The battlefield stood still for just a moment.
But dust barely had time to settle before the two remaining warriors lunged at Kazi, their weapons flashing under the dull light. Blood trickled from Kazi's wounds, his breath steady but strained. The weight of his exertion bore down on him, yet his eyes remained sharp, scanning his opponents like a predator sizing up its prey.
Edmund's smirk had long since faded. His fingers tightened into a fist, his knuckles turning white as he watched another one of his warriors fall. His gaze darted toward the remaining two, his expression caught between anger and disbelief. "Enough playing around," he hissed through gritted teeth. "Kill him."
Adanna's eyes, still fixed on the fight, shimmered with unreadable emotion. Evelyn, now clutching her hands close to her chest, bit her lower lip, barely breathing as she watched the one-sided battle turn into something far less predictable.
The third warrior, more disciplined than the others, didn't rush blindly. He had seen Kazi's uncanny reflexes, the way he could slip through openings that shouldn't exist. Instead, he circled Kazi slowly, his partner mirroring his movements from the other side. They moved as one, their training evident in the way they coordinated without a word. Kazi pivoted, dagger poised, watching for the first sign of a strike.
A flicker of movement. The warrior on his left struck first, swinging a curved blade toward Kazi's midsection. Kazi twisted at the last moment, barely dodging, but the attack was never meant to land—it was a feint. The real attack came from the right, the second warrior's sword slicing downward in a calculated arc. Kazi barely had time to raise his dagger to deflect the blow, but the force sent him skidding back.
A mistake.
The first warrior was already there, closing the gap. A knee struck Kazi's ribs, forcing a gasp from his lips. The moment of pain cost him another opening—an elbow slammed against his temple, momentarily blurring his vision.
Kazi staggered but refused to fall. His feet found their ground, his instincts taking over. Another slash came for him, and he ducked just in time. The second warrior lunged again, but Kazi was faster this time—he spun on his heel, sidestepping the attack while swinging his dagger toward the exposed ribs of his nearest foe.
It was close. Too close.
The warrior managed to block the blade with his forearm, but the cut still drew blood. A growl of pain left his lips, his glare sharpening. "You're getting annoying."
Kazi exhaled, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're just noticing?"
Edmund's patience wore thin. "Stop toying with him! Kill him already!"
The warriors responded instantly. They charged in unison, their blades a blur. Kazi ducked and weaved, his dagger clashing against steel, sparks flying with every impact. The pain in his body screamed for relief, but he silenced it. There was no time for weakness.
He needed to end this.
He had observed their patterns, their footwork. The second warrior relied on the first to create openings, but what would happen if that balance was broken?
Kazi feigned a stumble, making it seem as if exhaustion had caught up with him. The second warrior took the bait, lunging forward to finish him off. The instant his sword came down, Kazi twisted his body and let the blade graze past him. His dagger, gripped tightly in his hand, found its target—
The warrior's throat.
The moment was eerily silent. The man's eyes widened, disbelief flickering through them before the strength left his body. He fell backward, his weapon clattering against the ground. Blood spilled onto the dirt, soaking into the earth beneath him.
Edmund took a step back, his breath caught in his throat. His gaze shifted to the last remaining warrior, who now stood frozen, watching his comrade's lifeless body in horror.
Adanna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Evelyn hands trembled as she looked at Kazi, who straightened, standing above his fallen opponent. His chest rose and fell steadily, his dagger now painted crimson.
The battle was not yet over.
Only one warrior remained.
The last warrior stood firm, his muscles tensed as he gripped his blade with unwavering resolve. His expression was carved from stone, unreadable yet filled with restrained fury. Unlike the others who had fallen before him, he did not charge blindly. He had observed, calculated. This was no longer a battle of arrogance; this was war.
Kazi exhaled, wiping a streak of blood from his brow. His breath was shallow, his body aching from the numerous wounds he had sustained. Yet his mind remained sharp. His dagger felt heavier now, but he refused to loosen his grip. He had come too far. The warrior before him was the strongest, the deadliest. And yet, Kazi welcomed the challenge.
From the distance, Edmund confidence had completely eroded. His once-amused smirk had twisted into a scowl, his fingers gripping the edge of his robe in frustration. Every loss had been a blow to his pride, a humiliation he was not accustomed to. "Kill him already!" he bellowed, his voice cracking with barely contained rage.
The warrior, unfazed by the command, lowered into a stance. He would not attack recklessly. He would end this in one decisive strike. Kazi knew it too. His opponent had been waiting, studying his movements, searching for a flaw in his defenses. This was a predator against another predator, and the first mistake would be fatal.
Kazi shifted his footing slightly, his eyes locked on the warrior's stance. A tense silence lingered, only the rustling wind breaking the stillness. And then—the warrior moved.
