Azarax approached with deadly intent, but Zero stood his ground. With a broad focus on Azarax, he saw everything. At the moment Azarax's hands shifted, Zero raised his blade and blocked the first strike. Tensing his hands, he just managed to block the second strike as well.
Then Zero attacked with a forward thrust. Azarax parried it, then he brought his blade back around in a flowing motion. Expecting the move Azarax had done in the past, Zero was already ready and successfully deflected the attack to the side.
Then, in a similar fashion to what Azarax had done, Zero switched his angle of attack and sliced forward. His blade met nothing as Azarax stepped back.
Azarax grinned and said something, but his words were drowned out by the roar of the crowd, which had just become louder with cheers.
Zero wasted no time to clarify and went on the attack. As he knew how Azarax counterattacked, Zero placed his bets on being able to block that if he must. Of course, Azarax parried the strike and brought his sword back around for a strike. Zero blocked it and attacked once more, only to be parried by Azarax's impeccable defence.
Zero retreated after receiving Azarax's blow. By now, this fight had well become his longest, and quite frankly, it was a miracle Zero had not been slain. Especially as Zero had run out of tricks.
Quickly, his mind ran through more opportunities. He could not throw his sword, as Azarax would probably dodge again, and the ground was too hard to throw sand at Azarax like the sand beast had done.
Gritting his teeth, he once again charged at Azarax. This time, the outcome was different. Zero charged Azarax, but as he charged, Azarax sent a swift strike at Zero, one that was too swift for Zero to notice and, for that matter, block. Oblivious to the danger, Zero sent a thrust forward.
For the skilled Azarax, he could side-step it or even backstep it with his dexterity. Then his strike would have surely ended the match.
So, flesh was hit–but it was not Zero who would die.
Zero's blade slid through Azarax's chest and came out the other side.
Azarax's blade stopped a mere hair's breadth from Zero's neck. A moment later, his blade clanged against the rough ground.
When he looked forward, he met the eyes of a trembling boy. Perhaps it was the light, but the boy's eyes looked almost red.
Then he laid his hand upon the boy's trembling hand.
"You did well… may your blade continue to strike true."
With that, Azarax pulled the sword out, then fell to his knee.
{Mundane Human slain}
{Remembrance Valiant Blade has resonated with your Spirit}
He died kneeling
~~~
Zero sat in his gloomy cell, and at this point, he felt just as gloomy as well. As if a fitting confinement for his crimes.
He was dealing with shock, loss, and perhaps anger? Though now was not the time for that. He had already been doddling for at least an hour, and his next fight could come at any moment. Hopefully, this one would be his last.
He mentally sent a command to open the glyphs.
{
Name: 0
Tier: –
Class: –
Blessings: –
Curses: –
Boons: –
Skills:
[Optic Sight]
Spirit Level: –
Remembrances: [Valiant Blade]
}
Zero focused in on Valiant Blade.
{
[Valiant Blade](Seeker)
(Description)
(The first blade of the legendary hero from a distant land, and a gift from his mentor. The blade is not the sharpest or strongest, but the most valiant it is. The first blade of Azarax of the Fallen. The first to slay a God.)
(Attributes/Skills)
Valiant Effort: The more determination and bravery the wielder shows, the sharper and swifter the blade becomes.
Works of a Hero: While holding the blade, the wielder's fear will be tamed.)
}
The description first caught Zero's eye. It was confusing for he did not know what a "remembrance" even was. Judging by the name, it was a sort of reminder of someone or something?
The description did seem like a memento of sorts, and quite a spectacular one. The blade of a hero, and the first to slay a God.
'And I killed him? Jeez.'
Zero had always intended to survive, even if it meant killing. But it was a punch to the gut that the first person he killed happened to be his only friend. Even worse, he killed a hero, someone who slayed a God. Or maybe he was going to?
Zero was not sure, to be honest. He did not think that at the current moment, or rather the moment two hours ago, Azarax could kill a God. Maybe with some advanced technology, man could eventually slay a God of sorts, but Zero could not think of any such technology.
Next Zero looked towards the Attributes and Skills. The existence of such a thing pointed towards this memento having some practicality. After all, his own skill had saved his life many times already.
After reading through the Valiant Effort effect, Zero wondered if it was why Azarax was so swift with his swordsmanship. The Works of a Hero attribute seemed quite useful as well, though he doubted Azarax would have needed to use it.
Now it was time to see how this remembrance could be used.
'Reveal thyself!'
Zero reeled back in shock as a blade appeared in front of his face. The blade slowly built up, creating a frame of sorts until it appeared into existence.
The blade had a brown handle with a tinge of metal at its end. The cross guard was a touch generous and had a single crimson crystal embedded into it. The blade was just the slightest bit curved and was perhaps generously big for cutting.
It was Azarax's blade.
Once it finally completed its descent into reality, Zero instantly felt an emotion inside him dull. As if part of the anticipation for his final match had been pushed down.
'Is this feeling fear?'
{Works of a Hero: While holding the blade, the wielder's fear will be tamed.}
The part of the glyphs stood out for a moment as Zero thought of it.
Zero tried using the other ability by swinging the sword. At the moment, it seemed he was too dejected to properly use Valiant Effort. But, in his next fight, it might be of use.