Lamb amidst the wolves

Adrian's eyes watched the large armored ogre come toward him slowly. Raising the Devil's Teardrop Adrian, swung as hard as he could, his blade meeting the large wooden club that came down. But he couldn't just stand there. Coming out of the ogre's club were several spikes, ranging in size from three to six inches. His blade cleaved into the hard wood of the weapon, pushing it away from it's intended target. Adrian then brought his left hand back and around in a slashing motion. To anyone else this might have been a stupid maneuver. But Adrian was a much more skilled swordsman than anyone knew. Even his greatest enemies didn't know of this technique.

As his hand came around the Devil's Teardrop appeared in it, his fingers curling around the handle. His blade bit deep into the Ogre's neck, the large creature backing away from the swordsman quickly. It's club came back around in a swing, but Adrian was moving with it as best he could. He stepped inside of the swing, the black bladed sword coming down across his opponent's wrist. The ogre cried out as it dropped the club and kicked out.

That had been something he wasn't expecting. He grunted as he was thrown off his feet. Hitting the ground in a roll Adrian came up on all fours. His chest heaved lightly as he rested for a moment, the ogre watching the masked swordsman. It watched him, waiting for the human to make his next move. Slowly rising to his feet Adrian panted slightly. His body was aching but he had to keep going. He had to push himself harder if he was going to be as powerful as the demon he considered his rival. He had to be able to survive, to take any damage anyone could deal to him, and keep fighting.

He brought his sword up once more, breathing slowly as he grinned. The ogre just stood there watching him. As Adrian stood there he watched the beast go for the blade at it's hip. It was a sword the size of which most men would be hard pressed to be able to use! Most men couldn't use a weapon that was as tall as they were, let alone from one end. But this ogre was going to use it one handed! As it came around Adrian, ducked his head, feeling the blade sheer through the ribbon that held his mask in place. His hand came out, catching it before he lept forward, his blade slashing the armored creature across the belly.

But his thoughts of victory were short lived. Everything went black when the handle of the blade cracked down across the back of his head, throwing him to the ground. Adrian groaned and rolled over, blinking as he did. He sat up, seeing the ogre cooking something on a fire not far away. Rubbing his head Adrian moved and sat across the fire from the creature.

"Man... Either I need to find a way to get a harder head or you need to pull your punches." the swordsman said, rubbing the back of his head.

(525/500)

"Pitiful human. How can you get stronger if I as you put, 'pull my punches'? You have to get stronger and that cannot happen if I hold back." the armored beast said, frowning at him.

Adrian glared at the ogre in front of him but didn't say anything else. Beside him was the mask of Fu Leng. With these creatures he didn't feel the need to wear it. Only in the presence of other humans or those he was uncomfortable with did he wear that mask. It was a way of hiding himself. Most people wore masks, at least in a psychological sense. Humans tended to hide who they truly were behind a mask of some kind, hiding their weaknesses behind a mask of strength. This was the same with Adrian except that his mask was a true physical one.

Adrian hated what he had become. He hated what his ideals had been shaped into during his training with the demon hunters. Hild had told him, he'd been warned that they were using him. But he had refused to believe it until he had proof. And when it came he had gone on a rampage. He had lost control of himself and slain Juraviel and fled before Sierra had returned. He felt so much anger flowing through him whenever he thought of them. And not even his favorite activities could break that. Instead when he found himself thinking of them he often came out of his thoughts to find he'd slain different spirits in the woods without even realizing it.

But sitting there listening to the ogre going on about how weak he was. But adrian knew he was speaking the truth. Adrian wasn't as strong as the ogre or nearly anyone else he knew out here in the woods. His power was unique. None of the others out in the woods, that he stayed with, could use spiritual powers but at the same time he was suseptable. He was up against beasts that could use magic much better than he could. But at the same time it was a blessing because the ogre he enjoyed training with was making him stronger.

It was a double edged sword, but Adrian knew all there was to know about those weapons. Adrian was a better swordsman than even the mightiest ogres he'd faced in these woods. Even now Boku, the Ogre Chieftan, couldn't best his sword skills. But he had Goranova to thank for that. None of the demons understood why this man could find and master such a blade. He seemed as demonic as they were at times. But it didn't matter. He was one of them as long as he showed no weakness.

Adrian just stared into the fire, lost in his thoughts. He didn't notice that the ogre had stopped speaking or that it was prodding him with a stick. But it didn't last. When the ogre poked him in the cheek with a stick he jumped up, his arms flailing as he spouted off obscenities.

"And finally you awaken. You should not bottle anger inside you. You must learn to use it in battle." the ogre said.

"And why, pray tell, do you think I'm bottling it up?" Adrian asked.

"Because you don't fight with your anger."

"My experience tells me that anger can make you an easy target. It can make you wild, unusable."

"That is true. But only true of blind anger. Instead you should utilize your anger. Emotions are powerful things for humans. I have seen frightened humans draw on a strength that is extremely rare to see even in demons. If you can master that strength you could even beat master Boku."

"Your master is nothing. I can already beat him. I will not hesitate to take over these woods when the time comes. Lady Hild will rule this world. And when she does I will serve whatever whim she has openly. Until then I will serve as her shadow. I will become strong enough that not even she could deny my strength!"

"Then you will have to master yourself. And not hide behind that mask."

"THAT MASK IS WHO I AM NOW! The face you see before you is that of a corpse! A man dead and gone who's form I took!"

"Then find your own! You say you took his face? Then tear it off and be rid of it."

"I wear whatever face I choose. Now be silent or I will take yours and wear it."

"HA! I like you human! You're very funny! Come! Let us battle once more!"

Standing Adrian stretched his arms out back behind him before willing his sword to his hand. He took up a pose waiting as the ogre picked up it's spiked club, bringing it back to rest on his shoulder safely.

"That is an interesting trick human. You'll have to teach me how to do it!" the ogre said.

"When it comes time, maybe you'll be strong enough to handle it." Adrian responded.

The ogre laughed at that but suddenly stepped back, Adrian's sword passing under his chin. The ogre hadn't been expecting an attack this fast. The two of them often waited for a moment before moving and he was used to being the first one to strike. Instead it had been the human's attack to come first. He stepped back quickly, his eyes wide as he backed up quickly. The swordsman was many things. And deadly was one of the biggest.

The ogre backed up and brought the pommel of it's club down across the top of Adrian's head again, frowning. The battle was already deadly. The swordsman never went for a death stroke in their battles! It was always to disable as best possible. The first to fall was the loser! But this time the swordsman seemed intent on killing! But as Adrian was struck while he went down to one knee he didn't go down completely. Rising again, he brought his blade around, the black blade of the Devil's Teardrop biting into the wrist of the ogre. Adrian's head was indeed harder than it had been earlier!

(1028/1000)

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