Chapter 61

Salisbury found himself in a fierce battle, defending himself with his sword against the arrows whistling through the air towards him. With quick and precise movements, he skillfully dodged the projectiles, each one representing a deadly threat.

Meanwhile, a man with long, vibrant purple hair emerged among the soldiers, moving with unmatched agility. His hair swayed to the rhythm of his dizzying speed as he avoided colliding with any of the combatants. Firm in his hand, the bow announced his relentless intent.

François, for that was the audacious archer's name, spotted a gap in the formation and used a soldier's back as his improvised springboard. With a powerful leap, he soared through the air, his voice echoing through the battle in a command and encouragement to Sir Gilles.

"Sir Gilles! What are you waiting for? You're not thinking of surrendering to death now, are you? Rise up!" François's voice resonated with fervor on the battlefield. With extraordinary dexterity, he nocked an arrow on the bowstring, even in mid-air, and launched it towards Salisbury, who once again had to wield his sword to defend himself.

Gilles, moved by the sight of a chance to escape with his life, tried to rise. However, his strength failed him in one of his arms. With unwavering determination, he utilized his legs and back in an extraordinary movement that defied the laws of nature. As if delivering a final blow against gravity itself, he propelled his body upward in a herculean effort to rise.

Salisbury, even with the awareness of Gilles's presence, was occupied with the deadly arrows continuing to be launched by François. Helpless in the situation, he frustratingly watched Gilles's miraculous effort while his own defense demanded his complete concentration.

Salisbury, with his tireless courage, skillfully dodged the deadly arrow shot by François, moving with the agility of a feline towards the archer. His steps were swift and determined, his eyes fixed on the target before him. His heart raced in his chest, fueling his fierce determination.

François, aware of the imminent threat, tried to retreat, but the limited space and the soldiers around him prevented him from escaping completely. His movements were frantic, a dangerous dance on the battlefield. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he fought to avoid any unwanted collision.

At the height of tension, Salisbury struck François with a precise blow. His sword gleamed like a silver ray under the sun as it mercilessly aimed for the archer's neck. Fate seemed sealed.

However, in an act of incredible heroism, Gilles found strength beyond expectations and interposed his own sword between the fatal attack and François. His tense muscles demonstrated an unwavering determination to protect his comrade-in-arms.

François felt a shiver run down his spine, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He had faced death up close, on the verge of engaging in close combat, a battle in which his skills were questionable. But Gilles's timely arrival had granted him a new chance at survival.

"Watch out!" François's cry was filled with urgency as he pulled Gilles by the neck, diverting him from the deadly path of Salisbury's blade, which narrowly missed his head. Gilles, wide-eyed, witnessed the imminent attack that almost claimed his life.

"Thank you. Once again, I owe you my gratitude," Gilles expressed, his voice tinged with sincere appreciation, as he stood beside François, who had once again saved him from the edge of the abyss.

"You're welcome. You saved me at the opportune moment. And don't worry if I intervene in your fight, is that okay?" François asked, knowing he couldn't remain passive in the face of the imminent threat looming over Gilles. He was determined to fight alongside his comrades, no matter the risks involved.

"Of course not. I appreciate your readiness to come to my aid," Gilles replied, a sense of pride echoing in his words. But what good was pride if it was subjugated by death? On the battlefield, the rules were different, and survival was the only objective. There was no room for vanity.

"Great, two against one. Perhaps that way the balance will shift a little more," Salisbury commented, his tone full of confidence. He moved his shoulders, preparing for the imminent challenge. He knew he would face an intense fight but trusted in his ability to stay alive, even if victory was not guaranteed. He clung to the certainty that he had the capacity to survive, although no one could assert it with absolute certainty.

Gilles, driven by fierce determination, launched himself into a relentless attack! His muscles pulsed with energy as he ran swiftly, propelled by agile legs. With a firm hand on the hilt of his sword and the other incapacitated by a broken shoulder, he delivered a quick and precise blow.

Salisbury, agile like a predator at the peak of his ability, moved his arms skillfully to defend himself. However, his attention was diverted when an arrow shot by François flew towards him, forcing him to duck. And as Salisbury lowered himself, he came face to face with Gilles's knee, protected by a gleaming armor.

The impact was devastating. Gilles's knee found the perfect target, striking Salisbury's face head-on. A wave of pain erupted within him as a tooth broke and blood gushed from his mouth. The force of the blow didn't stop there, wreaking havoc beyond the surface.

With sharp reflexes, Gilles swiftly moved away from the commander, seizing the moment as Salisbury recovered from the blow. But before Salisbury could react, François stealthily approached Gilles from behind, preparing to release an arrow from his bow.

Salisbury, once again, had to defend himself from François's attacks while Gilles relentlessly advanced towards him. Arrows rained around him, threatening his well-being.

