Chapter 323: Standstill


    The world had suddenly turned white. Strygs body felt numb. The grit of sand filled his mouth. He was on the ground, lying on his back. He couldnt move. His ears rang with a painful screech.


    The sensation of pain was the first feeling that returned to him and it stretched all over his body. Votums final strike had destroyed all of his durability scales into nothing but yellow dust. He could feel warm blood flowing over his chest, but he couldnt tell from where.


    He slowly nced at his right hand. His fingers were covered in blood, still clenched around Nameless hilt. The swords de extended out from the hilt a mere 4 inches in a jagged broken line. The remnants of Nameless were scattered in a slew of silver shards over the bloodied sand.


    A painful cry escaped his lips.


    Gian had gifted him Nameless, he had entrusted him with a forged sword of Gale, as was the custom for a child of Gale who hade of age. Gian had epted him, despite his failures. Stryg couldnt save Clypeus, but Gian had epted him as one of their own. And now the symbol of that eptancey broken in the sand.


    His eyes burned, tears pooled at the corners.


    ...ger!! Use the dagger!! Sylvies voice echoed from the stands.


    <em> Dagger? Oh right</em>


    Stryg looked down at his leg. A short dagger was strapped to his thigh. Up to two weapons were allowed for each duelist. Sylvie had picked out the dagger, she thought it the best choice among the weapon racks. She had been upset when he had opted to not even draw it during hisst duel.


    With stiff fingers, Stryg drew the dagger from its sheath and stared at the in steel. He had to admit, it had a clean, sharp edge. The cksmith had done a quality job.


    Now stand up and fight! Sylvie shouted. Dont give up! Fight!


    Strygughed bitterly to himself, his ribs hurting with each breath he took. What could a simple dagger do against <em>that</em>


    ~~~


    Votum shook with searing power, Unas hand burned just from holding it. She let go of the hilt, but it was toote. Painful spasms wracked her body. She dropped to her knees and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    Her vision faded at the edges, she struggled to stay conscious. The wave of pain gradually swept over her until all she was left with was a dull ache reverberating through her body.


    <em> Breathe, just breathe </em>she thought to herself as she gulped down ragged breaths.


    She had pushed herself too hard. Votum had allowed her to be its current wielder, but she was well aware she was not the swords true owner. It took all of her energy and focus to draw out a fragment of Votums power. This time she had drawn too much.


    <em> I didnt have a choice</em>


    Una rubbed her neck. Five bloody scratches curled around her throat. If she had been one second too slow the goblin would have torn out her throat with those unnervingly sharp ws.


    Una stared grimly at the goblin lying on the sand in the distance. His swordsmanship wascking, but the Gale Style was not. And his strength his innate strength coupled with the vigor magic was frightening.


    She hated to admit but for a brief moment, he had overwhelmed her in closebat.


    The blue goblin suddenly moaned in anguish. He dragged himself with his arms towards the remnants of his shattered sword.


    Una felt a pang of guilt. She knew how much a sword meant to a swordsman. He was her enemy, but she sympathized with his loss.


    Una sighed tiredly, reached out, and grabbed Votums hilt. A sharp pain shot up her hand the moment her fingers brushed the hilt. She winced with clenched teeth and grasped the hilt tight. With a shaky stance, she stood up slowly and turned to her fallen foe.


    This didnt have to be this way Una said softly.


    The goblin didnt respond. She wasnt even sure he heard her, or if he could hear at all. He had taken a direct hit from Votums jade sh. Even his Yellow scales couldnt protect him from such power.


    The goblin drew a small dagger from a sheath strapped to his leg and looked toward her.


    <em> You still want to fight!?</em> Una frowned. Why? Just give up already! You cant even stand, let alone evade Votums attacks!


    The goblin leaned on his elbows and sat up with a painful grimace. His breath was shallow, but his lc eyes were clear.


    You know what Votum is, right!? Una yelled in exasperation. You <em>know</em> Im a swordmaster! Why keep fighting!? Youve already lost! I dont want to kill you! Just tell me what I want to know!


    ...Youre right, Stryg mumbled and tossed the dagger aside.


    Una sighed with relief and lowered her de, Then tell me, what does the Monster want with House Noir? What are they nning together?


