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CH. 1

  Arc 1:

  Spero of the Red Sand

  In the harsh midday sun of the Aria desert, a golden eagle soars through the vast sky. Beneath, a sprawling valley extends across the sandy terrain, cradled between towering mesas. Perched at the edge of the mesas, a group of five masked bounty hunters watch intently.

  


  


  "Is that really him?" a slender, reptilian member of the group asks, gesturing towards a figure moving through the valley floor.

  "What do you think?" replies a female bounty hunter, her gaze fixed on the lone wanderer. "He fits the description - clad in red attire, his limbs wrapped in bandages just as the rumors said." Adjusting her white top, her black ponytail dances in the desert breeze as she points her long, obsidian claws at the reptilian.

  The group's leader, a commanding dark elf with skin painted a deep blue and hair as silvery as moonlight, stops their bickering. "The Assassin of Anshan, Spero of the Red Sand. What brings the king's personal assassin all the way out in Arian territory?"

  The group's eyes meet as a giant with a metal jaw steps forward, his voice booming confidently. "Are we going to attack? His bounty is high, about ten talents. I'm a hefty boy, so I'm sure to get paid the most." he bellows out a deep chuckle.

  (1 talent = your body weight in gold.)

  The dark elf draws a knife, expertly twirling it in his grasp before tossing it into the air and catching it.

  "If we engage, caution is paramount. The rumors surrounding him might hold truth," cautioned another hunter with a porcelain mask revealing one eye.

  "There's no way a king would have such a thing protecting him. It's against the ways of their people," added the woman with clawed hands.

  "No, he's right," the leader nods in agreement. "We mustn't take him lightly. A bounty this high is not based on speculation." He juggles the knife again and holds it steady in his palm.

  The reptilian sticks out his sharp tongue and licks across his pointed teeth, a hunger in his eyes. "I want to kill him. Let me kill him!"

  The dark elf gives the signal and the other four dash towards their target. The leader spins his knife one more time before launching it towards the stranger with astonishing speed.

  Spero, their target, confidently strides through the valley, seemingly unaware of his surroundings. His bandana flutters wildly as a fierce gust of wind kicks up a gritty cloud of sand towards him. As the sand settles, his sharp eyes catch sight of a glint—an approaching knife hurtling in his direction. With lightning reflexes, he catches the weapon, his grip steady and sure.

  A massive silhouette emerges before him, and without hesitation, a colossal axe hurls towards him. Spero evades the looming threat by arching his back, his solid stance keeping him grounded. As the menacing axe whizzes past, he catches a glimpse of his reflection before springing back up. Knife at the ready, he darts to the side and senses a glimmer in the corner of his eye—a deadly spear hurtling towards his very throat. He leaps backward just in time, his keen gaze locks onto a mysterious figure donning a porcelain mask.

  Spero parries the reptilian's left dagger strike and seizes both of his adversary's wrists.

  "I'll cut you up!" the reptilian says, flailing his sharp tongue in Spero's face.

  Disgusted by the reptilian's taunting gesture, Spero unleashes a powerful front kick to the hunter's chest. Without missing a beat, he deftly deflects the female hunter's razor-sharp claw attacks. Spero dashes back to reassess the situation.

  There's a giant; metal jaw, that wields a one-sided axe, medium to long-range. Their race is slow but powerful.

  Reptilian. Slim, no tail, double daggers, short-range. Race is known to be fast, but this one is weak.

  Claw hunter. Sharp claws—ten in total—short to medium range, quick. She's a humanoid but could also be a mutant.

  Then there's the porcelain mask. Uses a spear, medium to long range, great form, quick but not as experienced. Most likely human.

  Alright, I think I have a plan.

  When facing multiple enemies, there are a few rules to follow. Rule number one—separate them and try to fight them one on one.

  Spero steels himself for the oncoming charge of the lizard and the claw hunter. Meeting their assaults head-on, he deflects the dual strikes from the reptilian's daggers by countering with a barrage of punches that strike the lizard's chest and jaw. As the female hunter lunges towards him, Spero evades her claw strike with a nimble dodge to the left. Her ponytail flows in front of him, he grabs hold and yanks it back. She shrieks and is met with a forceful knee strike to her back, the female hunter crumples to the ground. Spero swiftly dodges the hunter's spear as it whizzes past him, grazing his shirt. Spero turns and feels the spear gets entangled with the hilt of the sword strapped to his back. A smirk plays on Spero's lips as he notices the hunter's mask is only concealing one eye.