He surged forward with astonishing speed, his blade a streak of steel slicing through the air. Kazi barely dodged, twisting his body just enough to avoid the strike, feeling the cold bite of metal graze his shoulder. Pain flared, but he had no time to acknowledge it. The warrior followed with another strike, relentless, his movements flowing like a violent storm.
Kazi blocked the next blow with his dagger, sparks flying as steel met steel. He could feel the force behind the warrior's attacks—unyielding, brutal. Unlike the others, this one had no intention of testing him. He was pushing Kazi back, forcing him on the defensive. A clash, a twist, a step back—Kazi found himself barely evading another lethal slash aimed at his ribs.
From the sidelines, Adanna watched with unblinking eyes. Unlike Edmund, she had not let emotions cloud her judgment. She saw the flow of battle, the calculated steps, the deadly dance unfolding before her. Kazi was skilled, but he was tiring. The warrior was fresh, having observed and adjusted his strategy. If Kazi did not shift the battle in his favor soon, he would fall.
The young lady, clutching her trembling hands, could not bear to watch. She had stopped hoping, stopped believing that Kazi could win. The way the final warrior moved—it was different. More refined. More deadly. Kazi was struggling, each dodge growing more desperate, each strike of his dagger meeting an impenetrable wall.
And then it happened. The warrior saw his opening.
With a deceptive feint, he forced Kazi to sidestep, exposing his side. The warrior's blade cut through the air, aimed directly for Kazi's abdomen.
Time slowed.
But so did Kazi.
In a single, fluid motion, he did what no one expected—he lunged into the attack. The warrior's blade sliced into his side, a shallow but painful wound, but it was the price Kazi had willingly paid. Because now, for the first time, the warrior had left himself open.
Using the momentum, Kazi twisted, his dagger flashing upward. The warrior's eyes widened as he felt the cold bite of steel pierce his ribs. Kazi did not stop. He tore the blade upward, striking with the ferocity of a cornered beast. The warrior staggered, a choked gasp escaping his lips.
Kazi withdrew his dagger and took a step back. The warrior's strength faltered, his knees buckling as he collapsed onto the dirt. His hand weakly grasped at his wound, but the fight was over.
Silence consumed the field.
Edmund stared, his mouth slightly open, his face drained of color. The four warriors he had trusted, that has taken down many bandits with him—fallen, to just an ordinary forest young man at his age. Kazi stood amidst them, bloodied, breathing heavily, but standing.
Adanna let out a slow breath, a smirk playing on her lips. "That's better," she muttered under her breath.
Evelyn could only stare at Kazi in utter disbelief. He should have died. He should have lost. And yet, he stood victorious.
Kazi exhaled, flicking blood from his dagger before sheathing it. He lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Edmund.
And for the first time, Edmund felt fear, but before Kazi could speak, he turned and fled.
Kazi saw him move, his gaze narrowing, but his body refused to follow. He swayed, his balance slipping for the first time since the battle began. His breathing turned ragged, and then, before Adanna could reach him, his legs buckled beneath him.
"Kazi!" Evelyn's voice rang through the stillness.
His body hit the ground with a dull thud. Blood seeped from his wounds, his skin deathly pale against the crimson that stained his clothes. He had held on longer than any man should have, but even he was not invincible.
During the battle, she had exchanged words with Adanna—brief, fleeting moments of conversation between the chaos. Evelyn had mentioned her background, her family's standing in the northern merchant hierarchy, but Adanna had offered little in return, just their names.
Evelyn's heart pounded as she rushed forward, Adanna close behind her. Kneeling beside him, she hesitated, her hands hovering over his unconscious form. Up close, the cuts and bruises looked worse. His face was damp with sweat, his breathing shallow.
"He needs treatment," Evelyn said, turning to Adanna.
Adanna's jaw tightened. "We can't stay here. More of Edmund's men could come."
"Then help me take him to my father's fortress," Evelyn said firmly.
Adanna hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Why would I bring him to the Harringtons? I have no interest in getting caught in northern merchant conflicts."
Evelyn's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then leave him here to die."
Adanna flinched, her gaze flicking back to Kazi. Her resistance was not born of indifference—Evelyn could see that. There was something else.
Evelyn softened her tone. "He saved my life, Adanna. If I do nothing, my conscience will never forgive me."
Adanna sighed, rubbing her temple. "I should take him south, away from all this…"
"You don't have that choice anymore," Evelyn countered. "He can't travel like this, not in this state. Harrington Fortress is the safest option."
Adanna exhaled sharply, staring down at Kazi before finally nodding. "Fine. But this doesn't mean I trust your father."
"Neither do I," Evelyn muttered under her breath, before pushing herself to her feet. "My carriage is in the forest. Let's get him there"