Jesse gasped for air once again. He felt blood dripping from his wounds that had reopened. Nira and Tormund both had the essence from the soldiers they killed but Jesse hadn’t absorbed any since the fight with the necrescent. It made for a difficult run.

  Despite this, they had been running for a couple hours. Their pursuers had given chase and stayed roughly a half hour away, with Kaelan and the necrescent pulling ahead of the soldiers and being about 15 minutes away if Jesse’s group stopped to rest for a few minutes.

  “We have to stop.” Jesse gasped. “This isn’t going to work. Kaelan and the necrescent will just outrun Tormund and I.” His legs felt like jelly. He might be in the best shape of his life but he was still a normal human.

  Tormund stayed silent and Nira looked grim. Myra nodded as if she had already come to the same conclusion.

  “I’ll stay. You both go.” Tormund said. “I can keep them busy for a while.”

  “No you can’t.” Nira said. “You are skilled in many ways but most of them aren’t that useful against the necrescent. Kaelan is much much faster than you, it would be a short fight. I can stay though. Give you two a chance to escape.”

  “No. We aren’t leaving anyone behind. No noble sacrifice bullshit.” Jesse said. “We can’t lose anyone in this group. If they take me though, they will capture me alive for the Archon. I could just surrender. You could flee and break in to get me out later.”

  “Not if the Archon kills you.” Tormund said.

  “I’m not going to tell Rebecca that we let her dad get captured.” Nira said.

  Jesse frantically thought through options. Unfortunately as they had run they had also exited the wooded region. Now they found themselves in hilly plains. That was easier from a traversal perspective but horrible from a defensive one, with their limited time and resources.

  “Our only shot is to kill the necrescent and incapacitate Kaelan then. Quickly, before the other soldiers catch up.” Jesse decided.

  “Incapacitate? We need to kill that man too.” Nira said. “I know you don’t like it but he has hunted you nonstop.”

  “Yeah I know. If we get the opportunity, well we can consider it. But there is a chance we don’t get the opportunity to kill him. We need to be done before the soldiers get here. The less blood shed the better though.” Jesse said. The thought made him sick but he couldn’t refute the logic. He had somewhat come to terms with his part in the killing of the bandits but these soldiers he was less sure about. They were part of the problem but also likely oppressed by the Archons rule as well, albeit in a system they helped perpetuate.

  In the distance he could see the necrescent and Kaelan approaching. No time for traps. No time for tricks or clever schemes. They just had to fight this one out. He drew the club from the loop on his belt. In his other hand, his left hand where the stump of an arm used to be, he now had something reminiscent of a steampunk limb. It was basic, with articulated joints for a combined four fingers and no thumb. It was powered by the crystal in his AI core on his arm and he could at least use it to grip slightly better than the hook he had been using. He had ideas for improvements already if they survived this. He used it to unsling his shield.

  Tormund drew his sword and readied his other hand for casting. Nira pulled out twin daggers. Aegis stepped in front of Jesse and let out a loud growl.

  “Optimal attack strategy would utilize Nira against Kaelan, as she is the only one that can match his speed.” Golem suggested.

  “Nira and Tormund, distract Kaelan while Myra, Aegis, and I kill the necrescent. Then we will either help or all disengage.” Jesse told them.

  “Sounds like a plan.” Nira said. Myra and Tormund nodded somberly.

  The necrescent and Kaelan approached but stopped about 10 feet away.

  “Jesse, stop this madness and come with me.” Kaelan told him.

  “Will you let my friends go?” Jesse asked.

  “No. They are traitors. They are responsible for the death of multiple soldiers and necrescent. You have been a costly person to capture. Besides, deserters are the worst of filth.” Kaelan said with a sneer. The necrescent snapped at the air in front of him but didn’t attack.

  What did that mean? Who deserted? Jesse figured it didn’t really matter right now.

  “Well then why would I come with you?” Jesse asked.

  “Because otherwise this is going to hurt. You don’t get to defy the Archon and walk away. Every time you run, I find you. It doesn’t matter where you go or what manner of trick you devise. No more. Let’s settle this and see who’s convictions come out stronger.”

  With that Kaelan shot forward, sword in one hand and club in the other. Nira slammed into him from the side and the two went sprawling. He saw Tormund ready a bolt of lightning before Jesse focused on his own fight.

  He charged the necrescent with a yell. He had the magical properties of the shield and club turned off to save them from being sapped by the monster. Aegis let out a bark towards the creature, a shockwave striking it, but it had no effect. This one had recently healed holes all over its monstrous form. It must have been the one that fell in their pit trap. They should have finished it off when it was there.

