Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 90: The Clash of Steels

Chapter 90: The Clash of Steels

The auditorium echoed with the sharp *clang* of metal on metal as my dagger slammed into Ham’s chopper-like sword.

Sparks flew, lighting up the dark for a split second, and I shoved hard, pushing him back. His boots scraped the concrete, but he dug in, planting his legs firm to stop his slide. His teeth flashed in a gritted smirk, his yellow eyes glowing brighter.

"Hehehehe... good one, kid!" he said, his voice rough and excited, like he was having the time of his life. "Didn’t expect that kind of strength from a skinny punk like you!"

I sucked in a quick breath—*ahm!*—and spun into a kick, aiming for his head. Even in the pitch black, he saw it coming.

He ducked low, fast as a snake, chuckling under his breath. "Too slow!" he taunted, swinging one of his massive swords up from below. The blade hummed with yellow aura, slicing through the air toward me.

I jumped back, bakcfllipping just in time, landing a few feet away as the aura wave blasted out from his swing, ripping through the room.

The crowd screamed, their phone lights shaking as they ducked under tables or pressed against the walls. "What’s he doing?!" someone yelled. "We’re gonna die here!" another wailed.

Ham didn’t care about them. He straightened up, rolling his shoulders like he was warming up. "Not bad, kid, dodging that," he said, his grin stretching wide. "But let’s see how long you can keep it up!" Before I could catch my breath, he launched himself at me, a blur of muscle and glowing aura.

"My turn, kid!" he roared, his swords crashing down. *Clang*—my dagger met his blade, but his weight was too much.

The force shoved me back, my boots sliding across the floor. I tried to dig in, mimicking how he’d stopped himself, but he was heavier, stronger. *Thud*—my back slammed into the ground, the air knocking out of me.

"BWAHAHAHA... got you!" Ham laughed, loud and wild, towering over me. He raised his other arm high, the second chopper sword gleaming in the faint light. "Now you’re dead, kid!" he shouted, swinging it down hard toward my head, his aura flaring red and hot.

He was loving this, his eyes wide with glee, like a kid smashing a toy he’d been dying to break.

*Gup*—I snapped my leg up fast, catching his arm mid-swing, stopping the blade inches from my face.

"What the—" he sputtered, his grin faltering as he blinked down at me, surprised.

My dagger still held one of his swords at bay, locked against it, while my leg pinned his other arm in place. He growled, pushing harder, his muscles bulging as he leaned into it.

"Tough little bastard, huh?" he snarled, his aura buzzing louder, angrier.

He shifted his weight, forcing the blocked sword closer, the edge creeping toward my throat.

"Now try to push this, kid!" he said, his teeth gritted tight, his voice dripping with menace. "Bwahahaha, come on—squirm for me!" His yellow eyes flared bright in the darkness, locked on mine, daring me to give up.

The blade hovered close, so close I could feel its heat, and he laughed again, wild and unhinged, loving every second of the fight.

The auditorium was a chaotic swirl of darkness and noise, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the sharp edge of panic.

Ham loomed over me, his massive chopper swords pressing down, one locked against my dagger, the other pinned by my leg just inches from my face. His yellow eyes glowed like lanterns in the black, wild and fierce, his teeth gritted in a grin.

The crowd’s screams had dulled to a nervous hum, their phone lights trembling as they watched us from the edges of the room.

"Hmph..." I let a small smirk tug at my lips, barely noticeable under my mask. Ham caught it, though—his eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across his face.

"What’s so funny, kid?" he growled, leaning harder into his swords, the yellow aura around him buzzing like a swarm of angry bees. "Dying’s fun, right? You’re about to find out!"

I tilted my head above, meeting his gaze.

"Is that all you got?" My voice was calm, almost bored, and that’s when it started—a slow seep of black aura leaking out from me, curling into the air like smoke. It wasn’t loud or flashy like his, just a quiet, creeping darkness that spread from my body into the already pitch-black hall.

Ham’s grin faltered, a shiver running through him as the chill of it hit.

"What the hell is this.." he muttered, his voice dropping low, his eyes darting over me like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

The crowd felt it too. Their phone flashlights flickered, the beams stuttering and dimming as my aura thickened.

"What’s happening to the lights?" a woman whispered, her voice shaky. "Is that him doing it?" a guy hissed, clutching his phone tighter. The slaves pressed against the walls watched in silence, their sharp eyes cutting through the dark, sensing something the others couldn’t.

I flexed my grip on the dagger and pushed—hard. The sudden burst of strength shoved his sword back, the metal screeching as it slid away from my throat.

