“My warriors! To the East!”
Now on the battlefield, just as my uncle told me, everyone has been separated in two camps, each wearing a bandana around their arm that represents their teams, red or blue.
“Go, red, go!”
The girls shouted from the tribunes and John waved back while I warmed up for a bit, the both of us having a red bandana around our arms.
“To think that we both are in the same team. And what’s more, we both have the crusader’s armor! Hahaha~! It’s like we were made to fight together!”
“Glad to see you fired up. Be sure to protect my back and I’ll do the same for you.”
I grinned widely from under my helmet after hearing his loud laugh and took out my large two-handed sword, making him look surprised for a moment.
“Huh? No shield? Are you sure about that?”
He asked unsure while rearranging his shield made of steel and wood. I smiled and raised the sword with both hands, taking a low stance.
“Hup!”
Took one strong step forward and with one strong swing, grass and dust raised for a moment as the pressure cut the air violently. I then looked at John and rested the sword on my shoulder confidently,
“No need to worry for me. I can do fine work even without a shield.”
“Haha~ very good!”
“My warriors! In formation!”
The commander of our camp shouted some commands and the two of us had to separate as the formation was supposed to be formed accordingly: The ones with halberds in front as they had the longest reach, the ones with a sword and shield to the sides to protect our rear, while the long swords to the back and prepare for future commands, all in all, a heavily offensive formation with a very weak frontal defense. Although it was our first time participating, everyone had to listen to their commander, or else they would be excluded from the fight, possibly even banned.
“Brat, you’re on this team. Good.”
“However, your friends seem to be on the other side.”
I said with a sarcastic tone as I talked about the three gangsters that seemed to have some problems with me. Hearing my tone, my uncle clicked his tongue then explained,
“Friends my ass. Listen here, brat. Those assholes are gangsters who suffered greatly after your daddy’s vendetta. Now they feel like letting go of some steam by ganging on you.”
“So they’re not your buddies?”
“I might know them since before that incident, but I don’t give a rat’s ass for them. Now listen! If you remain till the end when the formations will simply disintegrate as everyone will go their own way, the three of them will be sure to rush at you. Knowing those bastards, a serious injury might be the best thing you could ask for right next to a quick death.”
“… And what do you suggest?”
“Crush dem motherfuckers!”
“Gladly!”
We both took out our long swords and prepared for battle, our stance low while our swords high. Our commander was at the front and each team had around 50 men. The ones with a shield and a sword were the most, numbering half of us, then came the ones with a halberd in numbers of 15, the ones with a long sword being only 10. After everyone was set into their formation, the commander that was in front of us shouted loudly the rules of the battle:
“No sharp weapons! Although we’re fighting with swords and halberds, I think I don’t need to explain why they must be blunt and with no tips, yeah?! All the strikes of weapons shall be in the form of slashes, no thrusts! Other than that, you can kick, punch, tackle, trip, and so on as long as you don’t kill someone! The moment you touch the ground with anything other than your legs, or you lose a piece of armor, you lost and you either play dead or get your ass away from here with your hands raised so everyone can tell you’ve lost! The other way round as well! Don’t you f****** dare hit the ones who have their hands raised or have their protective gear defected! If you dare to cheat and get up after you got down, or you hit someone who has lost, then be sure to have your ass kicked out from all the festivals forever! AM I CLEAR?!”
-ROAAH!-
We roared loudly in answer and the commander nodded once then lowered his helmet.
“Good! Now that the rules are clear, be sure to fight and crush them!”
-HOAAAH!-
He raised his sword while in front of everyone and we all raised our weapons while shouting in answer with a war-cry. Seeing everyone fired up, the commander turned towards the enemy team and saw them as fired up like us.
“Wow, wow! This is really intense! The fight didn’t even start yet but I can already feel their spirit from here!”
Marina grinned excitedly for some action from the tribunes and the other girls smiled in answer as they agreed with her,
“I thought you didn’t really wish to see the violence?”
Alice asked smiling but then Marina shrugged her shoulders with an awkward smile,
“What can I say, when I see everyone so hyped, I can’t simply stay low, you know?”
“That’s in your case… Mira, are you alright?”
Seeing Mira ready to hide her face behind Alice, Ana asked wryly and Mira simply nodded for a bit.
