Chapter 37: 37: Traitorous Knight (2)
Eman and Harley took the exact same stance, holding the sword in front of them.
However, in this case, Harley was using Eman’s style which he had been taught on the pirate ship.
"Too bad you missed my heart," Eman mumbled, cracking his neck.
Without saying a word, Eman moved forward, raising his sword upwards. Harley didn’t wait for the attack to come to him and rushed forward to meet him.
Clank!
"Huh?" Eman raised the sword, spinning and swiping horizontally.
Harley blocked with the flat side of the silver sword, sliding backwards a bit.
"You got stronger. It hasn’t even been long since we left the ship," Eman frowned, clicking his tongue.
Harley didn’t take his eyes off the knight. A single distraction was all Eman needed to take him out. He had seen it with his own two eyes, the way Eman fought.
’And that sword burns flesh too.’ He remembered the scene on the ship of Eman fighting against the captain — the speed and accuracy, the elegance.
Eman might be a knight but Harley knew now that he was no loyal knight. At least he wasn’t loyal to the princess.
"No need to play around." Eman lunged forward with inhuman speed.
The sword became a blur around Harley as Eman attacked. The flowing of the blade made it seem flexible. There were no gaps.
Harley was on the defensive.
It was like the sword was directly connected to the knight’s hand, and Harley was having a hard time parrying. He gritted his teeth, sweat drops sliding down his cheek.
Eman smiled, stopping his blade mid-strike and kicking Harley backwards.
Thud.
"So that’s it. You’re strong but you have no skill? Tsk tsk..."
Harley pushed himself up from the ground, wiping the dirt from his cheek. His purple eyes narrowed. The impact still rang through his body, but something clicked in his mind.
’He’s fast... but I can see it now. The pattern. The rhythm.’
{You have earned a new attribute!}
Instead of charging blindly, Harley mirrored Eman’s stance once more. This time he watched every twitch of the knight’s shoulder, every shift in his footwork. The next time Eman lunged, Harley was ready.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
The sounds of steel meeting steel echoed through the narrow alley. Harley no longer retreated. He met each strike with equal force, his silver sword moving in perfect sync with Eman’s radiant blade. The burning glow of the artifact sword left trails of light, but Harley’s movements grew smoother, faster.
Eman’s eyes widened slightly. "Not bad. You’re learning."
Harley didn’t reply. He was too focused. Every block taught him something new — the angle of the swing, the slight delay before the follow-up thrust, the way Eman shifted his weight. With each clash, Harley’s speed increased. He began to anticipate the attacks before they fully formed.
’Just like on the ship. Copy. Adapt. Surpass.’
He stepped forward, matching Eman’s inhuman speed. Their blades danced in a deadly rhythm, sparks flying as they collided again and again. Harley’s white hair whipped around his face with every sharp turn. For the first time, Eman was forced to step back.
"You’re actually keeping up," Eman muttered, a mix of annoyance and respect in his voice.
Harley pressed the advantage. He feinted left, then struck right with precision he hadn’t shown before. Eman barely blocked in time, the force pushing him against the alley wall.
Clang!
The radiant sword hummed louder as Eman poured more power into it, but Harley didn’t slow down. He was matching the knight’s speed now, strike for strike. Sweat poured down both their faces, yet Harley’s expression remained calm and focused.
’This is it. I can do this.’
Eman laughed breathlessly, spinning his blade in a wide arc. "Come on then, Harlequin! Show me what you’ve really learned!"
Harley met the challenge head-on, their swords locking once more in a shower of sparks. The fight had shifted. No longer was he just defending — he was fighting as an equal.
All of a sudden, Harley felt a bad premonition as a chill ran down his back. He sidestepped, letting the blade fall down, and he jumped back, regaining his footing.
"Ah, did you sense the danger? You’re sharper than I expected." Eman’s smile widened.
Harley wouldn’t be exaggerating if he said that Eman’s smile was reaching his ears.
The blonde man raised his sword high in the air, and the air around it pulsed subtly. Then he began to chant some words.
’He’s using a verse!’ Harley sprinted forward, reaching in front of Eman, but it was too late.
"Be still."
A low boom resounded in Harley’s ears, and he found himself still. He was not moving an inch and he remained in a striking stance.
’I can’t... move.’ Harley’s eyes raised to meet Eman’s. And the knight casually walked forward, and a churning sound made Harley’s face turn to that of pure horror.
The blade sank into his chest, the same place where he was stabbed the previous day.
"Gah... ARGHHHH!" Harley let out a pained wail. The heat of the blade seared his flesh and it was then that he was finally able to move.
His body fell forward, and Eman caught him.
The blonde knight leaned forward to whisper in Harley’s ear.
"Sorry, but I win." Eman smiled. As he was about to pull away, he suddenly coughed up blood as he felt a sharp object tearing into his heart.
The silver sword that Harley held pierced through his chest. With wide eyes, he looked at Harley’s face to see the white-haired dude smiling wickedly.
Harley stood up slowly, letting Eman’s sword slide out of his chest. Blood slowly slid down, staining the white of his outfit.
"I win." Harley whispered in Eman’s ear.
He watched the knight stare at him with a terrified expression.
Harley understood what that expression was. After all, he had won already and there was no way Eman could have survived that.
Eman’s body fell to the ground with a low thud. Harley removed the silver sword from his chest, and in that moment, the feminine voice of the Oracle whispered in his ears.
{You have killed a scheme 8 human; Eman. You have earned a story fragment.}
Harley vanished from his spot, and drops of blood could be seen trailing from the alley, back into the kingdom.
