Realm of Monsters

Chapter 308: The Fang Of Fraxinus

Chapter 308: The Fang Of Fraxinus

The crowds cheered for Frost Rim as the Northern Gate opened and Nalla stepped out from the tunnels shadow. The blaring light of the sun flooded her vision and it took her a moment to recognize the young man standing across the hot sands of the arena. His bright scarlet skin stood out clearly from his pale white clothes.

Gilgard Morrigan Nalla muttered her opponents name.

She gripped Votums handle and hauled the giant sword across the arena, its black glass-like blade dragging in the sand.

As Gilgard watched Nalla walk closer and closer, he found himself smiling. It was odd seeing a drow, barely over 5 ft tall, dragging a sword behind her that was as tall and almost as wide as herself. If it wasnt for personally witnessing the destruction Nalla had left in the wake of her previous match, Gilgard would have thought the short, thin-frame drow posed no threat whatsoever.

Gilgard replaced his smile for a solemn expression and bowed to his opponent, I greet you, Nalla of Frost Rim. It is an honor to duel against Frost Rims finest.

As he bowed his head, Nalla noticed the hilt of a sword behind his shoulder. The grip was wrapped in fine burgundy leather and its pommel was gold in the shape of a lizard with its jaw wide open, sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. The crossguard was a simple stone black with a single sigil etched at its center.

Nalla had heard many stories of a legendary sword with the same description. She narrowed her eyes, That sword, is that?

Gilgard was surprised, he had heard Nalla rarely spoke to anyone, even her opponents. He counted himself among the lucky few and obliged her curiosity. He reached behind his shoulder and pulled out the claymore sword. Its blade was a giant fang of pale white bone with black veins streaking across. The blade was 4 ft long and 1 ft wide with a slight curve to its serrated edge.

So its true, you really do have it; Feather, the Fang of Fraxinus, Nalla muttered grimly. It seems the Grand Warlord of the East intends to make certain House Morrigan wins the tourney.

Gilgard raised Feather and stared at its milky white color. Do you know where the sword gets its name?

...They say despite the blades size it weighs as much as a feather.

Only for the wielder, for everyone else it feels as if they're being hit by a giant hammer. Gilgard glanced at the giant blade behind Nalla. I take it your blade doesnt share the same quality.

Its a little late to gather information about my weapon, dont you think? Nalla said bluntly.

Just an observation, he said easily. Do you know who Fraxinus was?

Some poor bastard probably.

No, Gilgard chuckled, No, Fraxinus was a blood-wyrm, one of the greatest and most vicious to have ever prowled the Scarlet Realm. The local villages viewed Fraxinus as an angry god that fed on their livestock whenever the whim crossed his mind. You see, Fraxinus didnt kill out of hunger, he killed out of sheer enjoyment. The beast liked the sound of screams and the scent of fear.

Then is that Is that really his fang? Nalla stared at Feathers blade.

Gilgard smiled, There were many who feared Fraxinus, but there was a warlord who did not. He was an orc, said to be twice as strong and twice as cunning as any of his kin, and he feared no man nor beast. Against all warnings, the warlord rallied his loyal army and attacked Fraxinus in his lair. For three days they fought and for three days Fraxinus slaughtered countless orcs and fed on their corpses. But on the fourth day, Fraxinus finally succumbed to his wounds, and the warlord dealt the final killing blow.

Gilgard ran his hand across Feathers bone white blade, The few orc soldiers left alive praised the warlord and tore out Fraxinus greatest fang right from his very bloody jaw. No one remembers the names of the brave soldiers who fought and died. People dont even remember the name of the warlord. After all these centuries people only really remember one thing, Fraxinus the dreadful blood-wyrm.

Gilgard shook his head, In truth, the warlord was a coward who sent his men to die against a ravenous beast. The only brave thing the warlord did was slaughter an already dying beast. People forgot my ancestors name because he wasnt worthy.

Gilgard pointed his sword at Nalla, You look at me and all you see is my familys ancestral sword. But I know my worth, I know who I am, and I know I am more than the blade I wield. The question is, are you more than the blade you cannot even carry?

He stumbled back from the heavy blow. Nalla didnt retreat, but jumped forward in a whirl of attacks. Gilgard grimaced as he parried each strike. Every time Feather blocked her blade he felt painful reverberations stab into his arms from the sheer power of her sword.

Gilgard tried to counterattack but every time he attempted even a simple riposte Nalla would switch her stance, parry his sword away, and follow up with another strike of her own. She pushed her advantage without a single flicker of emotion on her face.

Her fluid motions reminded him of Dianes swordplay.

This girl, Gilgard clenched his teeth, shes a sword master too!

He couldnt win like this, sooner or later hed make a mistake and she would cleave him in half. Gilgard channeled his brown mana into his legs and vaulted away with all the force he could muster.

The crowd oohed and aahed as he jumped two dozen feet away. Nalla didnt hesitate and darted after him. She was already on him by the time he landed.

Nalla pulled her sword back for an attack, her eyes cold with determination. Gilgard smiled ferociously. Black shadows exploded from his silhouette and enveloped them both in a dome of swirling darkness.

Gilgard released his vigor spell and channeled more black mana into his eyes, enhancing his sight. The night vision spell was usually only reserved for master black mages, but Gilgard had worked to learn this particular spell for situations just like this.

Judging from the way Nalla stood still in the dark, her expertise in spell casting was limited to her orange spells. Yet as he stared at Nallas motionless stance, he was suddenly reminded of his duel against Veronica. Instead of attacking, he unconsciously took several steps back.

Nalla raised her sword high. A cold shiver ran down Gilgards spine. She slammed the black sword into the ground. A vibration of energy echoed out from the orichalcum sword in a wave of power. The dark dome exploded in shadowy tatters.

Gilgard watched his spell fall apart with a sense of surreal disbelief. I was wrong.

The drows sword wasnt like his sisters clarity magic. Clarity magic dispelled other mages magic. This. This was different. The black sword did not dispel magic, it ripped the magic apart with overwhelming power.

Nalla suddenly began to wobble. She quickly straightened her legs and took a deep breath. Blood trickled down her nose and she wiped it away with the back of her forearm.

Gilgard narrowed his eyes, The sword is taking a toll on her Still, at this rate, shell kill me long before she falls.

Feather abruptly began to tremble in the palm of his hand. He glanced at the bone sword, taken aback.

His eyes widened, It cant be Feather, you actually want to fight?

The black veins streaking across the fang turned blood-red in response.

Gilgards lips formed a half-crazed smile, I havent seen you this excited since my grandmothers time. He gripped Feathers hilt with both hands, But Im not one to complain.

Scarlet energy leaked out from the Feathers blade and began to creep over Gilgards arm, forming a chainmail-like pattern over his skin.

Nalla frowned, Red scales? What What is that?

The Fang of Fraxinus.