  Left eye, blind spot.

  He shoots a left leg swing, delivering a high kick directly to the hunter's left side of the head, his foot connecting with a satisfying thud, sending him staggering.

  The giant appears behind him, veins bulging in his neck. "Try to stop this!"

  Don't block, redirect!

  Before he can reach for the sword attached to his back Spero parries the giant's axe swing with his knife, the blades clashing in sparks as metal chips off. He then lands a well-aimed kick at the giant's knee, causing him to stumble. Using the opportunity to reassess the situation, Spero glances around and spots the dark elf perched atop the cliff, observing the unfolding battle.

  He's studying my moves. Let's show as little as possible.

  Spero's instincts sharpen as a deadly spear is aimed at his neck. He steps back just in time to avoid the strike before the claw hunter advances with an uppercut. Spero tilts his head back, gracefully raises his right foot, and delivers a powerful kick straight to the hunter's jaw, sending her backward. A whistling sound catches Spero's attention, prompting him to leap. He propels both legs upwards just as a sharp axe zips beneath his feet. Suspended momentarily in midair, Spero scans his surroundings and locks eyes with the reptilian adversary. Spero twists his agile body sideways, his foot connecting with a pivotal kick that propels the lizard-like foe away. Despite his agile maneuvers, the lizard’s dagger slices through the air, grazing his thigh and drawing blood. Utilizing the momentum from his previous kick, Spero cunningly adjusts his stance, landing d on his feet as he faces the encircling adversaries. Spero's mind races, calculating their positions with strategic precision. The claw hunter and reptilian loom menacingly at his 2 and 11 o'clock positions, while the porcelain mask and imposing giant stand guard at his 8 and 5 o'clock, creating a web of danger.

  Rule number two—if you get surrounded, use their teamwork against them.

  "He's really pissing me off!" the reptilian scowls, pointing his dagger at Spero.

  "We have to time our attacks together. Focus!" the claw hunter shouts.

  They both charge in and crisscross, switching their positions. The claw hunter dashes forward, closing the gap between him and the lizard creature, aiming a powerful strike at Spero. He manages to deflect the first blow, but the second strike leaves a cut on his right shoulder. Spero executes two quick jabs: one to her stomach and the second to her cheek. The reptilian cuts Spero's forearm but blocks his other dagger. Meanwhile, the doll hunter engaged in the fray, thrusting his spear. Spero seizes the opportunity, grabbing the lizard's head to shield himself from the incoming spear. The doll hunter adjusts his aim last second, causing the spear to graze the side of the lizard's face.

  Spero strikes at the doll hunter's left shoulder and a shadow falls over them. The sound of a heavy axe descending fills the air, prompting Spero to leap back just in time to avoid the deadly blow that slices across his back. He rinses in as the claw hunter attempts to launch another surprise attack from behind, Spero evades her. He tapes a step to the side, tripping her feet causing her to stumble and collide her face with the side of the large axe, the impact echoing through the forest. Spero readjusts his stance, but a spear comes spinning at him, he hops side to side and kicks the bottom of the spear, breaking off a part of the handle. His kick hurls the wooden fragment toward the giant, striking him in the right eye with a resounding stab. Spero remains composed, drawing in a deep breath to steady himself.

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  Rule number three—when their teamwork falls apart, go for the kill.

  Spero charges toward the reptilian with a fierce grit. As he nears his opponent, he delivers a powerful punch to the throat, causing the lizard to gasp for a breath of air. With immediate precision, Spero severs the lizard's flailing tongue, eliciting a guttural scream of agony. The wounded reptile retaliates by waving his daggers with ferocity, but Spero evades the lethal blades with nimble footwork. Spero shifts his focus to the doll hunter who stands in shock at the swift turn of events. The doll hunter raises his halved spear in a desperate attempt to strike Spero, but his limited range proves futile as Spero effortlessly maneuvers past him. In a seamless motion, Spero somersaults over the back of the one-eyed hunter, slicing his neck with as he lands gracefully on the other side. Spero snatches the discarded spear as his body falls to the sand below and hurls it towards the claw hunter, impaling her right shoulder.

