Tahashi lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. He aimed for Valen's chest, seeking to end the fight in a single strike. But before his attack could land, Valen had already moved, launching his own counterattack.
Steel clashed against steel, the force of their blows sending shockwaves through the night. Sparks illuminated their faces as their swords met in a brutal, unrelenting exchange. Every strike was faster, sharper, more desperate than the last.
Valen gritted his teeth. This isn't working. No matter how many times he struck, Tahashi's wounds would simply vanish, knitting themselves back together in moments. Damn regeneration. It was like fighting an unstoppable tide, one that only grew stronger with every passing second.
His mind raced. He needed a plan a weakness. Something had to stop Tahashi from healing. But what?
And then he saw it.
His gaze locked onto Tahashi's eye. The cursed side of his face, darkened and pulsing with demonic energy, wasn't healing like the rest of his body. Was that the answer?
It's a risk… but it's my only shot.
But landing a hit there wouldn't be easy. Tahashi was fast, unpredictable he dodged attacks with ease, countering with brutal efficiency. I need a distraction.
Valen's lips curled into a smirk.
"Hey," he said, pointing toward the sky. "Look at the moon."
Tahashi frowned, his expression shifting from aggression to mild intrigue. "What?"
Valen nodded toward the glowing orb above them. "Just take a moment. It's beautiful, don't you think?"
Tahashi hesitated. Just for a second.
And that was all Valen needed.
"Fire Arrow!"
A blazing projectile shot forward, cutting through the cold night air before slamming into Tahashi's chest. Flames exploded on impact, scorching cloth and flesh. The scent of burning fabric filled the air.
But Tahashi didn't scream.
Instead, he let out a low, guttural growl as his wounds began to close, the fire fading as if it had never been there.
Tch. No time to waste.
Valen lunged. His sword gleamed under the moonlight as he swung with all his might.
Schhhk!
A clean cut. His blade sliced deep into Tahashi's neck.
For a moment, everything was still.
Then half of the wound closed instantly. The other half didn't heal at all. The black, cursed flesh remained untouched, cracked and pulsing with an eerie, unnatural energy.
Valen stepped back, tightening his grip on his sword.
"So that's how it works…"
Tahashi's eyes widened in surprise as the Fire Arrow struck his chest, flames erupting on impact. The scorching heat seared through his cloak, charring the flesh beneath. For a moment, pain lanced through his body sharp, real. But then, just as quickly as it came, the wound began to close, his cursed regeneration knitting the flesh back together.
Valen wasn't finished.
With a sharp exhale, he lunged forward, his sword flashing under the moonlight. He aimed for the neck. A single, precise strike...if he could sever the head, perhaps even Tahashi's regeneration wouldn't be able to keep up.
The blade struck true.
A clean, brutal cut.
Blood splattered against the ground, the force of the strike sending a shockwave through Tahashi's body. He staggered, his breath hitching his hands instinctively reaching for the wound.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Only half of the wound healed.
The cursed, blackened side of his body twisted with demonic energy
remained untouched. Flesh refused to mend. The gash continued to bleed, crimson dripping down his skin like a slow, relentless river.
Valen's breath came fast and uneven. He tightened his grip on his sword, eyes narrowing as realization dawned.
This was it. The first real damage he had managed to inflict.
Tahashi stared at Valen, his eyes wide with disbelief. The lingering burn of the Fire Arrow pulsed through his body....a sensation he had never experienced before. Pain. True, unyielding pain.
For the first time, he felt vulnerable.
Without hesitation, he leapt back, trying to put distance between himself and Valen. I need to get away. He had to escape before things got worse. But the moment he tried to move again, a sharp pain flared through his body. His legs faltered. His body refused to obey him.
Damn it… This wound is worse than I thought.
He gritted his teeth, willing himself to move only to find his path blocked.
A figure stood in front of him, unwavering. The glow of the forge behind him cast his stern features into sharp relief. Orlen.
"That's enough," Orlen said firmly, his gaze shifting between Valen and Tahashi. "This fight ends now."
Tahashi's breath came in ragged gasps. He clenched his jaw, torn between fear and defiance. He was outnumbered, wounded, and lingering any longer would only spell his downfall.
But his pride refused to let him back down so easily.
"You can't stop me," he growled through gritted teeth.
Then, with a sudden burst of movement, he turned on his heel and vanished into the night. A single, powerful leap sent him soaring over the rooftops, his dark silhouette blending into the shadows before either of them could react.
Valen's grip on his sword tightened as he watched him disappear. His blood still burned with the thrill of battle, his instincts screaming at him to give chase. He wanted to hunt Tahashi down. To finish what he had started.
But a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him in place.
"Don't even think about it," Orlen said, his grip heavy with authority. "We don't need any more trouble tonight."
Valen exhaled sharply, his frustration clear. His fingers twitched against his blade, but deep down, he knew Orlen was right.
At least, for now.