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The Mysterious Warrior

You run as fast as you can along the edge of the cliff. You have no idea where you're going, but you don't care. You just have to get away, that's all that matters. Subconsciously you glance back, and see Akensa and the wizard pursuing you. Fortunately, you're faster than they are. But...Akensa is holding his axe in the air, and it seems to be glowing...

Crash! You leap to the side just as the earth underneath your feet collapses. You growl to yourself, knowing this is Akensa's doing, trying to trap you and keep you from running away. You manage to dodge a few more of his 'attacks', and soon manage to outpace them both. You know you can't keep running forever, though, but if you stop they'll catch you. I have to keep going, you think to yourself. I cannot give in!

Finally, for the first time in quite a while, it seems that luck is smiling upon you, for you soon come across a large stone building, built up against the edge of the cliff face. It appears to be a large shrine or small temple of some kind, ancient and deserted. With the two magic-users not far behind, you quickly duck in to catch your breath.

As you suspected, the shrine is abandoned. The entrance room is small and bare, with another doorway opposite the entrance. Panting, you slide to the floor, your back against the wall.

How did this happen? you ask yourself. I used to be a normal man, with a normal life, but now... you sigh, ...a girl... trapped in a strange world... with no way to reverse any of it...

"Damnit!" A loud cursing snaps you out of your thoughts. You quickly jump to your feet and take a defensive stance. You watch as a new figure emerges from the shadows - a young man, in beige shirt and pants (the former lined in gold) and crude leather boots. His hair is longish and black, and a bit wiry. A sword is strapped to his side, and an emerald hangs from a cord around his neck. The instant he sees you, he too snaps to a battle stance, his hand upon his sword. His sharp crimson eyes meet your own emerald ones, and you stare each other down, eyes narrowed, each waiting for the other to make a move.

"Milady!" From out of nowhere, you hear the wizard's voice call out. The mysterious stranger reacts almost instantaneously, charging forward with blinding speed - not at you, however, as he smashes through the wall beside you. Quickly, you duck out through the doorway just as the weakened shrine crumbles to the ground. You are greeted with the sight of the stranger, sword drawn, facing off with Akensa and the wizard, both of whom have taken a battle stance (Akensa holding his axe at the ready).

"Stay back milady!" cries the wizard when he sees you. "The destroyer stands before you! Let us handle him!"

The warrior smirks "You can try." He charges forward, swinging his blade as he reaches the pair. With one swipe he strikes them both to the ground before either of them can react. Both collapse, injured and unconscious. "Heh," he scoffs. "Much too easy." He glances at you from the corner of his eye. "I expect you will put up a worthy fight..."

What? The warrior rushes at you, sword raised to strike. Acting quickly, you drop to one knee, grabbing and raising a large stone slab from the crumbled shrine to intercept the strike just in time.

Sword and slab push against each other, neither one gaining an advantage. "Why are you doing this?" you demand. "And just who or what are you?!"

The warrior glares as he leans forward. "My reasons are my own. But if you want my name...it's Drago."

He pushes with his sword, forcing the slab inward. With a sound that resembles a yelp more than a battle cry, you counter by shoving against the slab, knocking the attack away as you heave the slab (and the sword behind it) away, simultaneously ducking and jumping the opposite direction to escape. The warrior, Drago, is not so easily deterred, and immediately swings his sword for another attack. You duck and roll quickly, grabbing Akensa's dropped axe as you stand, and immediately bring it up to intercept Drago's next strike.

You take to the offensive, knocking the sword away with the axe. You swing the axe, but Drago jumps back and parries your stroke. You deflect off the parry with the skill of an expert, your long dress riffling in the wind as you spin quickly to bring the axe around from the other side. Drago, however, leans backward, the axe just barely missing him as the momentum of your own spin takes you to your knees. You are back up in an instant, but you're on the defense once more as you block a stabbing attack with the flat of the axe. Drago hops back, then forward again, swinging his sword in a downward stroke. You catch the attack with an upward stroke of your own, then knock the sword aside to continue the upward stroke as you jump into the air. You swing the axe downward as you fall, hitting the ground just in front of your opponent. You pull the axe out of the ground, axe and sword glancing sharply off each other as you both move seamlessly into a final attack. You sweep the axe around; Drago swings his sword with a stabbing uppercut motion. Suddenly, exactly at the same time, both you and he halt the attack just an inch from contact. His sword is positioned with its point at your neck; you hold the axe at the left side of his neck, so close he must slightly tilt his head to avoid the blade.

The two of you stand unmoving for several minutes. Then Drago smirks and slowly withdraws his sword. "Heh, heh, excellent. As I expected."

Setting the axe aside, but still keeping your hand on the handle, you stare oddly at the warrior in front of you. "What are you talking about? And what are you up to, anyway?" It is more of a demand than a question. There is something strange about this man, and you will find answers, one way or another.


Written by Paradox

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