Adanna watched from a distance. She won't interfere, he should deal with her own problem.
Her eyes, however, were sharp, analyzing every move. She could see it, the slight shifts in Kazi's stance, the way he controlled his breath, the way his eyes darted, always searching. He wasn't fighting recklessly; he was waiting.
The young lady beside her bit her lip. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. A part of her wished this foolishness had never begun.
Kazi feigned a stumble. The weakest of the four took the bait, lunging forward for the kill. A fatal mistake.
Kazi ducked under the warrior's arm, twisting his body like a serpent. His dagger found the soft flesh beneath the man's ribs. A short gasp escaped the warrior's lips as Kazi drove the blade deep and twisted. Blood splattered onto Kazi's forearm. The warrior choked, his sword slipping from his fingers.
Shock painted Edmund's face. The smirk vanished.
The other three warriors hesitated just long enough for Kazi to grab the falling warrior's body and shove him forward. The corpse crashed into one of his comrades, momentarily disrupting their formation. Kazi wasted no time; he grabbed the fallen sword and spun, dodge an incoming sword and slashed toward another warrior's thigh. The blade bit deep, sending the man stumbling backward with a growl of pain.
Adanna smirked slightly. "Not bad."
The young lady gasped. Her hands trembled as she clutched her dress. How had he done that? He was supposed to be nothing more than a reckless fool trying to impress her. Yet now, he stood there, blood dripping from his blade, his chest rising and falling steadily.
Kazi wiped the blood off his face, his eyes locked onto the remaining three warriors. He could see the hesitation in their stance now.
And they were finally starting to take him seriously.
Edmund's smirk had long faded. His arms were crossed, his foot tapping impatiently against the dirt. His gaze flickered between Kazi and his warriors, irritation evident in his tightening jaw. "Enough toying with him," he growled. "Kill him."
Kazi heard the order but had no time to register it as the next warrior lunged. This one was taller, broader, moving with a grace that belied his size. He wielded a curved blade. Unlike the first, he didn't strike out carelessly, he was testing Kazi, shifting his stance, analyzing every twitch of movement.
Kazi shifted as well, his dagger held low, his fingers firm around the hilt. His heart pounded. He had fought animals before, beasts with no concept of hesitation. But men… men were different. This one was patient, intelligent.
Then he struck.
The curved blade sliced through the air, forcing Kazi to dodge. He barely twisted in time, feeling the wind of the strike kiss his cheek. Another swing came, faster than the last, and he parried with his dagger, sparks flying as the metals clashed. But before he could counter, a second warrior swung from the side. Kazi leaped back, narrowly avoiding being cleaved in two.
He was being pressured.
From the distance, Adanna clenched her fists. Her eyes never left Kazi, watching his every move with a rigid expression. She wasn't worried, at least, not yet. But she could see it. He was struggling.
Evelyn however, had lost all composure. "He can't win," she whispered, shaking her head. "They're too many. He was lucky the first time, but now…"
Adanna didn't respond. She simply watched. Waiting.
Kazi dodged another swing, but this time, his foot caught on loose dirt. His balance faltered for a fraction of a second, just enough. The warrior seized the opportunity, ramming the hilt of his sword into Kazi's ribs.
Pain exploded through Kazi's side, his breath hitching as he staggered back. But there was no time to recover. The warrior followed up with a ruthless downward slash, forcing Kazi to roll away. He barely made it, but not without cost—red blossomed along his arm where the blade had grazed him.
Edmund scoffed. "Pathetic."
The warrior, seeing Kazi's wound, smirked. Confidence glimmered in his sharp eyes. "You're fast," he admitted, spinning his sword once before pointing it at Kazi. "But you can't run forever."
Kazi wiped the sweat from his brow, his grip tightening around his dagger. He wasn't trying to run. He was waiting.
Then he struck.
Exploding forward, Kazi feinted left, drawing the warrior's sword in that direction. The instant the man committed, Kazi twisted right, slipping inside his guard. His dagger flashed upward, aiming for the throat—
But the warrior reacted fast. He jerked back, avoiding the fatal blow, but not completely. Kazi's blade nicked his shoulder, blood welling at the cut.
The warrior grunted, his expression darkening. He was done playing. With a growl, he swung his blade in a wild arc, aiming to split Kazi in half. Kazi ducked, but at that moment, another warrior struck from behind.
Adanna's eyes narrowed.
Kazi twisted at the last second, raising his dagger just in time to block the incoming attack. Metal clanged, the force rattling through his bones. He was forced back, his footing precarious. He was surrounded now, and they knew it.
Edmund chuckled, his grin returning. "It's over."
The two warriors advanced, their swords ready to end him. Kazi's mind raced. He needed to shift the balance. He needed an opening.
And then he saw it.
The taller warrior, the one he had wounded, favored his left side ever so slightly. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable. But to Kazi, it was everything.
The warriors attacked at once. Kazi ducked under the first swing, parried the second, and at that moment—
He struck.
Feinting toward the uninjured warrior, he suddenly pivoted, driving his dagger into the wounded one's weakened side. The blade sank deep, hitting flesh and muscle. The warrior gasped, his sword dropping as pain overtook him. Kazi didn't hesitate—he twisted the dagger and yanked it free, stepping back as the man collapsed to his knees.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Edmund's returned smile vanished, his hands clenching at his sides. Evelyn gasped, her fingers covering her mouth.
Adanna simply smirked. "There it is."
The second warrior groaned, clutching his side, trying to stand. But Kazi didn't give him the chance. With one swift motion, he drove his dagger into the man's chest, ending it. The warrior shuddered—then fell, still.
The remaining two warriors stared at their fallen companion, realization dawning in their eyes. This wasn't a simple fight anymore. Their opponent wasn't just some foolish boy.
Kazi exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. Blood dripped from his dagger. His own injuries throbbed, but he ignored them. Two down. Two left.
He turned to face them, his expression calm. "Who's next?"