  The giant quickly brings down his axe with a fierce strike, causing Spero to take a step back. Light on his feet, Spero throws his knife high into the air, diverting the giant's attention momentarily. He leaps onto the back side of the axe as the giant lifts his weapon once more. Spero uses the momentum of the swinging axe to propel himself upward. As Spero ascends, he gives the giant forceful kick to the enemy’s chin with his right foot, followed by a skillful scissor kick with his left foot, directing his aim towards the descending knife. He strikes the bottom handle of the knife, hurtling it towards the panicked reptilian's forehead. The knife finds its mark, embedding itself into the creature's skull as his victorious roar instantly stops. In a seamless transition, Spero pivots his body, landing behind the claw hunter who was grappling with the spear lodged in her shoulder. He grabs the claw hunter's head and chin – CRACK, he snaps her neck.

  The giant's fury grows, and he charges furiously towards Spero, brandishing his massive axe with hostile intent. Spero dashes towards the giant, sliding on his knees to evade the lethal swing of the colossal weapon. Spero draws his sword mid-slide and cuts deeply into the giant's right kneecap. The giant growls in anguish, staggering under the unexpected strike, he attempts to regain composure by lashing out with his axe in a wide arc. Spero maneuvers under the swinging weapon, smoothly landing on the other side, where he slices through the giant's other kneecap. With a thunderous crash, the immense hunter topples to the ground, dropping his weapon as he falls to his knees in defeat. Spero stares at the fallen giant before ending the confrontation by delivering a final blow, piercing the giant's monstrous head with his sword.

  Spero pauses to clean his blade with a piece of cloth. Just as silence begins to settle, a mocking sound of applause ripples through the atmosphere from behind.

  "That was impressive." The dark elf reveals his presence with a sarcastic ovation.

  Spero turns, his eyes locking onto the figure who was leading the ambush just a few strides away.

  "You're as dangerous as they say. Who would've thought we'd run into such a rare bounty? I must thank you. Now I can keep the reward all to myself."

  "I'm in a hurry; can we move this along?" Spero retorts, assuming a steadfast stance.

  A mischievous glint shows in the elf's eyes as a smirk peek out from beneath his mask. Spero studies his demeanor.

  Dark elf—a race known to have light movements, high agility, great precision, and high levels of magic. The large sword will slow him down, medium to long-range.

  With a sudden burst of speed, the elf springs towards Spero, catching him mid-thought. Spero manages to evade the brunt of the attack, yet a sharp pain stings his left cheek as the blade grazes it lightly. The elf unleashes a flurry of strikes upon Spero. Though he deflects and dodges most, a few blows slip through, leaving shallow wounds on his arms and torso. As the elf aims for another slash, the blade slices through the strap of Spero's scabbard, causing it to plummet to the ground. Spero's mind races a thought.

  How can he swing a sword that size with such ease and accuracy?

  The elf launches a fierce attack, and Spero parries the blow with a slick movement. Once the edges of the blades kiss, he tilts his sword touching the flat sides against each other, slides his sword across the large weapon, and slashes the elf in the chest, leaving behind a minor wound. However, the elf reacts with a sudden jab to Spero's nose, stunning him before swinging his sword in a powerful arc. Spero blocks the hit, but the force behind the strike is immense, shaking his arms and forcing him to stagger backward. Sensing Spero's momentary imbalance, the elf makes a daring move, plunging his sword into the ground and utilizing a blast of wind to propel himself forward connecting a straight kick to Spero’s chest that sends him crashing into a nearby rock wall. As he collides with the solid surface, the enemy's sword flies at his head. Spero swoops down, and the large blade slices into the hard rock, narrowly missing his head but grazing a portion of his bandana in the process.

  Spero, now crouched, notices a mysterious silver light shimmering on the hilt of the elf's blade. Despite the distraction, he decides to focus on the imminent threat at hand. Spero tackles the elf, sending them both crashing onto the packed sand. As their intertwined bodies roll and clash amidst the golden grains, the elf drives his blade into the ground, leveraging the sandy terrain to kick Spero off. The agile warrior tumbles briefly across the ground but regains his footing. Mirroring the elf's action, Spero thrusts his sword into the ground, halting his momentum. Both combatants raise their feet in unison.

  That's an unusual stance for an elf. He keeps most of the weight on his back foot... His form is a bit rigid; I can get past his speed with his lack of form.

  "A dark elf that doesn't use magic. That's rare." Spero mocks.

  "You think I would use magic against a divinian?" the elf responds with a hint of sarcasm.

  Spero chuckles. "I guess you're smarter than I thought."

