Chapter 27: Obvious Distraction

Cashel’s eyes widened in disbelief. Amia had just ratted him out and abandoned him.

His gaze drifted to the opening at the top of the building. He could practically taste Andeen’s cold aura and he could tell she was worried, maybe a little scared.

He didn’t want Andeen to find him fighting Gerald.

Not because he was afraid of her reaction. He was afraid of what she would do after learning someone had hurt him.

He lowered his head and exhaled.

His chest still ached from the last blow. He was annoyed but mostly... he tightened his fists around the sword and unclenched them.

He did not want Andeen to find him fighting Gerald because that would raise questions.

Especially when this would be the last time she would work knowing he was there. Once he got his official mask and personal uniform and was able to move alone, he would have to stay hidden.

Or at least keep it a secret from her and give some kind of excuse.

Then again, if she saw him getting hit by Gerald there was no telling what she would do.

At the same time the beast was heading this way, and the timer on his cards kept counting down.

[Shadow Step — 15:09 remaining]

[Kinetic Reinforcement — 10:50 remaining]

[Mana Thread Sensing — 29:42 remaining]

[Adaptive Barrier — Ready]

The Kinetic Reinforcement was running down faster than he imagined. He returned his focus to Gerald and took a deep breath as he entered his stance. Then he raised the scimitar and charged.

Gerald followed, both crossing the distance in what looked like a single step. Gerald’s heightened speed and adaptability met Cashel’s Shadow Step.

They clashed hard, creating a shockwave that shattered the ice spears and made dust rise into the air.. In their place rose a new set, appearing on the surface of the rocks and ground.

The ground under Cashel’s feet cracked and broke from the force. He clicked his tongue. He was stuck in another uncomfortable position as Gerald used his bare fist to push back.

Cashel then slid back a step, pressed his weight onto his legs and pushed forward again.

Seeing a perfect opening, Gerald lowered one of his hands while the other kept Cashel in place. Then he curled his fist and hurled it towards Cashel.

Cashel, however, grinned behind the mask. He raised his dominant leg and stopped Gerald’s hand, leaving him in another weird position.

Gerald’s eyes widened for a split second. He clenched his jaw, quickly drew back his hands, switching quickly to the other to land a hit on Cashel’s vulnerable side, only for Cashel to jump off one foot, kick him hard in the face, draw back his sword and arc it sideways, slicing cleanly across Gerald’s chest.

He then leapt backwards, summoned his gun and gripped both weapons in his hands. He could not afford to use his fists or any body part too much, to avoid breaking a bone.

The dungeon’s effect on his class was still an issue, and it would be an even greater issue once the timers ran out.

Crossing the distance between them, he met angry Gerald’s fist again. This time he blocked it with his sword and placed his gun against the man’s jaw.

Gerald’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You are aware regular bullets will not work on..."

"I know."

Bang!

The force from the gunshot and the bullet ramming hard into his jaw sent Gerald stumbling back clumsily. He raised his hands to his jaw and saw the bullet stuck there.

Before he could recover Cashel moved and appeared above him, swinging his sword down. The sword missed Gerald’s head by a few inches as the blade went right through his shoulder, cutting it off.

The limp arm fell to the ground with a wet splat and rapidly turned blue, freezing up the moment it made contact with the tiny ice spears forming on the ground.

Gerald went ballistic. Tapping into the deepest part of his core, he rapidly sealed the wound and in its place was a new bare arm.

Cashel grimaced. "This is so unfair," he muttered under his breath, yet resumed his stance and moved again.

They kept exchanging blows. Gerald fought with pure strength, each strike fuelled by his rage while his magic backed up his lack of speed.

Cashel used the Swordsman skill and Kinetic Reinforcement to stay even.

Each time their weapons and fists met, more dust rose and the ground caved in even more.

The ice spears began to grow even faster around them, bathing the ground of the building in brown dust, concrete, soft blue light and splatters of blood on the ice from both fighters.

After pulling apart for a bit, Cashel decided to charge again, but one ice spear rose right in his path. He swung his sword and shattered it.

The moment the ice broke, a second wave of cold energy rolled through, suppressing Gerald’s, but it was stronger than the first.

Cashel felt the chill in his bones. It felt like she was sending out signals. He quickly dispelled the thought and leapt back further away from Gerald.

[Kinetic Reinforcement: 7:29 remaining]

Cashel relaxed his shoulders, letting both hands drop beside him. He decided not to hold back as it was getting late.

He attacked, matching Gerald’s fury. Swinging his sword recklessly while Gerald tried his best to get a hold of Cashel, taking each hit.

Cashel cared less if the blade truly hurt Gerald or not and he definitely was not going for clean cuts. The scimitar left shallow lines of blood across Gerald’s body. The crystalline pillar under the man’s shirt mysteriously glowed brighter each time it was struck.

Then Cashel left one last deep cut on his other arm, nearly cutting through before creating distance again. The arm was left dangling and with how sweat coated Gerald’s face it was clear he was losing stamina.

[Shadow Step — 13:01 remaining]

He huffed, spat out blood from his mouth, but then he suddenly went still.

In the air, with the Mana Thread Sensing card still active, he saw Gerald’s red mana in the air, but then a familiar faint, somewhat clear blue thread began to drift in the air... downwards.

He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He slowly raised his head to the ceiling, gazing at the open hole, and he saw her silhouette there. Considering where he was she would have trouble seeing him, but it was a miracle she was focused on something else.

And for the first time since the fight began, Cashel forgot about Gerald.

He had one problem, she found him.

Still...that was all Gerald needed.

BAM!