The Contractor's Conquest

Chapter 10: The Edge of Chaos

Arthur and the larger assailant moved like shadows in the dim moonlight, their strikes swift and unrelenting. The clang of steel against steel reverberated through the air as Arthur's broadsword met the curved edge of the assailant's twin scythes. The intensity of their movements left deep gashes in the ground, the fight resembling a deadly dance of precision and power.

The assailant sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Never thought I'd see a piece of junk move this fast. How're you doing it, huh?"

Arthur didn't respond. Instead, he sidestepped a wide swing of the left scythe, twisting his body to deflect the right one with his shield. As he stepped forward, his sword lashed out in a counterstrike. The blade grazed the assailant's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood that trickled down to his chin.

The assailant paused for a moment, touching the wound and smirking. "So, the tin can's got bite after all."

Arthur's emerald-lined armor shimmered faintly as he readjusted his stance, his breath steady but strained. Inside, his thoughts raced.

"By layering a thin coat of mana beneath my armor, I've managed to block his Blood Siphon's effects. But keeping this up is draining me fast. Even with the buff from Aegis, he's too fast. I can barely keep up, and at this rate, I only have three minutes of mana left."

The assailant lunged forward with a burst of speed, his scythes flashing in a deadly arc. Arthur raised his shield just in time, absorbing the brunt of the blow, but the impact pushed him back several feet, his boots skidding against the dirt. He countered immediately, stepping into the attack with a powerful swing aimed at the assailant's ribs.

The assailant twisted his body with inhuman agility, narrowly avoiding the strike. His laughter echoed in the chaos. "If this is all you've got, you're done for, knight."

Arthur's mind worked frantically. "If I activate my green ability now, I'd be unstoppable for thirty seconds... but then I'd be out of mana completely. Meanwhile, this bastard hasn't even used his Ring's green. He's toying with me."

Another round of blows ensued, the assailant pressing the attack with relentless aggression. His scythes sliced through the air in precise, rapid arcs, each aimed at Arthur's vital points. Arthur blocked and parried, his shield absorbing most of the strikes, but a few slipped past, grazing his armor and leaving shallow dents.

The assailant lunged low, aiming to sweep Arthur off his feet. Arthur jumped, the edges of the scythes narrowly missing his legs. Using the momentum, Arthur brought his sword down in a vertical slash. The assailant leaned back, the blade missing his nose by inches, and retaliated with an upward slash that Arthur barely dodged.

Their weapons locked once more, the sheer force of the clash sending shockwaves through the ground. Arthur stared into the assailant's eyes, unflinching, even as the man grinned.

---

Five Minutes Earlier

In Florence, the villagers had gathered in small, fearful clusters. The moon had vanished behind a thick veil of unnatural darkness, and whispers of unease spread like wildfire.

"What's going on?" a woman cried. "Why does the sky look so strange?"

Young Lukas stepped outside, his sharp eyes scanning the ominous sky. His heart sank as he recognized the signs.

"A Space Maker... here? In Florence? This can't be happening. What's something this dangerous doing in a backwater village like ours?"

He turned to the frightened villagers, raising his voice to calm them. "Everyone, listen! Stay inside your homes! Do not come out, no matter what you hear!"

Once the villagers were settled, Lukas activated his Ring, clenching his fist as it glowed with a radiant blue light.

"Come forth: Bubble Trouble—Bubble Maker."

A bubble-blowing ring materialized on his hand, accompanied by a soap container strapped to his back. Lukas twisted the ring and chanted, "Lightheart Bubbles!"

Violet bubbles began forming around him, their sheen glimmering with a soft light. As the bubbles coated his body, Lukas felt his muscles lighten, his speed increasing dramatically. Without wasting another second, he bolted toward Sylas's house, the wind rushing past him as the scenery blurred.

As he reached the house, his breath hitched at the sight before him. The structure was partially in ruins, and an eerie barrier shimmered in the air around it. Lukas stopped just short of the barrier, his heart pounding.

"Shit... am I too late?" he muttered, staring at the barrier's surface. His sharp gaze quickly analyzed its composition.

"No, this isn't a Space Maker's doing. This is a soundproof and mana-isolating barrier. If it's still active, that means there's still a chance things are under control. If it had already dissipated, the worst would've happened by now."

Determined to act, Lukas infused more mana into his Ring. "Concealing Bubbles!"

An indigo bubble enveloped him, rendering him invisible and suppressing all traces of sound and mana waves from his presence. With careful steps, he slipped past the barrier, his senses heightened as he prepared for the unknown.

---

Back to the Fight

Arthur gritted his teeth as the larger assailant came at him again, his scythes spinning in a whirlwind of deadly precision. The assailant's attacks were unrelenting, forcing Arthur to step back as he blocked and parried.

The knight's emerald armor flickered slightly, a sign of his dwindling mana reserves. Arthur steadied his breathing, gripping his broadsword tightly.

"Three minutes," he muttered under his breath. "I have three minutes to finish this."

The assailant's voice rang out, filled with cruel amusement. "Then let's see how long you can hold out, knight."

Arthur narrowed his eyes, stepping forward as he prepared to meet the man head-on once morei in a desperate final stand.

---

End of Chapter