Faeyna’s brother’s weapons were short, but they had a knack for breaking through my longer reach. He was skilled at getting close. His movements were smooth as well, and I kept getting cut. I immediately healed every time I was cut, so I was able to manage for some time, but I realized that if I didn’t have my abnormal healing and high mana, I likely would have experienced death by a thousand cuts. Compared to the feeling of having my soul chopped over and over again, this was nothing though, so I didn’t give up.
I’d like to say that Faeyna was in a better situation. However, it was clear that becoming a hero wasn’t an instant switch to infinite power. After all, Faeyna was still Faeyna. By having the power of the Maid Hero, it didn’t suddenly make her just as powerful as Elaya. She had the same jobs and the same levels as she did before. The legacy gave her some strength to pull on, some mana to use, and the experiences of those that came before her as long as she could pull on it, but that would only get someone so far.
The Elf Hero had his legacy longer and he had also trained his body as well. Faeyna’s only saving grace was that he was toying with her, and ultimately didn’t want her to have any permanent damage. It was enough that she was able to keep him back, but he was slowly becoming less and less patient. If I couldn’t finish off her brother, she’d likely get hurt.
I knew that the consequences in this dungeon referred to events that had already happened. Her brother should be dying on the ground, not perfectly fine, and fighting me. This was merely a dungeon. It was a curse and an illusion. Trying to change anything inside it was pointless. Yet, I couldn’t just allow the events to happen the same way they had happened before.
If I had Alysium with me, I would have been able to handle this fight far easier. Her power added to my power, and thus every strike was faster and more powerful because of her. She was also a large blade with a broadside that fit my fighting style. Well, she could change to any size, but she used the size I preferred. I didn’t have their elegance as a fighter, so Xin’s thin, fine blade didn’t suit me at all. Yet, there was nothing I could do about that.
Perhaps, a more skilled fighter would able to be equally deadly no matter what they had in their hands. I had once read a swordsman’s guide when I was helping Lydia that said that a true swordsman was just as powerful even when they didn’t have their sword. Incidentally, they could make a sword with their pure will, allowing them to perform attacks anyway. Well, I was nowhere near that level.
Again and again, I was reminded that I was still a small fish in a big pond. If even this guy who wasn’t much older could give me pressure, then how could I battle against the true monsters of the world? What about the Great Labyrinths? I was only just strong enough to take out a level twenty or thirty labyrinth on my own, and I thought myself an undefeated hero? I was still being too naïve. At best, I had only upgraded my equipment. I now had a body and soul brimming with potential, but it was up to me to use it!
The blessings on Faeyna’s Brother began to glow, and I had a feeling of danger that told me he was preparing for his strongest attack. I raised Xin’s blade in defense. I didn’t have the skill to defeat him in a prolonged battle. My only chance was to use my strength to overwhelm him. This was my chance. I had to take it.