“Aegislash!” said Gladion. “Sacred Sword!”

Holy light flared from Aegislash’s steel. Gladion aimed for Armstrong’s arm, which of course he made no effort to dodge. Nanomachines crawled up his skin to protect him. But it wouldn’t work this time.

Gladion pushed with all his might. The blade passed through the nanomachines as though they were nothing. He pushed through skin, through muscle, through bone, through muscle again, through skin once more, before finally, the blade cleaved through Armstrong’s entire arm. Nanomachines rushed to the stump, cut so cleanly that it had a sharp edge where Gladion had severed it.

“Gah!” Armstrong took a step back. “You little prick. How?!”

“Sacred Sword ignores stat changes,” said Gladion. He raised his sword. “Including defense buffs provided by Nanomachines.”

“You’re spewing a lotta shit, kid,” said Armstrong. “And I don’t get a goddamn word.”

All of a sudden, Armstrong looked a lot less wide. And with his arm gone, Gladion could see Lusamine. Aghast at what Gladion had just done.

Gladion Shadow Sneaked behind Armstrong. Lusamine took a step back and nearly fell into the rushing waters. There was nowhere to hide. No one to save her. Gladion held his sword back and prepared for the final strike.

“Sweetie,” said Lusamine. “Gladion, please. I’m your mother! Think this through!”

“I have,” said Gladion. “That’s why I’m doing it.”

SWISH

Metal cut through the air. And it wasn’t Gladion’s sword.

He spun on his heel. Armstrong aimed his sharpened arm-stump directly for Gladion’s chest. He managed to block it with his shield.

- Ragnarust Round 5