Headed by a Snake

Who in the seven hells was this arrogant prick? How dare he glide down gracefully like some sort of green dress-wearing pigeon.

"Trash?!" Barza Keith, the Lone Shadowdark laughed, "Aha haha! Don't you know who I am?!"

He flourished his sword, stomping on the fallen Yoshio's stomach, "I'm the Chosen One! The one from your stories and legends!"

Lone pointed his blade, "Capable of great feats of strength! Able to use all of the forgotten skills of your Anxiety Jump Snek!"

He again pointed his blade down, poised to pierce it through Yoshio's neck, "Now, unless you know who I am and are willing to PISS me off, I suggest you--"

Out of the corner of his eye, Lone saw the man holding a small piece of paper in his fingers.

Weird. Lone didn't like weird things. Every time he trained with Wroe, something weird would happen. Sometimes, he'd lose entire periods of memory-- or gain new ones, like when he'd suddenly remembered that he had a cat when he was eight that walked on the ceiling. And there was that one time when his shadow went missing, though it returned right before sundown.

A strange piece of paper that had writing on it and glowed ominously? That was weird.

The talisman burnt up in the man's hands.

Lone felt an incredible force strike him, sending his body crashing against a wizened tree... which cracked from the sudden force and collapsed... onto him. A rain of golden leaves mocked him as he coughed up blood.

Lone grimaced in pain. He knew it had been too easy. Something HAD to go wrong. And this guy had tricked him with how WEAK he looked!

"I am Muto Hisato," the man coldly stated.

He walked forward arrogantly, hands hidden in his sleeves, "Yoshio is my dear friend... We lost our virginities together in Aviard. For daring to harm him, I will--"

"Wait, wait, hold on." Lone escaped the remains of the collapsed tree. He thrust his palms forward with an accusatory look on his face, "You two lost your virginities... together?"

Hisato's stony expression remained unchanged, "Yes."

"Like... to each other?"

Finally, Hisato's eye twitched in anger, "No. We visited a brothel..."

Hisato glared... "For daring to harm my--"

"What? Were you like in the same room?"

"Yes?"

Lone frowned, "There was... a girl involved, right?"

Another paper talisman appeared in Hisato's hands, "Die, Outsider."

...

Lone dashed behind a sturdy tree, resulting in a loud explosion and splintering of wood from a talisman's effects. He had hoped that Hisato would run out of his paper-things. He did not. He had many paper-things. He clenched his sword in his hand. He needed to get into close range. Then Hisato wouldn't be able to use the paper-things so easily! Lone could do this! He was the Chosen One!

He leaped to the side and sprinted towards Hisato! Calmly, the green-robed man held up a hand, freezing Lone in place with magic. Gahhh! Lone's sword mere ilms away from striking his target!

With a blast of energy, Lone flew backward, smashing him into a sapling and tumbling through the thorny undergrowth.

...

Lone had grabbed Pale's spear-- or what he thought was his spear. The spearhead was gone, but the metal rod and its leathery handgrips had remained. This would be the weapon he'd used to close the distance! He needed to get into close range! Then he could make that Hisato's expression change to one of shock and pain at his inevitable defeat!

He leaped to the side and sprinted! Calmly, the green-robed man held up a hand, but Lone rolled to the side. He spun and swung the metal rod at Hisato's back! --but just as his swing was ilms away from reaching its target, he was blasted upward by an unseen force, smashing him into several branches of a tree. He fell, but his fall was somewhat cushioned by green forest undergrowth... thorny... green forest undergrowth.

...

Lone leaped to the side and sprinted towards the strange green crystal imprisoning Taree! That must be the source of his powers! Lone smashed his sword against it, which broke the blade nearly in half!

Lone looked at Hisato. Hisato looked at Lone.

Lone looked down in shame.

Hisato raised a hand, launching Lone back into the woods.

...

Lone began throwing hard fruit at Hisato. None of them hit.

...

Lone hid behind a sturdy tree, terrified by the loud, repeated magical explosions and shrapnel of wood from Hisato's talismans.

