Endurance B3C14

Blake…?

It was only a dark shadow to me, but it appeared over the Paladin's shoulder and wrapped about his arm. His Strength was too much, even for her, and instead of holding the blow back, she was swung with the arm – her body crashing into mine. We flew back with Blake atop me and landed several metres away.

My vision cleared a little, and sound and feeling slowly came back. I patted myself down, but couldn't feel blood or a wound. "You managed to stop it," I said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Blake."

The Assassin whimpered.

"Blake…?" I pushed up, caught her as she rolled off my body and lowered her to the floor. Her eyes were clenched shut, her hand clasped to her chest. My heart hammered in my chest, and I pulled her fingers apart. "No…"

She hadn't stopped the knife. She'd taken it for me.

"I'm sorry," Blake whispered, as blood bubbled between her hands. "I… I tried really hard…" She gasped out a bitter laugh. "I guess this is what I get, for trying to be a Hero instead of a Rogue... HnghH!"

Her blood was on my hands. This couldn't be happening…

I pushed her hands aside and stared at the wound, but the dagger was lodged above her right breast and had probably pierced her lung. The way the blood bubbled suggested it, and her harsh breathing. "Don't move!" I said, pushing her down by her shoulders. "Stay still. We'll get you help, I promise."

"Focus… on him…" she whispered. "Forget… me…"

How was I supposed to do that in a situation like this? The tears were already running down my cheeks. I had to find help for her – had to find someone who could heal her, but the school Priest could be anywhere. There wasn't anyone left.

"Argh!" Nora cried out as she was thrown back. She'd been cut down her chest and had one hand clasped to the wound.

"NORA!" Ren screamed. He lashed out at the Paladin's eyes, but the monster caught his wrist and broke it with a single twist of his hand. The Monk gritted his teeth against the pain and refused to cry out – not that it made any difference. Battered and broken, he too was tossed aside like trash.

Ruby and Yang were already out of it, the former crouched over her sister. Whatever the plan had been, it had clearly failed, and now only Yatsuhashi stood against him – and the giant Warrior was clearly losing that fight.

"H-Help them…" Blake said. Her hand touched my cheek, leaving behind a smear of blood.

"I'll help you, Blake," I repeated. "I'll save you, I promise. Just… just sit still for now."

The Assassin didn't look convinced, but nodded for my sake – just to make me happy. Laying her down was hard, letting go of her even harder. The strong and skilful woman was weak and helpless, and spilling blood out onto the floor.

She wouldn't survive long enough for me to find a healer, I knew that.

She knew it, too.

My fingers gripped Crocea Mors so hard they nearly broke. Anger like a red haze washed over me, causing my hands to shake and my teeth to grind together. That monster. That bastard! He was killing us all!

I screamed in rage. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Hm?" The Paladin blocked my strike, but seemed surprised at the sudden force behind it. The swords clashed so hard they bounced off one another, but I brought mine around again, faster than ever, and slammed it towards his accursed eyes. "Such anger," he said, parrying it. "I'd have thought you the Barbarian and not your friend. Is this the first time you've lost a friend?"

"She isn't dead!" I roared, swinging again for his head. It didn't matter how strong he was, or how fast. I just had to cut him. I just had to hit him. Even as my blood boiled, I kept swinging. "I'll never forgive you. I'll kill you, kill you, kill you!"

Crocea Mors clashed against his sword once more. He pulled back and chambered a counter-attack, but this time, I was ready. Any rational person would have dodged, but I wasn't that. I thrust towards his face, throwing aside all my own defences and using his own sword to line up the blow. His eyes widened, his face twisting aside at the last second. Despite that, Crocea Mors traced a thin line under his eye, drawing but the tiniest amount of blood.

It was enough to make mine sing. Screaming my triumph, I stepped into his guard and pushed him back a step, then brought my sword around and towards his neck. His came, too – crashing into mine in a shower of sparks.

And Crocea Mors shattered.

The blade gave way two thirds of the way down, with shards flying in the opposite direction as more cracks traced through the steel towards my hand. I had only the time to register the shock before his fist buried itself in my stomach and I bent double. My sword, what was left of it, fell from nerveless fingers.

His hand scrunched up in the collar of my tunic and dragged me up off the floor. My head lolled back but my eyes still met his, even as blood dribbled from my split lip.

I spat it on his face.

"Delightful…" He wiped it away with the hand still holding his giant sword, and then looked me in the eye. "You and yours have been quite the annoyance, it seems. Then again, perhaps that's what we get for relying on idiots like Roman."

"Oi, I could use some heals over here," said person yelled. He was bloodied once more and leaning on his cane. "Give me a hand, pal."

"So useless," the Paladin sighed, holding out his hand towards the Thief. White light gathered on the end of it. I saw it through a haze of agony, and something stirred inside of me. With all the remaining strength I had, I grasped his wrist and pulled his hand to the side.

The spell missed Torchwick.

[...]

"Y-Your healing spells… they're strong, aren't they?"

"But of course. I am a Paladin, after all."

"I've not gone mad," I gasped through my laughter, through the pain and the blood. I could only keep one eye open, but it was locked onto his. "I'm just… I'm just thinking how lucky I am."

"From where I'm standing, I'd be inclined to disagree. Still, humour me. What amuses you so?"

"When I pulled your spell aside… it still went off."

"Hm?"

"It didn't miss," I said. I looked up over his shoulder, to the black shape that fell from the ceiling. "It just hit a different target…"

Blake landed on his back, one arm wrapping about his throat and tilting his head up, even as her hand shot down.