Arc 6: Chapter 11: Flash of The Blade
Ser Konrad’s axes formed blurring lines of heat. Their edges glowed red hot, each swipe trailing a cascade of smoldering embers. He made elaborate patterns in the air, ones that tricked the eye and disoriented his foe.
He’s using that deliberately, I thought, impressed. Even as I felt disgruntled seeing someone else employ a technique so similar to my own, I wasn’t too proud not to take inspiration.
Ser Rubek’s salamander recoiled, letting out a shockingly loud hiss. Fire smoldered behind its jaws a moment before it let out a cough, sending a plume of broiling heat flaring through the air.
Konrad’s mount charged through the flame undeterred. Fire curled along the red knight’s heavy armor, barely doing more than leaving black marks along his pauldrons. He swept a burning axe even as the salamander skittered out of the way of its brutish foe. Rubek parried, only to have his sword literally cleaved in half as the axe swept across its middle, leaving the line of the cut glowing like it were hot off a forge. No less than half the sword’s length landed in a smoldering, melting heap in the sand. It had been struck many times already.
The thin knight’s surrender came as a choked gasp I barely heard. Konrad lifted his twin weapons and clashed them together, brandishing their blazing edges for the gathered nobles to see as the herald proclaimed his victory.
“Well fought!” The herald roared. “You may return to your fellows, Ser Konrad.”
The Crimsonbrand Knight lifted his glaring mask to the Arbiter’s Spire and boomed a response. “I will not! Let the next face me!”
Rather than show annoyance at this refusal, the herald melodramatically flourished his scepter and poised with it in the air, waiting. Slowly, theatrically, he lifted his eyes to the Emperor.
Markham raised his golden gauntlet, nodding. The herald pointed his scepter at Konrad.
“Granted! May the next challenger step forward!”
It was clear most of those gathered did not want to risk their steel on Konrad’s blazing axes. Even if they won, he threatened to ruin their precious war gear.