“You know? If you don’t want to watch, we could just go and do something else meanwhile.”
“N-no. I’ll watch.”
“If you say so.”
Alice wanted to comfort Mira but she refused as she knew that Alice also wanted to watch it, not wishing to be a burden for them.
-WUOOOOONNNGGG~~-
“Oh! It’s starting!”
Marina got up excited as the war horn resounded and the drums started to beat, making the blood boil for each fighter and spectator alike.
-ROAAAAHHH~!!!-
“TO BATTLE~!”
The entire battlefield lit up with war-cries and the two camps rushed towards one another, the former formation already starting to aerate as the warriors needed space between one another to run. Although it was a medieval festival, it was after all nothing more than two champs made by participants who never really worked or fought together before.
“Brat, be sure to stay close! Rare are the moments when you fight against only one adversary!”
“Haha~! No promises!”
“Kid! You want to die?!”
“So be it!”
“Oh f***, he lost it…”
Being overly excited as I never got the chance to exteriorize the full amount of violence inside me, I could say I already forgot my uncle’s warnings, rushing forward right behind the halberds. Michael who was slowly being left behind by me, stared baffled then simply sighed and tried to focus his attention on the enemies in front, not even worrying for me.
He’s just too f****** excited… Bah, who am I kidding? I’m the same!
“Let’s f*** ‘em up!”
He roared furiously and the ones in front struck with their halberds with full power.
-CLANG!-
Numerous loud crashes resounded and huge sparks or pieces of wood flew as the halberds of our team crashed on the shields of our adversaries. It seems they placed the shield-bearers in front while the halberds in the back, with the big-swords on sides.
Their formation seems better. Well damn.
I could tell that we were at a great disadvantage by how our formation has been made, but this only made me more excited, knowing that this won’t be an easy battle at all.
“Haha~! We’re in deep s***!”
“Ain’t that cool?!”
My uncle laughed just like me and I answered back excited as the front rows have already been pierced through, the halberds being easily thrown to the ground.
“Drop dead!”
Three guys quickly rushed our way with their swords and shields, my uncle and I welcoming them with mad gazes.
“Welcome!”
“Roah!”
He swung his great sword with power and I also kicked the first who rushed my way while roaring, him clashing with two while I had to deal with one.
-CLANG!-
The man blocked my kick with his shield then I slashed strongly downwards. He tried to block it with his sword but my strike was heavier, going past his sword and hitting his shoulder loudly.
“Strong!”
He exclaimed surprised but he felt nothing as the armor was simply too strong.
“Haha! Good defense!”
I laughed then rammed into him with my shoulder and made him retreat a few steps, then with a wide swing from above I forced him to touch the ground on one knee, the weight of my strikes being too much for him to handle in such an unsteady position.
“Damn!”
“Take this!”
Because he was yet to fall down, I quickly rushed forward and kicked his head, making him fall to the ground on his back and so disqualifying him.
“Next!”
I roared excitedly as I rushed to help my uncle. However, this only annoyed him further.
“Roah!”
With a loud roar, he swung his sword strongly and pushed back the two men that rushed at him initially. Seeing me get closer, he roared at me annoyed,
“Don’t you f****** dare take my prey, brat! Go save the commander! I got this!”
“Damn, alright then!”
Seeing how he was just playing around with the two, I quickly went toward the front where our commander was now surrounded by two fighters with a sword and shield, and by two halberds. From each side the warriors with a shield would stay in front of the halberds, defending them while they struck him from above.
“Hup!”
I jumped in and Instantly slashed at one of the halberd bearers, making him drop his weapon then ram into his side, crashing him to the ground. After that, the shield-bearer rushed at me and slashed heavily. I easily parried his slash with my sword then dodged the shield strike that was coming to my head. I turned to his side and with the button of the sword, I slammed his head, stunning him for a moment and gaining enough time to strongly slash him diagonally, denting his armor and making him fall on his back from the strong impact.
“H-holy damn! You dented my armor!”
“Yet there’s no broken bone! Good armor!”
I commented back with a grin then rushed to the next person.
“H-he’s crazy strong! Alice, do you see Leon?! He’s wrecking everyone!”