  Jesse ducked under the monster's leap at him and slammed the club into the creature's knee. A pop was heard but it garnered no other reaction. Aegis leapt for it the moment it touched the ground and Myra came in from the side, sticking a sword up to the hilt through its chest. They had decided for her to use a large blade rather than her hammer, as decapitation seemed much more effective against the beasts.

  “Aim for the neck and head!” Jesse yelled. He swung his club and caught it on the lower spine. The creature lashed out with a kick towards Jesse and knocked him down, the chain armor preventing the claws from cutting him.

  Myra pulled the large sword free only to be swatted by one of the creature's arms. She gained a cut across her face but seemed otherwise okay. Aegis bit at one of the arms and pulled. The creature raised its other to strike at the dog but Myra caught it mid swing with the sword. The hand came free and landed on the ground with a thump. Jesse leapt back up and moved to the front of the creature, which now struggled to balance on its remaining three limbs. He smashed it in the face with the club and when it reared back, ripping its arm free from Aegis in a spray of black blood, it swung a clawed hand at Jesse, which he caught on his shield with extreme effort. It felt like holding back a truck. To the side Myra slashed it in the back left leg, which gave way.

  Jesse risked a glance for Nira and Tormund. The battle wasn’t going well. Nira was covered in cuts. Tormund seemed unharmed but unable to make use of his essence effectively, the commander positioning the battle like an expert to always block the mage. Kaelan by comparison only had one across his cheek. They needed to hurry.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “We need to finish this and help Nira!” Jesse yelled as he slammed the creature's neck with the club. It turned back towards him and gnashed at his club with its teeth.

  Myra ran beside it and slashed down into its neck. The blade bit deeply but didn’t sever the creature's head. Jesse swung again with a loud crack. The creature went limp. “Finish it off!” He yelled as he turned to help Nira. In the distance Jesse could see the soldiers approaching.

  The two virescent moved so quickly Jesse could barely track them. How was he going to help? He turned on his electric weapon and the shield.

  I need you to slow everything down Golem He thought at his AI.

  The world lurched and he could feel his essence begin to drain, not that he had a lot of other uses for it. He could see Nira struggling to keep the weapons off her. Knives weren’t great in a sword fight, as the reach gave a massive advantage over the shorter blades however, and Kaelan was a trained soldier. He exploited an opening in her guard, earning her a long gash in her stomach. It didn’t look deep but death by a thousand cuts is still death. Jesse ran towards the direction the two were heading, managing to position himself in their path. As Kaelan approached he swung his club. It stopped, the commander having dropped his own and catching Jesse’s wrist.

  “No you don’t. I said no more tricks” He said, swinging a wide arc with his sword to keep Nira back.

  Jesse struggled against his strength but could feel his wrist bones starting to give way. The pain shot up his arm and he dropped the club. Kaelan caught it and swung it at Jesse, only for it to be caught on his shield. The shockwave the shield emitted knocked the commander back but the electricity in the club ran through the shield and into Jesse. The result was Kaelan went flying back 10 feet and Jesse collapsed on the spot twitching. The commander hadn’t let go of the club however.

  Jesse's body wouldn’t listen to his commands to move as he realized how much more dangerous the commander had just become. Jesse kicked himself for not giving Nira the club. Of course she could make better use of it, why hadn’t he thought of that? Probably because it was his invention and he stupidly thought he would make the most efficient use of it.

  “Nira, he has the shock baton!” He yelled over to her after a moment.

  “That is NOT what we are calling that.” She said, wincing at one of her many cuts. She hobbled over to him. “What’s the plan here?”

  A few feet away Tormund shot a bolt of electricity at the virescent commander, who deftly dove to the side narrowly avoiding it.

  “Take the shield.” Jesse said. “It’ll protect you from the sword at least.”

  “Jesse, that thing is the only reason you are still standing right now. I’m not taking your only means of defense.” Nira replied.

  Kaelan rose to his feet and shook his head as if to clear it. He then scowled and charged them. He swung the club at Nira, who barely avoided it. The commander completely ignored Jesse, writing him off as a non-threat. Behind him Myra and Aegis finished off the necrescent and moved towards the battle. Seeing this Kaelan charged towards them, only to be flung by a bark from Aegis. The group moved to surround the commander.

  “Surender Kaelan, you know you can’t win here.” Jesse said.

  “No, I will either prevail or die serving the Archon. It is my duty.” He replied, charging Tormund. The young arcanescent raised his hand casting a spell but too slowly. The sword came down towards his neck only to be deflected by Nira. She caught it on her dagger, which sent her to one knee as she screamed. This gave Tormund an opening to blast the soldier with an electric bolt. He went rigid and dropped to the ground. The shock was powerful enough that it also went through Nira, who also went rigid and dropped.

