Chương 89: Holding Back

Ethan wasted no time. He unleashed a violent wave of flames that crashed toward Gunnar with the force of a raging storm, setting the air ablaze along its path and making the ground beneath their feet tremble. Gunnar reacted instantly, conjuring a transparent barrier in front of him. The flames slammed against it with a deafening roar, scattering into dozens of fiery tongues that spread in every direction without managing to break through. The crimson glow briefly illuminated the mage's impassive face.

The next instant, he vanished. Only to reappear behind Ethan, attempting to strike him with a devastating shockwave. Ethan anticipated the attack, spinning around in one swift motion. His Fire Sword carved a blazing arc through the air, and a wall of flames erupted between them, forcing Gunnar to halt his assault and retreat several steps. The wind generated by the impact swept away leaves and ash. For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

From afar, hidden inside the hollow trunk of the tree, Agnes watched the battle with a tense expression, unable to take her eyes off him. Her hands gripped the wood so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Every time an attack came close to Ethan, she held her breath, terrified it might be the last. Gunnar studied him carefully.

"The Legendary Sword of Fire…holding back against him would be dangerous". There was no fear in his voice. Only a calm, rational observation. Ethan glanced around for a brief moment. Felicity and Leah lay a short distance away, wounded and unconscious. Their motionless bodies were surrounded by charred trees and scorched earth. Agnes was hidden, but she was still too close.

"This isn't good…" he thought.

"I can't truly use the sword. If I lose control, I'll burn down the entire forest and them along with it". For a brief moment, he lowered his blade ever so slightly. That tiny hesitation was enough to remind him how trapped he truly was. If he fought seriously, he risked killing the very people he was trying to protect. Gunnar slowly cracked his wrists, watching him with cold indifference.

"It's true that Seer Aelira ordered me not to kill you", he said.

"But I don't need all of you to blackmail the mage". He locked eyes with Ethan.

"Drop that sword or I'll kill you". If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Ethan didn't move. His grip around the hilt only tightened. He remained in his stance. Gunnar let out an almost bored sigh.

"You chose this, human". His body disappeared. He appeared and vanished in every direction at a speed impossible to follow. The air compressed with every movement, leaving behind nothing but faint ripples and sudden gusts of wind. Ethan desperately tried to track him, turning in every direction with his sword at the ready. It was useless. Then, without warning, Gunnar was there again. A shockwave slammed directly into Ethan.

His body skidded across the ground for several meters, tearing through dirt and leaves before his head struck the earth with brutal force. For a few moments, the world seemed to spin. He forced himself back to his feet, staggering as his vision blurred. A relentless ringing filled his ears, and warm blood trickled down his forehead. Grinding his teeth, he seized his sword once more and raised it into a defensive stance. Every breath came with difficulty. Gunnar appeared before him in a flash.

Before Ethan could react, Gunnar ripped the sword from his hands and drove a powerful kick into his stomach, launching him even farther away. Ethan crashed violently into a tree, blasting a massive hole through its trunk. The wood split apart with a sharp crack. Several jagged pieces of the trunk pierced straight into his back. For an instant, his breath stopped completely. He clenched his teeth with every ounce of strength he had to endure the pain.

Every slight movement drove the splinters deeper into his flesh, yet he still forced himself to lift his head. Gunnar raised one hand. A blazing red flame ignited in his palm. The temperature rose instantly, making the air shimmer around him. He slowly approached.

"Are you ready to burn alive, human?" Ethan stared back without fear. Though breathing was difficult, he never lowered his gaze. At that very moment, footsteps echoed through the forest. Small. Hurried. Then Agnes stepped between Ethan and Gunnar.

"Stop!" she shouted. She had abandoned her hiding place the moment she saw Ethan in trouble. Her heart pounded wildly, yet her legs had not hesitated for even a second. Ethan's eyes widened. Ignoring the wooden spikes still lodged in his back, he struggled to his feet.

"Agnes! Why did you come out?!"

"Because I don't want to watch you die, that's why!" Her voice trembled, but she didn't take a single step back. Instinctively, Ethan moved in front of her.

"Kill me. Not her. She's only a child".

"Stop protecting me!" Agnes screamed.

"Kill me instead of him!" Silence fell for a brief moment. Gunnar watched them with a faint smile.

"Oh…what a touching scene". His smile widened ever so slightly.

"Don't worry".

"I'll kill both of you". He hurled the blazing flame toward them. Ethan instantly turned around, shielding Agnes with his own body. He closed his eyes. But a split second before the attack struck, Xia teleported in front of them and caught the flames with one hand. The fire vanished as though swallowed by the void. The stakes were still embedded throughout her body. Blood continued to trickle down her kimono, yet her expression remained completely impassive. Gunnar stared at her in surprise.

"You actually managed to pull yourself off the ground. Impressive. But do you really think you can fight in that condition?"

"Yes", Xia replied. Her voice was calm, utterly devoid of hesitation. With a spell, she conjured an enormous black cube that enveloped Ethan, Agnes, Felicity and Leah, sealing them completely inside. The dark walls closed around them like an impenetrable fortress, cutting them off from the rest of the battlefield. Gunnar observed the cube for a moment before turning his attention back to Xia.

"You're an extraordinary mage. You could truly help us win this war. Why not join us? You'd make everything so much easier".

"Because those swords belong to me", Xia replied, "and because, to me, this war is meaningless". Gunnar smiled bitterly.

"Meaningless? To us mages, it's anything but meaningless". The two stood motionless, staring at one another. The air itself seemed to grow heavier. Even the wind had stopped blowing, as though the forest itself were holding its breath. Their battle was about to begin.