  The elf raises his sword. Without hesitation, both adversaries surge forward, launching a barrage of slashing attacks that collide violently as their blades meet.

  He tends to aim for the hand that holds my blade. He's also trying to strike my front leg. Let's give him what he wants.

  Spero baits his right side, leaving it slightly exposed. The dark elf capitalizes on the opening and slashes at his front leg. Spero deflects the strike with a parry and counters with a fierce uppercut to the elf's gut, causing him to wheeze heavily but maintain his composure. The elf swipes a kick to Spero's shin, sending him down to one knee. With a menacing swing, the dark elf unleashes a powerful attack. Spero turns his blade vertically, ensuring the handle is raised above him while the blade shields his vulnerable side. The clash of metal rings out, but alas, the force of the elf's strike proves overwhelming as it shatters Spero's weapon. As the shimmering shards rain down around them, the elf instinctively closes his eyes to shield them from the dangerous debris. Seizing a moment of opportunity, Spero pivots, his grip firm on the broken blade, and drives it deep into the elf's shoulder, eliciting a pained cry from his opponent. The elf uses the bottom of his sword's hilt to brutally punt Spero in the head.

  Spero's head swims and his surroundings blur. As the divinian struggles to regain his focus, the elf slams his sword down, slicing through the air. The metallic clang of the blade meeting flesh fills the air, and scarlet droplets splatter onto the grains of sand below. Spero winces as he feels the sharp sting of the blade piercing his shoulder, his grip tightening involuntarily around the weapon lodged in his flesh.

  Gritting his teeth against the pain, Spero manages a gruff murmur, "Damn... I went too easy on you."

  "Ridiculous! The bounty is mine!" the elf shouts with detest.

  Spero looks up at him. "You were using magic this whole time, weren't you? Not on me but on yourself."

  The elf's expression contorts in astonishment. "How did you—"

  "Wind magic, right? That's how you were able to move around so easily. I noticed when you were propelling yourself forward, the rune on your blade would activate. That's why most of your body weight was on your back foot."

  The elf attempts to drive the blade deeper into Spero's injured shoulder, only to be thwarted by Spero's sudden display of force. With a stubborn grip, Spero clasps the blade with unwavering strength, causing it to splinter and crack at the point of contact with his fingers

  "Training's over," Spero declares, delivering a forceful blow to the sword's hilt, shattering it further.

  Wisps of dark energy began to seep from his hands. A tremor of fear flickers across the elf's widened eyes as the realization dawns on him.

  "It-It's true! You are a daeva!", the elf stutters.

  With a fierce strike, he shatters the blade, sending shards flying. The elf's attempt to retreat was futile as Spero rips the chunk of metal from his wounded shoulder, hurling it back at the enemy. The elf's hand, tightly gripping the handle, was cruelly severed by the flying projectile. The hunter's anguished cry echoes as Spero seizes the other half of the sword, driving it deep into the elf's chest.

  As the fallen dark elf crumbles to the desert floor, a song pierces the tense silence—a horn, followed by another. Spero's steely gaze shifts, revealing an army of Arian orcs emerging on the horizon, their menacing figures casting long shadows across the sandy expanse. Archers poised atop cliffs on both sides, their arrows gleaming in the fading light. The soldiers in the center move to their respective sides, opening the group up. A bulky orc with bronze skin strides forward with purpose, twin axes gripped tightly in his hands.

  


  


  Spero, though surrounded by adversaries on all fronts, felt a surge of relief at the sight of the orc general stepping into view.

  "Took you long enough," Spero quips.

  He removes the bandage veiling his mouth and repurposes it to bind the gash in his shoulder, holding it securely with his teeth for added support.

  "It looks like I'll have to be serious this time", he proclaims, his right arm outstretched.

  With a resolute command, he invokes. "Chaos Variant: Sword of Madness."

  A black symbol radiates on his right shoulder as a dark mist ominously pours out from his palm, coalescing into a razor-sharp blade. An unending stream of dark energy emanates from this weapon. His eyes transmute into an abyssal hue, while a fiery red symbol of chaos materializes in the center of his oculus.

  


  


  "Let's make this quick. I hate using this power."

  The army of orcs retreat in a flurry of muddled whispers in their native tongue, Orcish.

  "It's him!"

  "Daeva!"

  "Spero of the Red Sand!"

  "Vanquish the demon!"

  Spero charges towards the orc general, his weapon shining with an obsidian brilliance, ready to face the impending showdown.

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