Back on the tribunes, everyone was shouting loudly for their favorite fighter, Marina looking baffled at the crusader with a long sword. Alice was also looking with wide eyes and couldn’t help remaining surprised at how I was rushing head-first into the heat of the battle after knowing me normally holding back when into a conflict.
-CLANG!-
Another loud sound resounded as another warrior was pushed back by my strong slash, his armor dented on his chest, showing once again the ridiculous power behind each of my strikes.
So this is how you look when unleashed… And you wanted me not to see it? How mean.
She covered her mouth as a slight blush started to form on her face. Ana saw her reaction and she smiled meaningfully as she knew how Alice feels. She looked at John and, although he wasn’t defeating his adversaries as easily, he was still able to trip them, push them, and block any and all strikes that came at him, showing a sturdy footing as nobody was able to even move him. Many tried to ram into him, but he easily used their momentum against them, throwing them backward. If I was like a berserker, crazy rushing forward like a maniac, then John was like a general, composed and calculative, even commanding his comrades and covering their backs.
I understand Alice now that I see John myself. After all, raw power has its own beauty as well.
Ana touched her lip with an enchanting smile, a slight blush also appearing on her face. Mira was now peeking from behind Alice, but after seeing the both of us doing just fine, her eyes continued on to peek with wonder and amazement shining through them.
Back on the battlefield, after I rescued the commander, the man waved at me while nodding his head in gratitude,
“Thanks for your help, sonny!”
“No worries! Now, I’m out for another bastard to take down!”
“W-wait! Alone?!”
He looked baffled at my back as I rushed back into the frail, taking men after men.
This guy’s crazier than most of us…
He sighed troubled then decided to just go with John’s group as it was the most coordinated so far.
As I continued on to fight, my adversary suddenly blocked the strike I thought would finish him then landed a hit on my shoulder, making me retreat one step.
“Not bad~!”
I commented amused as I finally felt like I met a strong opponent, only to feel my spirit more ignited the moment I heard him talking,
“Brat, it’s time for a beating.”
“So you’re one of those gangsters, eh? Bring it, asshole!”
I roared then slashed once again, having my strike blocked once again. The guy wanted to slash me once again but I simply blocked it with my arm’s armor, going in and ramming into him with my shoulder.
“Roah!”
I rushed again to strike his helmet with the back of my sword, only to have someone slash at my neck with power, making me almost lose my consciousness for a moment.
“Guh!”
Everyone who watched me, the girls included, covered their mouths with a grave face as the strike looked like it would decapitate anyone if the sword was sharpened.
Leon!
Alice especially was scared out of her wits and clenched her fists while worry flashed through her eyes.
I staggered a few steps until I finally regained my footing. I touched the armor around my neck area and felt how the metallic plate has been dented.
“Don’t get too cocky, brat. You won’t leave this battlefield in one piece.”
A long-sword knight walked beside the first one and raised his sword on his shoulder, looking at me arrogantly.
“?!”
-CLANG!-
I suddenly saw more movements from my side through the helmet and barely blocked a shield-strike to my head, needing to take another few steps back from the impact.
“So you’re gonna gang on me, eh? Bring it!”
At the tribunes, Alice frowned as she understood who the three were and Marina asked rather surprised,
“Eh? They’re going to gang on him? Isn’t that rather cowardly?”
“That’s a battlefield. There are no rules which ban such actions…”
Ana answered back but she couldn’t help feeling like something wasn’t right, the strikes being simply too merciless as they were aimed at weak spots like the neck or under the chest plate.
“However, I doubt this is a normal gathering. Does Leon know them?”
Ana glanced at Alice’s dark face but got no answer, Alice’s eyebrows showing worry and concern. Mira was holding Alice’s arm and she couldn’t help grabbing it strongly, her intuition also telling her that something wasn’t quite right.
As John continued to subdue his adversaries, his group continued on to resist and hold strong. As he fought, he suddenly got a glimpse of my situation and shouted my way.
“Leon! Hold on for a bit longer!”
-CLANG!-
However I was unable to hear him as I was struck from three directions separately, sparks flying as I blocked the great sword and one sword, the third strike landing on my stomach and cutting my breath for a moment from the impact, there being only a piece of protective leather for mobility.
“S***!”
