It was all so sudden. Several mini tornadoes filled the battlefield— though miniature was definitely an understatement. They were tall rotations, larger and wider than Antoine himself.
The winds kicked up ice and sleet into the air.
Amidst all that chaos, Antoine stood still. As he moved toward Oscar, the tornadoes followed him, keeping him within a barrier of the elements, with narrow passages that could allow attacks.
"Troublesome."
Oscar grumbled. He switched from his right hand to his left, as his right arm was barely holding up. He had no intentions of losing it through sluggish movement.
It really is a troublesome situation. But I'm sure I can win.
"Are you already tired?"
Antoine's voice reverberated through the currents of wind, approaching Oscar almost booming. Oscar's grip tightened.
"You're not even strong enough to make me perspire."
Oscar taunted, without a change of emotions. Antoine silently stared, quickening his pace.
Oscar spun his blade vertically, getting his left wrist to become familiar with the sword's weight.
If I imagine all these tornadoes as a separate opponent, that will make things a lot easier, right? Oscar thought this as he stared directly through the wind maze.
[Cast: Freeze Step]
Without even actively thinking about it, a pair of crystal-like wings, made out of ice, shot out of his back. With a single flap, he cut through.
He found the single path that would get him straight to Antoine!
Clang!
The sound of two metals clashing together rang, reverberating and echoing.
The taller Antoine stared down at Oscar, amidst their clash.
Unlike his usual stoic face, the end of his lips curled to form a mocking smile. The type of smile that says 'didn't expect that one, did you?'
Seeing this, Antoine grew irritated. He pushed off.
The tornadoes dissipated.
It was a battle of sword skills.
They were both at a sort of disadvantage. Oscar was wielding such a heavy sword with his non-dominant hand, and Antoine wasn't fully familiar with the long sword, preferring to wield a heavy axe instead.
Holding his long sword with two hands, Antoine swung down, vertically.
Oscar stepped to the side.
The sword slammed into the ground, cracking the floor beneath.
With this opening, Oscar kicked at his side, sending him a few meters back.
"Keuk!-"
His feet slid, immediately regaining a defensive position. Doing so benefited him greatly, as Oscar was coming for another attack.
Clang!
They clashed yet again.
Clang!
Sparks flew, as their speeds became relatively matched. At the moment, they could not find any openings at each other.
Slsh!
A stray strike landed on Oscar's cheek.
Feeling the pain inflicted, he leaped backward.
I have to be careful! Alarms blared in his head.
[Cast: Chilled Halberd]
He sheathed his odachi, a halberd of thick ice appearing in his left hand. He dashed again.
Antoine prepared, swiping at his feet.
But unexpectedly!
!
Oscar leaped into the air.
His halberd came crashing down.
With no time to react, and even less time to defend, Antoine instinctively raised his forearms.
Crck!
The force pushed Antoine to the ground.
Likely, thanks to that kind wolf, my skin has been hardened. Otherwise, I would no longer have my arms right now. Antoine silently gave his thanks to Voqrut, the benevolent wolf.
[Cast: Inner Frostfire]
It was a technique that the soldier came up with on the spot.
If he used his Frostfire Technique on himself, carefully, what would happen?
If he did it outside of [Glow of Boreas], he would've died. Burnt to a crisp.
But…
Using the energy that was generated through the Frostfire technique!
[Cast: Frost Burst]
An extremely advanced technique!
His knees bent, as he got pushed further into the ground. The gales grew.
Wh-what is this strength? Where did it come from?! Will I have enough mana to regenerate again?!
Against the wind, Antoine's fur coat fluttered, as if it were about to fly off his shoulders.
Slsh!
His forearms flew off, with the force of the halberd. Blood splattered like rain.
Antoine screamed.
"Ah, you must be able to feel all of it, since the halberd isn't as cold as the chains."
Oscar spun around quickly, gathering momentum.
"A decapitation… You won't feel it at all!"