"Huh!?" Ham’s eyes widened, his confidence cracking. "How the—arghhh!" He roared, throwing his weight into it, his muscles bulging as he fought to push me down again. "How can this be?! You’re just a kid!" His voice was raw, angry, his aura flaring brighter as he doubled down, desperate to keep control.

My empty eyes stared up at him, unblinking, cutting through the dark straight into his soul. Then I moved—my leg snapped up, slamming a kick into his stomach with a dull *thud*.

*Boom*—he flew back, his big frame crashing through the air like a ragdoll. He smashed into the stage curtains, the heavy fabric tangling around him as he landed hard, right on top of the announcer.

"Cough! Cough!" Ham hacked, shoving the curtains off as he stumbled to his feet, his swords clattering beside him. "What the heck was that?!" he spat, brushing dust off his chest, his yellow eyes blazing with a mix of shock and fury.

He glanced down at the announcer, who was curled up on the floor, hands over his head. "I didn’t do anything! Let me live, please!" the guy whimpered, his voice high and frantic.

"Shut up!" Ham snapped, kicking the edge of the stage as he hauled himself up. "This ain’t about you!" He grabbed his swords, the yellow aura flaring back to life around him, and leapt off the stage, landing in the main hall with a heavy *thud*.

"You’re dead now, kid!" he bellowed, his voice echoing over the crowd’s nervous chatter. He bent his knees, crossing his swords in front of him, his grin returning—wilder, angrier. "Let’s see you dodge this!"

I walked forward slow, my boots tapping the concrete, my silhouette sharp against the flickering phone lights. The crowd whispered around me, their voices buzzing like flies.

"Who is he...?" a woman breathed, her light shaking as it caught my shadow. "He’s like a devil or something," a guy muttered, stepping back. "Never seen anything like that kick," another added, his tone shaky but curious.

Ham didn’t wait for me to answer them. "Now I’m gonna fucking kill you!" he roared, his aura exploding around him in a wave of yellow light.

He dashed forward, swords raised, the glow trailing behind him like a comet. The floor trembled under his steps, his eyes locked on me, burning with rage and excitement.

"You think that little trick’s gonna save you? I’ve crushed bigger punks than you!" he shouted, his voice booming over the crowd’s gasps. "Come on, kid—show me what else you’ve got!"

I bent my knees, bracing myself, my black aura swirling thicker now, a dark mirror to his bright glow.

Then I launched forward, meeting him head-on. Our auras clashed first—a messy swirl of black and yellow sparking where they met—then our weapons hit.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!* The sound rang out, sharp and fast, as my dagger met his swords over and over. We moved quick, hands a blur, steel crashing in the dark at a pace the crowd could barely follow.

"Hahaha! Not bad!" Ham laughed, swinging one sword low while the other came high, trying to catch me off guard. "You’re faster than you look, kid! But I’ve been doing this longer!" He spun, his aura flaring brighter, and slashed both blades down in a wide arc. "Let’s see you block this one!" he taunted, his grin stretching so wide it looked like it might split his face.

I ducked under the swing, my dagger flicking up to deflect the second blade, the impact jarring my arm.

He didn’t let up—kept coming, his swords a whirlwind of red light. "What’s wrong, Esther? Getting tired already?" he jeered, his voice dripping with mockery as he lunged again, aiming for my chest. "Thought you’d put up more of a fight after that kick!"

The crowd was a mess of noise now—screams, gasps, a few cheering Ham on. "Finish him, boss!" one of the knights yelled from the railing above, his gun still in hand but useless now.

"Yeah, tear him apart!" another shouted, wiping sweat from his brow. The slaves stayed quiet, their eyes glinting in the dark, watching me move like they knew something the others didn’t.

Ham laughed again, loud and rough, as he swung his swords in a cross-slash. "Hear that, kid? They’re begging for your blood!" he said, his aura pulsing with every word. "Guess I’ll give ’em a show—gonna carve you up real nice!" He stomped forward, the floor cracking under his boot, and thrust one sword straight at me, the tip glowing hot. "Dodge this, you little shit!"

I sidestepped, my black aura coiling around me like a shield, and brought my dagger up fast, knocking his blade aside with a screech of metal.

He stumbled, just a bit, but recovered quick, spinning to face me again. "Slippery bastard!" he growled, his grin twitching with frustration. "You’re starting to piss me off, Esther! Let’s see how long you can keep dancing!"

We clashed again—*clang, clang, clang*—moving faster now, our weapons a blur of steel and light. His yellow aura flared wild, lighting up his snarling face, while my black aura stayed steady, curling around me like a shadow that wouldn’t quit.