I cursed annoyed and pushed the two back and kicked at the bastard who struck my stomach. However, I was already too tired from defending and he easily blocked my kick then rushed at me with his sword, this time surprising me with his tip towards the slit of my helmet.
-grab-
“Oy are you crazy?! This is banned!”
I grabbed the sword with my hand as the tip was right in front of my eyes, making for my heart to jump for a moment. The guy then grinned and from my left, the handle of the great sword rushed towards my face, the guard sliding right through the opening of my helmet to the eyes area.
-CLANG!-
“Kyaaa~!”
“Leon!”
“Oy! You fuckers!”
Mira screamed terrified, Alice shouted urgently as she got up, while John quickly rushed my way disregarding any and all around him.
“Hmph, this is for f****** our plans.”
He then plucked out the guard from inside my helmet and blood was staining it, making the three to smile amused.
“Hold up.”
I grabbed his arm and my sharp eyes flashed from behind my helmet, my spirit reaching sky-high. Although it was a battle where you’re wearing armor, the risks of injury should still be taken into consideration, and that’s what I’ve been doing all this time while fighting. But now… I no longer felt like taking their safety into consideration, seeing how they don’t take mine in the first place.
“If that’s how we’re going to play, then so be it.”
I was obviously pissed and my voice was more than showing it as I felt my heart calming down while my body heating up.
I grabbed his wrist strongly and pulled downward then smashed his face with my knee, stunning him for a moment. The other two wanted to stop me as I took a slashing position, my eyes fierce,
“Time for an execution!”
I roared and swung the sword furiously, giving the two approaching gangsters a hard time defending against my strike, but unable to stop it as the slash continued until it reached the neck of the kneeling sword wielder.
-CLANG!-
-WOAAH!-
The crowd shouted terrified as they saw the helmet fly in the sky while the gangster fell to the ground, appearing like I just decapitated him. However, the man was still fine but an ugly bruise was visible at the back of his head.
“M***********!”
“You crazy brat!”
The other two then rushed at me with their swords in a stabbing motion. I turned towards them then slashed once again disregarding all defenses. Their stabs barely penetrated through my armor but my slash strongly struck another one’s head, denting his helmet and making him collapse to the ground, unconscious. I turned around as two swords were now stuck inside of my chest plate.
“You’re next.”
I glared ferociously at the last one as I grabbed his sword that was still inside my armor.
“Y-you stupid brat. Let go!”
“Or else, what? You still didn’t answer that one question.”
Pulled him closer and with my knee I kicked his elbow, making it snap and have him roar in pain.
“AAARGH! You m***********-“
I pulled out his sword and threw it as it was disturbing the movement of my left hand. Afterward, with both arms I slashed diagonally right to his head, denting his helmet in the middle and making him fall to his knees, the shock on top of his head making him vomit inside his helmet then lose consciousness.
“Leon! We came to aid you… Oh f***…”
John looked around surprised, letting out a curse after seeing how a sword still remained inside my chest armor while drops of blood were stained around the slit of my helmet from my eye.
“You’re kinda late, man.”
I shrugged my shoulders then took out the remaining sword and threw it on the ground. The helmless guy I initially decapitated got up with a severe headache, looking at me sharply.
“You bastard… I’ll make you pay for this.”
John wanted to shout at him to get lost, but I stopped him and stepped forward, feeling like laughing at him for a bit.
“Are these the losers’ cries?”
“That girl you were with before. Was she your girlfriend?”
He smiled fiercely and after hearing this I let down my sword and slowly walked towards him.
“W-wait, Leon. What are you-…”
John thought I got furious and wanted to act on impulse, but I just raised my hand at him as to calm down, letting me do my thing.
After seeing me coming closer and closer, the gangster thought I was furious and he then continued to talk, a nasty smile on his face,
“I’m sure my boys will have a good time rapping that bitch real good. You won’t mind if we get her for ourselves, do you?”
After I got right in front of him, he was surprised to see how I simply patted his shoulder while chuckling amused, unable to see my face from behind the helmet.
“D-did you not hear what I just said-?”
