"Live, boy."
It disappeared again, and Ignotus felt the attack before he saw it.
His steel snapped back and met the claws behind him, sending him flying.
"Ugh—!"
His arms trembled under the blow as his blade screamed from the impact. Though he still managed to turn around and keep himself straight, with his feet carving trenches into the rock.
"This is such nonsense... it's so—"
His words sounded like a complaint, but his manic grin said otherwise.
"—GREAT!"
He laughed loud enough for all to hear.
"AHAHAAHAHAH! I WON'T FALL HERE!"
He dashed forward and swung, preemptively defending.
The masked thing flicked its wrist.
"You're weak, boy."
Its claws batted him aside effortlessly with a CLANG!
Even though his blade struck back, Ignotus was slammed into the ground, rolling once before springing back up. Doing so just in time to see the air fill with floating lanterns.
Each one blazed like a tiny sun.
And each one was aimed at him.
