd was silenced. The murmurs and the mockery—everything stopped instantly. 

And just as silence persisted, the door of the hut opened. 

"I do admire your guts, Mr. Kong. After all, that's the first requirement of a fighter." It was the scary voice of Arega, echoing and piercing through everyone's ears. 

Everyone made way for him.

Immediately clearing to the sides.

Arega held a hammer.

A Warhammer. 

"Behold, Warbreaker!" He announced it loudly.

He held it high in the sky.

"Mr. Kong, do you know that it weighs as much as me? Your entire crew can all try at once, but I doubt they can even slightly lift it off the ground." He laughed.

Arega was covered head to toe in a shiny metallic knight's armor, while Yin had no piece of armory on him. He only had a sword. A sword named Destiny.

"Does weight really matter to skilled fighters?" Asked Yin.

"I will be the judge of that, Mr. Kong." Arega said it as he stood in front of Yin. 

Yin was a tall man himself; he got even taller here in Meilands. But Arega was a foot taller than him. Well, over seven. A mountain of a man. 

But Yin stood fearless. He had never cared or absorbed the intimidation his opponents radiated. And that was what made Yin a great swordsman back on Earth. It was not just practice and a torturous routine, but a stale and unphased mindset that only a few possessed. 

Master Li called it The Viper Mode.

…

A knight walked in between them.

"Fighters! Ready your stance!" He announced.

"Goodbye, Yin Kong." Arega said it with a grin.

Yin smiled in excitement as he gripped Destiny.

Vegas and the others stood frozen.

…

"FIGHT!"