“Oh, but I heard you, however…”
He then saw the strong killing intent from inside my eyes and remained mute after I continued speaking with a laugh,
“…if you think that my father hasn’t done enough, I’m more than ready to start a second coming of the Roil, this time you guys playing the principal roles of the victims. Just like my father did, I promise you there will be no survivors the moment you touch my woman. Understood? I’ll. F******. Kill you all.”
I then gently patted his face as I laughed in his face with a sharp glare, turning to leave.
“…”
Momentarily he was frozen stiff, but after waking up from his state of fear, fury blinded him as he looked around for his weapon. He grabbed the sword from the ground and looked at my parting back. Preparing to go to and slash me from behind, suddenly a sword slammed his face as he wanted to advance, making him fall once again and cover his bleeding nose.
“W-who’s the f*****-“
“And what the hell do you think you’re doing, eh?”
My uncle was squatting beside him with his great sword on his shoulder, looking at him through the bars of his helmet with a mocking gaze.
“Eh? Michael?”
“Stop staring at me like an idiot and move your ass. There are still some fuckers that we need to finish from your team and we can’t with you here, tripping everyone with your corpse.”
“B-but aren’t you guys the minority now-“
“I said to move yo dead-ass! You bastard!”
“Y-yes!”
Getting threatened with a sword, the guy quickly got up while raising his hands to show that he lost. As he departed, he heard my uncle’s words from behind,
“I told you not to mess with that little bastard. A monster’s son won’t be a p****-cat, you dumbasses. Just get lost and stop messing with the Roils. You won’t be able to handle it otherwise.”
“…”
He bit his lips in frustration then continued on until he reached the edge of the wooden fences that surrounded the battlefield, going out through a gate then towards an ambulance parked right near the battlefield. More people were also rushing inside to get his two companions after he told them that they fell unconscious from a strike to the head.
“So he is the guy that stabbed Leon through the helmet…”
“That guy better be banned from entering such festivals ever again.”
“Too many people saw it happen. I doubt he has any chance of remaining here.”
The girls talked between themselves and Alice glared sharply at him as she was now worried sick, looking at me as I continued to fight beside John. She wanted for me to stop and be checked by the doctors, but she knew all too well that won’t happen until only one camp remained.
As we were fighting off the incoming enemies, John got a moment to get near me and quickly ask some questions,
“Dude! How’s your eye?! Didn’t he stab you right through it?”
“Nah, just grazed. I can see just fine.”
“T-then what about your chest?”
“My chainmail protected me. Here, catch!”
I then grabbed the shield of the one in front of me and strongly pulled behind me towards John.
“Eh? Woah!”
The guy used my pull to gain momentum and slash towards John, but he was quicker as he swiftly got down under his shield, making that guy trip and fall on his shield then be lifted and thrown on his back.
“Oy! He almost got me!”
“But you got him in exchange! See? We do a great job together!”
I laughed amused while John looked at me baffled, not sure if he should be worried over my injuries or over my hyped fighting spirit.
“Brat! Leave some to this uncle!”
“You’re old! Go rest or something!”
“Who’s old?! You’re old!”
As if one wasn’t enough, now my uncle appeared from someplace and instantly rammed the guy I was fighting against, slamming him on the dirt then starting quarreling with me.
“Nope, they’re not normal…”
John didn’t know what to say but then he simply sighed as he continued to protect my back. We were 5 more people, the 3 of us together with the commander and another guy, the enemy being 5 as well by now.
“J-just when did the numbers become even? Weren’t they outnumbered by around two times a while ago?”
“Those knights are crazy. Especially that one who had a sword stabbed in his chest.”
“Shouldn’t he go check a doctor by now?”
“Nah, he’s still going strong. Now adding him with that tank of a crusader and the other crazy long sword, I suppose we can call the red team as victorious.”
“For sure.”
Hearing the crowd’s comments, entertained by the comeback of the red team, the girls giggled amused while Alice sighed with a smile as she saw me continuing fighting without showing any signs of pain or exhaustion.
“Alright! We’re done here!”
My uncle strongly stabbed his sword into the ground and crossed his arms after doing a good job, the last guy being slashed by both of us with incredible power, sending him crashing with two large dents on his chest.
-HOAAAAHH!!-
This time the crowd roared loudly after having the victors remain standing tall on the battlefield. The five of us looked at one another then raised our swords victoriously, roaring out a cry of victory.
