Now, while his guard was down—
“No one cares about your name,” someone suddenly interjected.
This new voice came from behind us. I turned to see who it was and spotted a werewolf standing there.
Technically, werewolves are supposed to be half-wolf and half-human, but this one looked like a wolf—troll mix. I don’t know what else to call him though, so I’m sticking with “werewolf.” His face was predominantly lupine, and his body mostly humanoid. He was wearing leather armor for some reason (I don’t know why) and carrying a big scimitar.
“We just have to swipe the statue from the girl, right, Boss Zel?”
“Dilgear!” Zelgadis shouted reproachfully.
The werewolf stared at Zelgadis for a long second, unsure why he was being yelled at.
“Oooh, you hadn’t told them what you were after yet, huh? Well, it won’t matter in the end. They’re gonna die here either way.”
“Don’t be so sure,” I said, taking a defiant step forward. “I don’t know how tough you are, but you’re no match for me regardless.”
“Oho?” The werewolf narrowed his eyes. “Big talk from such a little girl. Let’s see what you can do, then!”
“Happy to oblige. But two on two would be over too quickly to be any real fun. One of us is more than enough to handle both of you. Go get ’em, Gourry!”
“Gwuuuh?!” Gourry cried in an overly dramatic fashion. “Hang on now, little miss...”
“What?”
“No need to quarrel, you two,” said yet another voice, although this one was familiar. “I’m here too.”
Go figure. The third character to step out and join Zelgadis was the old man who’d been leading the armored trolls last night. Since we were outside today, he was carrying a halberd—presumably his real weapon of choice.
“Wait, three on one definitely isn’t fair!” I shouted.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Gourry yelped in a panic.
Jeez, talk about a lack of inner calm... Though I guess a little panic was justified in this case.
“You got the drop on me with that strange spell of yours last night, but you won’t be so lucky today.”
All right, so we might really be in trouble here. I was starting to think about how to cut our losses and run, when—
“Forget it! Attack!” Zelgadis called.
He made the first move, thrusting his right hand out and firing a dozen Flare Arrows from it.
“Tch!”
Gourry and I swiftly dove in opposite directions. The Flare Arrows tore through the ground where we’d been standing. Dust billowed outward from the impact, clouding our vision. This wasn’t good. We’d been separated.
Through the smoke, I could hear the shrill cry of metal hitting metal. It sounded like Gourry was already clashing blades with one of them.
“Gourry!”
I called out to him, but when I did... I saw the flash of a blade.
“Uh-oh!”
I leaped backward and drew the sword on my hip.
“You seem to have skill,” my attacker declared as the dust gradually settled. “Allow me to put it to the test!”
“Zelgadis!”
He let out a warcry as he sliced at me again. I moved to parry—
Clang!
The blow was so heavy, I almost dropped my sword.
Zelgadis was good. Each of his swings had just the right combination of power and speed behind it. My arms wouldn’t last long blocking strikes like these.
I didn’t want to admit it, but he was too much for me in my current state. Placing my bets on strategic retreat, I turned tail and dashed into the forest. Since I was the one he was really after, I knew that Zelgadis would follow me. I’d find a way to lose him in the woods, then return to the fray and give Gourry a hand.
At least, that was my plan. But I’d underestimated Zelgadis. He ran right into the forest after me. That much I’d expected, sure. The part I didn’t see coming was him catching me instantly. Before I knew what was happening, he’d driven a knee into my solar plexus. I tried to swing my sword in a counterblow, but all I caught was empty air as I flew backward into a tree.
“You should... be more gentle with girls...” I wheezed, the wind knocked out of me.
I wasn’t down and out just yet, but that blow had really done a number on me.
“I wouldn’t have to be rough with you if you’d just give me what I’m after.”
I got my bearings and slowly backed away. Zelgadis didn’t close the distance, but instead just watched me carefully. I made my move and sprang into a run. Zelgadis gave chase. This was my chance!
“Light!” I shouted, tossing a Lighting spell behind me.
Zelgadis charged right into it.
“Gwah!”
Obviously that wouldn’t be enough to stop him, but it would at least blind him temporarily. Even in my current condition, I could still use minor magic like that. If I tried to cast Fireball, though, I wouldn’t get so much as smoke.
I didn’t bother to go on the offensive here. I had a feeling my sword wouldn’t pierce that rocky skin of his, anyway. I just kept running.
The treeline came to an abrupt end and I found myself at a small lake, which wasn’t good. There was nowhere to hide here. I turned back toward the forest, but Zelgadis was heading straight for me.
No choice...
I made the snap decision to cut around the lake.
“You won’t escape!” Zelgadis cried.
I think he threw something at me. I zagged to the left to dodge without turning to see what it was, but...
Hey, why couldn’t I move all of a sudden?! I looked down to see a small shard of metal impaling my shadow on the ground. Ah crap, shadow binding! This was a minor trick that still required some skill to use. It restricted a target’s movements from the astral plane.
“But that won’t stop me!”
I chanted another Lighting spell, shining the glowing ball downward. My shadow vanished and I regained my freedom, but it was too late.
I turned just in time to find Zelgadis upon me. And then...