Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 20]

Salem stood and pointed her hand toward me.

"Kill him!"

The first Grimm to come close died, cut in twain by a sword that left behind a trail of black, crackling energy. There was so little resistance that I stepped through with the swing, pivoted and slashed horizontally, cutting three more down in a single swing. There was no time to stop and marvel at that thanks to the legions more that came crashing down.

She didn't want to come close. The sword, her magic or just the fact I could use the `Seal` Rune to cancel her attacks out had her sending her forces at me from a distance. Salem watched, hands clenched at her sides and summoning more and more Grimm from the surrounding buildings. Many were on fire, but plenty came out unscathed, turning away from Beacon and the battle there to pour down onto me.

I backpedalled, cutting any Grimm that tried to encircle me down and giving ground where I had to. I was already exhausted from my near-death experience earlier that every swing was agony. My eyes glowed, pushing me through it. The more Grimm she sent at me, the less she kept around herself. I just had to buy Ruby and Blake their opportunity.

I need her distracted. Grimacing, I shouldered my way through an attack, taking claws to my upper arm and back. Changing my momentum suddenly and lashing into the Grimm, I started to cut my way forward, sacrificing defence for overwhelming offence.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 20]