Practice in the deep(closed)

Adrian moved quickly through the woods, the cursed bastard sword in his hand as he went. The Devil's Teardrop flashed out, cutting through the projected spear that came around the tree he was passing. He kicked off the ground, the spear tip falling to the ground as he flew forward. Landing in a roll he turned, his blade coming to bare as he came up. The three ogres moved toward him all of them grinning. He watched the one with the broken spear drop it and loose the club from it's side. But club was probably overstepping it. It was more like a board with one really big nail in it.

His heart raced as he stood there, his sword at the ready. His mask was firmly tied in place with the new tie he'd gotten since the last time he'd trained with an ogre. He grinned as the nearest one came forward, his blade coming out in a wide arcing slash, deflecting the metal head of the spear off to his right, as he moved forward. He was inside the spear's head, so it couldn't be used against him without a lot of movement that was unnecessary for the ogre. His body turned as he raised the weapon above his head before bringing it down hard across the wood of the spear. It splintered, and the black blade of the Devil's Teardrop cut into it, but it didn't break.

The ogre with a board and nail swung hard cracking the board across Adrian's back as the Devil's Teardrop split the wood of the spear. The swordsman stumbled forward but thanked his lucky stars that he was on the inside of the nail. One hit from that thing in the wrong place and he was dead. Letting go of the Devil's Teardrop he ducked, the spiked iron tetsubo smashing against the ogre that had the board. Rolling under the spear Adrian thew himself past a tree as the spear turned, the tip cutting across his back.

His arms reached out his fingers digging in as he caught hold of a branch. But he wasn't trying to pull himself up. Instead he used it to throw himself just a little bit higher, though his jump would fall short because of it. as he came down the swordsman turned, the Devil's Teardrop coming to his hand in a swirl of black mist. Landing he bent his right knee absorbing the impact. His free hand coming to the ground to balance him as he slid backwards, his other leg stretched back behind him to help slow him. But any true combatant knew exactly how to make his body work the way he wanted it to regardless of the situation. The mind was the greatest weapon a warrior had, and his body was his second. A trained warrior could be beaten by a novice of sound mind and sturdy body. That was something ogres and most minor demons never understood. But then again with numbers on their side they didn't need to.

(508/500)

Kicking off the ground Adrian threw himself around a tree. His chest heaving slightly. His body could take a lot more punishment than normal people could. But he had to be one hell of a lot better if he were going to be taking on the demon he'd sworn to destroy. Ever since that first defeat he'd brooded on that fact. He'd pushed himself as far as he could go in the city, and had come into the deepest depths of the western woods to continue his training. He'd trained in a temple, and been betrayed by the very teachers there that sought to 'protect' mankind. But Adrian had decided, if he were going to be a tool, a weapon, then he was going to be one used only by himself.

A sharp mind, and strong body were stronger than any kind of weapon in this world but Adrian had to be careful if he were going to defeat that demon. But focusing on the sorceress and her demon slave was not the thing to do at this time. His eyes watched the hilltop, waiting for the ogres to come after him. He waited patiently as he grinned, licking his lips lightly. His ears strained, no sounds, no songbirds, no creatures made noise this deep especially when enemies were around. But creatures looking for something did. He closed his eyes as he knelt, one hand coming to the ground.

He felt for vibrations, his ears straining in the depths of the woods. He could hear them talking, but it was in a language he wasn't fully aware of. Common was spoken by nearly everyone, but then again people called it different things depending on who you asked. But in the world of spirits the language of humans was something rare to hear. Even Oni in the far eastern points of the western woods could only understand you half the time. But someone had taken great lengths to teach a few of the ogres to understand humans. But Adrian hadn't gotten around to learning their own language.

"FEah ku-raooeem-te zee-ku-de geeaymm raeay-see ae-ha-te nah-deeen-ha deoo de-raah jaeeaymmae-kukah." one of them said.

"EAY-fu feah teoo de-raah lu-raeayah-fu feeaymm geeaymm ee-ku aemm! DE-raah KUKoo-te-teah-ku-ku raae-ku haahah-te oo-fu raeay-see!" another said.

Adrian could tell from the way they spoke they were angry. They were upset about something, but he wasn't sure what they were planning but he knew it wasn't going to be good. He stood slowly, groaning as his eyes squeezed shut. His body was aching all over, but he had to keep pushing himself.

"Zee-ku-de kukoo ae-ha-te kukah-de raeay-see! DE-raah LU-raeayah-fu kukae-jaeah ee-ku haoo oo-bae-deeayoo-ha eay-fu feah feae-ha-de deoo ahae-de!" the third one said.

He could hear them coming now. He just grinned, raising his sword up, his eyes closing as he relaxed for a moment, giving his sore muscles a moment of rest.

(525/500)

"FUooee-ha-te raeay-see! AH-jaeahnohoo-haah raah'ku oo-jaeahn raahnah!" came a cry from near by.

Adrian's eyes widened and he turned quickly to face the speaker. The ogre with the chipped spear was pointing at him. Cursing his luck Adrian shot forward, the Devil's Teardrop in hand as he dropped low to the ground. He grunted as the spear glanced his side, cutting it as Adrian moved toward the larger monster. His blade slid along the shaft of the spear aiming to take the ogre's hand's off. But as most would the ogre backed up while releasing the spear. Adrian struck when he could, his blade coming up and passing under the ogre's chin as the swordsman grinned.

To his surprise nobody else came at him. That was very unlike the group hew as currently training with. Even among the stupidest and weakest of ogres they would use group tactics if there were more than one. And often when one was drawing the attention of their prey the others would strike from behind or off to the side. But as Adrian forced this one back no attack came. That meant they were waiting or they were occupied. And probably the only human this deep Adrian was pretty sure they weren't otherwise occupied.

The disarmed ogre drew his sword quickly and thrust it forward. Adrian didn't pause in his stride, his folly. He felt the sword slide into his gut and barely out his back. He cried out in pain as the ogre lifted the sword and Adrian with it. Letting the Devil's Teardrop fall from his hand he grabbed the blade and pulled himself forward slowly. He loved the look of shock that the ogre had on it's face as he moved closer. He panted lightly as he pulled himself to the end of the sword. As he finished impaling himself on the blade the ogre dropped it. Adrian went to his knees as he hit the ground. Picking the Devil's Teardrop up once more he brought the blade up in a diagonal slash, across the ogre's chest. It fell back, crying out, leaving the swordsman there. Throwing his weapon away Adrian pulled at the sword, reversing the direction he'd just put himself through.

Crying out in pain he freed himself from the sword and threw the ogre's weapon away. The masked swordsman knelt there, his left hand over the wound in his stomach. He was going to need aid soon if he wasn't careful with his movements. But he was already bleeding pretty bad and would probably bleed out pretty quick. Summoning his blade back he walked past the ogre that lay there.

"Get up. I didn't do nearly enough damage to kill you yet, so stop pretending. This exercise is over. If three of you can't take out a single swordsman how can you even hope to attack the city? Their weapons are far superior to my own." he said using his sword like a cane.

(501/500)

Updated