  Neither stayed down long though, likely burning essence to hasten their recovery. Kaelan rose but as he did Aegis bit down on his hand that held the club. He yelled and used her bite as a grip to throw her into the air. She yelped as she came down 15 feet away. She didn’t get up and Jesse could feel the pain. His essence began streaming out of him at an alarming rate. Immediately he felt a tearing as the essence consumption moved from his pool and into his life essence. He gasped and fell to one knee. The pain was like nothing he had ever felt before and it nearly made him black out immediately. Losing a limb had been less painful.

  In front of him Kaelan kicked Nira in the chest and sent her sprawling back to the ground. He slashed Tormund across his outstretched hand. Blood poured from the open wound. Jesse could feel panic begin to well up inside him. They couldn't beat this man. Myra blocked a blow from the commander's sword, sort of. The strength of the blow sent her flying backwards where she was nearly impaled on her own weapon.

  Jesse fought through the pain of his literal soul being consumed and stood behind the commander. He slammed his shield into Kaelan's upper back. The metal struck the man but the real force came from the magic imbued within it, amplifying the force back towards Kaelan, more than doubling the blow. He shot down to the ground and Jesse could hear bones snap as he crumpled. Jesse picked up the club and brought it down on his chest. More bones snapped.

  He stood above the commander, breathing heavily. Kaelan stopped convulsing and coughed up blood. He wiped it away with his arm while glaring up at Jesse. Nira and Tormund walked up and looked down at the commander. Aegis began to rise and move closer. Myra groaned and slowly got up. Jesse could now hear the soldiers yelling as they approached.

  “Let’s kill him and go.” Tormund said. He sounded exhausted.

  Jesse raised his club high, ready to deliver the final blow while staring into Kaelan's eyes. He saw fear in them. This made Jesse hesitate for a split moment. He had fully intended on continuing the strike, but that moment was all it took. Nira looked up at him and opened her mouth to say something but in an instant Kaelan rose onto a knee and struck out with a dagger he had pulled from a sheath on his leg. Jesse’s perception of time slowed and his left arm twitched as if on its own as it moved to stop the blow. It was too slow. The dagger moved like a glacier through the air to his enhanced perception. Slowly but inevitable it plunged into the center of the chest of his daughter's friend. Jesse screamed as he swung down with his readied blow. Tormund moved to stand in front of Nira. Aegis moved to leap on Kaelan. All these things played out in slow motion as Jesse watched Kaelan partially stand on a broken leg and leap. He sailed above Jesse’s head with his enhanced strength.

  Jesse’s perception returned to normal as pain wracked his body. He fell to his knees from the pain, vision quickly closing in on him. Through sheer force of will he remained conscious however. His skin burned and he looked down and could see it turning gray and pale. His veins looked purple under his skin. He looked up at Nira, who stood shocked with a knife protruding from her chest. She looked down at it, and then back up at Jesse. She tried to say something but only a gurgle came out. She fell to one knee.

  “You need to run.” Golem rang in his mind. “The soldiers have arrived. Currently they are tending to the commander but they will soon give chase.”

  “Nira.” Jesse said back to golem mentally.

  “Grab her and run.” He said, losing his usual deferential attitude.

  Jesse pushed through his immense pain to stand and stumbled toward Tormund.

  “We have to get out of here. Find her a healer. Something.” Jesse said to him.

  Tormund looked at Jesse, fury crossing his face for a moment before he nodded. He moved to remove the dagger.

  “Wait! Leave it in! It’ll slow the bleeding.” Jesse pleaded. Tormund just nodded again and picked up the woman. He took off running in the opposite direction of the soldiers. Jesse stumbled after them. Aegis did as well, limping heavily on a leg that hadn’t yet healed, likely because Jesse himself was out of essence. Jesse could feel through their bond that the leg was broken. Myra followed, her face pale.

  “We will find her a healer.” Jesse told Tormund. “There has to be another town nearby. They aren’t usually more than a day or two apart.” He said, trying to convince himself.

  Jesse stared at the woman who reminded him so much of his daughter as she poured blood around the knife wound. Her eyes had gone distant, her chest was rising and falling slowly. This was all his fault. If he had struck immediately then she wouldn’t have been hurt like this. They would find a healer. They had to. As they ran they left a trail of crimson red blood through the plain. There was so much of it. Jesse looked down and found himself, Tormund, Aegis, Myra, and Nira herself all covered in either black or red blood. Some both. She was right. Jesse told himself while mentally circling that pit of despair. We are either covered in the blood of our enemies or of the ones we love. I won’t make the same mistake again.