"This is becoming irritating," Salisbury grumbled, frustrated. He decided to let the arrows hit his body, but they found non-vital targets. Gilles correctly anticipated that Salisbury would defend himself, but he didn't expect him to use his body as a shield.

With tremendous strength, Salisbury delivered a powerful blow to Gilles, who retaliated with determination. However, the lack of use of one of his hands weakened his strength, putting him at a disadvantage against the experienced commander.

A devastating punch flew towards Gilles's face, throwing him off balance with the force of the impact. The blow was enough to leave him dazed, almost knocked out.

Without wasting time, Salisbury quickly turned towards François, fiercely charging at him. However, François narrowly escaped at the last moment, evading the imminent attack.

Determined not to let his opponent escape unpunished, Salisbury changed his tactics. Gripping the blade of his sword by the hilt, he viciously struck François's face.

Despite his efforts to dodge, François couldn't avoid the precise blow. Part of his mouth was torn away, leaving his teeth exposed in a sinister smile. Intense pain tormented every fiber of his being, causing indescribable agony.

"Die!" Salisbury vociferated as he charged towards François. However, before he could deliver the fatal blow, Gilles emerged like an unstoppable force, launching himself at Salisbury and ruthlessly bringing him down to the ground, thus saving François's life.

Despite the excruciating pain, François promptly recovered and, with relentless skill, shot accurate arrows towards the stunned Salisbury, lying on the ground.

The arrows embedded themselves in the ground as Salisbury, with superhuman effort, managed to move away from the deadly trajectory. As he lifted his head, he was confronted by the imminent presence of Gilles, advancing with his unsheathed sword. Aware of the impending threat, Salisbury raised his sword and prepared for the imminent confrontation.

With surprising strength, Salisbury managed to push Gilles aside, throwing him back with a staggering display of raw power. Wasting no time, he lunged towards François, with Gilles promptly regaining his momentum to join the battle.

In a daring impulse, Gilles wielded his sword with lethal precision, striking Salisbury's neck head-on. However, to his frustration, the sword did not cut through the flesh completely, hindered by Salisbury's tenacious resistance as he exerted all his strength to avoid decapitation.

As the piercing pain throbbed in his guts, François, summoning his final courage, launched an arrow towards Salisbury. However, the recent injury limited his strength, causing the arrow to be shot with less power. Still, the arrow found its mark, piercing Salisbury's eye. Gilles and François glimpsed the enemy's weakness and realized that the end was near. However, Salisbury, incredibly obstinate, lifted his head, displaying the arrow embedded in his eye.

In a last desperate act, Salisbury delivered a precise blow to François's chest, who was dangerously close. Simultaneously, with his remaining hand, he grabbed Gilles's neck and squeezed with suffocating force.

François felt the piercing of his body like a wave of excruciating pain. Gilles, on the verge of unconsciousness, struggled to stay alert, determined to deliver the final blow against Salisbury.

"Gilles!" François shouted desperately, understanding that both their lives were at stake.

"I know! I'm trying... aaaaaa!" Gilles roared in response. Salisbury was determined to eliminate both of them as quickly as possible. However, with an immense strength and unwavering determination, Gilles felt his sword penetrate deeper and deeper into Salisbury's flesh.

Realizing that the end was approaching, Salisbury redoubled his efforts to eliminate his opponents. With a fury fueled by the will to survive, Gilles finally managed to sever Salisbury's neck with a devastating blow. The enemy's body took an agonizing second before falling heavily to the ground, only toppling over after the decapitated head met the earth, thus sealing Salisbury's fate in a macabre outcome.

"You're alive, aren't you?!" Gilles, staggering, fixed his gaze on his enemy's lifeless body lying on the ground. A deep sigh escaped his lips, blending with the exhaustion that consumed him. Despite his senses conveying the throbbing pain coursing through his own body, a silent relief filled his being as he realized the battle had come to an end.

"Apparently, yes..." François, struggling, reached out his trembling hand to touch the sword impaled in his chest. In an attempt to free himself from the agony that imprisoned him, he struggled to remove it, but his solitary efforts proved futile.

"If we remain motionless, we will surely find death!" Gilles mustered all his strength to walk, despite the limitations that plagued him. His determination, though shaken, urged him to continue.

"True, but I'll need help..." François directed his gaze towards the sky, unable to conceal his silent plea. As deafening cries and metallic clamor permeated the chaotic environment, Gilles's footsteps echoed, resolute.

"Go ahead, it seems we're far from putting an end to this battle!" Gilles firmly grasped François's outstretched hand. The English soldiers, stunned by the death of their commander, let out alarmed cries and stepped back slightly, granting them a brief respite.

------------------

38 advanced chapters on my Patreon: patreon.com/Louisdg