Tears ran hot down his face, "OH, COME ON! Let's just fight!!"

Surprisingly, the explosions stopped. Lone carefully peeked his head out from his hiding spot.

Hisato had stopped throwing talismans and was standing in the clearing, crossing his arms and glaring impatiently. Lone stepped out confidently, pointing his half-broken sword at Hisato.

"So you've finally decided to face me, coward." Lone grinned.

Even though he was at the last vestiges of his stamina, surely Hisato was too. It would be dangerous against a caster... and Lone's weapon was more of a dagger than a sword, but he was certain he would have an advantage in close-combat.

"You are a worthy adversary and resilient," Hisato declared. "I challenge you to a duel of blades, warrior. May I have your name?"

A duel of blades! Lone's heart soared! "My name?! My name is Lone Shadowdark! The Chosen One!" He proclaimed, with pride. He pointed his broken sword menacingly at Hisato. "Remember it in your heart as the Warrior who defeated you!"

"Hmph. Indeed." The expressionless man said. From his sleeves he pulled out a long, masterfully crafted two-handed saber. Weighted rings hung from the back of its single blade.

Lone suddenly felt like a joke. Hisato took a stance that looked like he knew what he was doing. A saber, modified for weight was not something used by a newbie swordsman. Lone's confidence had taken a fatal hit and he found it difficult to swallow the lump of anxiety in his throat. "I'd like a different challenge, please, Sir Hisato."

"Muto Hisato, Sword Saint of the Ivory Judge sect," The man coolly stated.

Hisato disappeared from Lone's sight.

Lone raised his broken sword up, somehow managing to redirect the force of the ringed saber. His body shook from its weight, his insides rumbling with physical strain and a healthy dose of fear. The saber struck the ground and the earth to split apart in an impressive display of power.

Lone punched Hisato in the face with a big swing, staggering the man. Lone was simultaneously thrilled and terrified. His fists were effective! He had a chance! He just had to not get hit! A direct blow-- even a glancing blow from that ringed saber could cleave him in two!

Rushing forward with impatience, Lone leaped up into the air and delivered a fast, downward punch at Hisato's face. Lowering his body, he smashed a fist into the man's stomach, and finally he drove the remainder of his sword into his side, above his ribs and below the shoulder!

"GRAAAAH HAHAAAA!!" Lone yelled in violence and victory! Relief filling his heart!

And as Hisato melted into shadowy mist, Lone felt his heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

W-whhy? He.... he thought he'd wonnnn...

The real Hisato stood behind him. Lone desperately turned to face him, but Hisato swung his sword. The blade bit harshly into Lone's side, striking a tree trunk. If it hadn't, the heavy blade would have cut into Lone's spine. Barza grabbed onto the sword, not letting Hisato push it any further. Lone had a single thought remaining: Life was pain.

"Give up, Warrior Lone." Hisato commanded, "You've lost."

Lone was staring into Hisato's ugly face, but his vision was beginning to darken and blur. A thin line of blood ran down Hisato's mouth-- the death of the shadow doppelganger must have injured him somehow.

A new thought had surfaced in Lone's mind. And it was hilarious.

Lone began snickering, crescendoing into laugher-- a madman's violent laughter, intermixed with blood-ridden dying coughs, splattering dark blood onto Hisato's green robe, "IDIOT! You've fallen into my trap..."

The green-robed Hisato narrowed his eyes... "You have sustained a fatal wound."

"Fatal wound?? Hah!" Lone chuckled. He wished he didn't. It kinda hurt.

"...I can't die, idiot." He smirked arrogantly, "I'm immortal."

"Warrior Lone," Hisato said coolly. "There is no legend that states that the Chosen One is immortal."

Lone grinned, blood covering his teeth, insanity in his eyes, "I haven't been given permission."

Hisato granted Lone a displeased grimace.

Lone screamed, blood splattering onto Hisato's face, "You're. Just. TRAINING!"

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