    Stryg didnt answer. He shifted his legs and crouched low, as if ready to sprint.


    Una frowned, Again with that stance? Do you think you can dodge Votums wind eruptions? You cant even stand, you fool! Let go of your pride already! The fight is over!


    Stryg silently stared at her with determination.


    Fine, so be it she sighed frustratedly.


    No, Stryg, run! Feli screamed desperately from the stands.


    Even your lover sees reason, why cant you? Una shook her head and raised Votum, its ck de pointed at the goblin, You brought this upon yourse!


    Unas voice was cut short as her throat suddenly tightened. She clutched at her neck, gasping for breath. Grey curse sigils steadily bloomed over her corbones and crept across her neck until they formed a cor.


    <em> How did he!? When did he!? </em>Unas eyes widened in panic, <em>When he grabbed my neck earlier!?</em>


    No, that couldnt be! It had only been for a moment. He was trying to tear out her throat!


    Youre right, Una Stryg said calmly.


    <em> I need to get this off me! </em>Una scratched at the fragile grey sigils, tearing them apart one by one.


    ...You <em>are </em>a swordmaster and I am not, Stryg dug his fingers into the sand, I am just a goblin, the runt of the tribe who spent his childhood writing in the dirt.


    Stryg pulled arge ring of sigils out from the white sand. The ring wrapped around his wrist like a manacle, ethereal grey chain links hanging at its end.


    But even a tribal runt can rise above the expectations of others, Stryg snapped the chains taut.


    A multitude of ethereal chains exploded from the sand all around the arena and shot out towards its target, the grey cor around Unas neck. In the blink of an eye the chains wrapped around the drows limbs. Her body stiffened to a halt and Votum slipped out of her fingers and dropped onto the ground with a heavy thud.


    Stryg pushed himself to his feet and walked towards her, the ethereal manacle in one hand and the hilt of Nameless in the other.


    Una desperately tried to move, but she couldnt twitch a finger. She couldnt breathe, she couldnt even call out to Votum. She tried summoning forth her Orange mana to burn through the chains, but her manay dormant in her heart, unresponsive.


    The Standstill Curse takes a while to cast, I admit, Stryg said. It requires several casting locations, each building around the other until they havepletely surrounded the primary target. However, once the focal sigil has been etched onto the primary target, then the cursed individual can do nothing to stop it.


    <em> He wasnt just running away!? </em>Una thought, shocked.


    Panic rose deep within her as she watched Stryg walk closer and closer until he was right in front of her.


    I told you, didn''t I? Stryg stared at her with cold lc eyes. I hate the Noirs. I dont see why youre any different.


    He flipped Nameless hilt into a reverse grip and stabbed the broken de into her left shoulder. She moaned in agony. Tears streamed down her blue-grey cheeks, but her face stayed still, bereft of emotion.


    Im not working with the Noirs or the Monster in the Dark, Stryg pulled out the sword.


    Blood seeped out from her left shoulder and dripped over her frozen arm.


    That doesnt mean a Noir gets to use me of what happened at Widow''s Crag, Stryg snarled and stabbed Nameless into her right shoulder.


    A sound like a wounded animal crying leaked out of Unas lips. The veins around her face and neck bulged with pain, but still, her body did not move.


    Stryg pulled Nameless out from her shoulder and pointed its broken bloodied edge over Unas throat. He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward until she could feel his breath on her face.


    You broke my sword, you deserve to die, he hissed.


    Unas heartbeat thrummed in her ears. She wanted to scream, she wanted to run, but all she could do was stare into the eyes of her death.


    Stryg abruptly pulled the de back. He slowly stepped back, turned around, and walked away. He snapped his fingers and released the curse. The ethereal chains cracked and broke apart into grey light before fading away. Una copsed on the ground, breathlessly. She gasped for air as blood pooled around her body.


    ...W-why? she mumbled weakly and confused.


    Stryg paused in his steps, though he did not look back. ...Loh has lost enough family, she doesnt need to lose anymore.


    I thought you hated the Noirs? she mumbled through panted breaths.


    Stryg ignored her and kept walking.


    NALLA OF FROST RIM IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT! Janne Stemme shouted.


    STRYG OF HOLLOW SHADE IS THE UNDISPUTED VICTOR!! Mark Stemme announced happily.