Tymon started to fight in earnest as his axe left small craters with each attack. Risin was quickly getting pushed back by the barrage of attacks. He accumuted more mana as he charged for another attack; this time, he aimed for Tymon's head. With a small burst, he swung his sword as it collided with Tymon's axe. A sharp ringing sound could be heard as Tymon was slightly pushed back. Risin's eyes widened. How could this be? The previous attack threw him through several houses, but now it only did this. Tymon returned the attack in kind as Risin quickly recalled his floating weapons to block. The attack shattered several swords as the ground beneath them gave way.

  “It doesn’t have to be this way, just stop being stubborn and listen.”

  Risin’s answer was a counterattack as more swords and other weapons came falling down. Tymon skillfully parried and dodged the attack as he created distance. Risin got up while holding his side, revealing a gashing wound as blood poured out. Tymon’s heart wavered at the sight, but he was distracted by another massive explosion. Lorenzo’s body could be seen flying across as he stopped his momentum by plunging his sword into the ground. His body looked bloody and injured as he stared at Tymon and Risin. Shortly after, Bihse appeared with several wounds but looked unfazed. She too stared at the two of them, but her gaze ended up on Tymon, who looked unsure.

  “Are you alright?”

  Tymon remained silent as he averted his gaze; he did not wish to hurt Risin any further, but he had a duty. Bihse wore a bright smile which caught his attention.

  “Do what you think is best as long as you return alive, we all trust you.”

  “I will do my best.”

  Lorenzo drank a healing potion and threw some at Risin as they both recovered. Bihse’s wounds also began to close up. She did not give the Duke a moment’s rest as their weapons cshed once more. Risin also attacked Tymon, who unched a counterattack. Bihse was ruthless in her fighting as she pinned the Duke in pce; she did not tire at all.

  Alfred, in the background, was in a fight of his own, holding back hundreds of soldiers and knights who were reinforcements from the surrounding area. It became a battle of time; the trolls needed to secure the city before more sword masters and knights appeared. Tymon understood this fact, but he was facing an emotional turmoil. How could he hurt his dead wife’s brother?

  The battle raged on with Tymon still attempting to break through to Risin. Bihse, on the other hand, Bihse was destroying everything in her sight without care and occasionally trading blows with Lorenzo, but she looked unfazed. Lorenzo was older and was a seasoned fighter, yet he had never faced a foe like Bihse. Her attacks seemed crude but skilled; her raw strength and magical energy were something to be feared.

  Some of the knights and soldiers made their way through as they started to help with the fight. With one swipe of her axe, soldiers fell into pieces. The knights put up a brief fight, but that was enough for Lorenzo to nd a critical stab wound to her gut as her entrails were exposed. Tymon saw this, and his indecision disappeared as he kicked Risin into a building and started to defend Bihse, who was having a hard time recovering.

  “Step out of the way, and maybe I will make your death painless.”

  “I will not permit that.”

  Tymon attacked Lorenzo, who did not expect such strength from him. Risin came from the rubble and joined in the attack. Bihse’s wound was healing slowly, she tried to speed it up with a healing potion, but the wound was more severe than she expected. Things turned more dire as Alfred was slowly getting overwhelmed while the trolls’ numbers were steadily decreasing. She made a decision: if she dies here, she will take one of them with her. She bandaged her stomach as she let out a roar and got up.

  “Are you alright, chieftain?”

  “Call me Bihse.”

  “It’s not the time for this.”

  “Haha, when is the time? Just call me my name, you silly man.”

  Tymon let out a sigh as she blocked an attack from Lorenzo and Risin.

  “Are you alright, Bihse?”

  “We have lost. I will hold them here; you run away with the rest.”

  “That’s not happening.”

  “I am the one who is injured; I will only make things worse. I can handle myself, just go.”

  “No, I will not leave you here. Whatever happens, we face it together.”

  Bihse tightened her grip as she stepped forward, ready to fight. Bihse concentrated on attack while Tymon defended her. The two moved in synchronization, complementing each other. Tymon also dealt with the soldiers and knights as they were slowly getting surrounded. Now back-to-back, they faced their enemies. Tymon plunged his axe to the ground, creating a circur barrier made of earth.

  “You need to leave; I am holding you back. The injury I suffered will take a lot of time to heal.”

  “How could I live with myself if I let you die? It is also my fault. I hesitated for too long . If I was quicker, things would have been different.”

  “You are not a god, Tymon, and don’t apologize for caring. I am also worried about Adeline; we must not lose her.”

  “Then stop talking and start fighting.”

  They both engaged the knights and soldiers who climbed over the barrier as it turned into a pit filled with corpses. Risin and Lorenzo could be seen on top as he called for something. Two soldiers carrying a huge iron bowl appeared.

  “Risin, don’t do this; I know you are a good person.”

  “You are right about that, and I am doing the right thing.”

  As the soldiers were about to pour the oil, the moon suddenly turned dark red as everyone stared at the night sky. A red mist descended on the battlefield, followed by the roars of trolls. Tymon knew what was going to happen next as some of the soldiers fell as blood flowed out of their bodies. One of the soldiers tipped over the oil, spilling it all over the pce.

  “RISIN, RUN!”

  Risin was confused by the loud plea from Tymon. That was when a figure appeared over the sky with two rge wings. It threw something as it rolled over to their feet. They both looked at it and realized it was Jack’s head missing a lower jaw. The knights raised their weapons towards the figure as a white light shone. Her feet touched the ground then her wings unfolded, revealing a bloody Adeline holding her greatsword. The entire area was now covered in her mist as the trolls poured in through the broken wall and started a sughter. Alfred, using the cover of the mist, started to pick them off. Adeline stared at Lorenzo and Risin, who both released their mana, ready for a fight.