Moonbeams pierced the crowns of the pine trees.
The pale light reached the rock formation in the middle of the slope.
Number Two kept his bow raised.
An arrow remained positioned between his fingers.
His light-brown eyes reflected the moonlight.
A little lower down the slope...
Éreon and Number Thirteen remained face to face.
The wind swept across the slope.
The pine leaves trembled.
For a few moments...
Nothing moved between the three.
Then...
Éreon advanced.
Straight toward Number Thirteen.
Number Thirteen did not retreat.
The sword rose.
Éreon entered his range.
CLANG!
The blades met.
Number Thirteen spun around the point of contact.
He did not remain before him.
Passed by his side.
Éreon followed the movement.
The katana returned against his back.
Number Thirteen lowered his body.
SHHK!
The edge passed over his hood.
At the same instant...
TWANG!
Éreon moved his head.
The arrow passed close to his face.
Number Two was already coming with the shot.
He descended from the rock formation.
The distance disappeared in a few steps.
Éreon turned the katana against him.
Number Two did not interrupt his advance.
He spun the bow.
CLACK!
The shaft met the side of the katana.
Deflected the cut.
Number Two passed by Éreon.
An arrow had already appeared between his fingers.
Éreon turned to follow him.
Behind him...
Number Thirteen had already recovered his height.
Advanced before Éreon completed the turn.
The sword cut horizontally against his neck.
Éreon let his weight fall.
His knees gave way.
SHHK!
The edge passed over his head.
Still low...
Éreon spun.
The katana followed the movement.
The cut came against Number Thirteen's legs.
Number Thirteen jumped.
The edge passed beneath his feet.
Éreon did not interrupt the spin.
His foot found support.
He rose together with the rotation.
When he returned to standing...
He was already facing Number Two.
Éreon advanced.
Creeeck...
The string was already halfway drawn.
Number Two tried to complete the draw.
Éreon closed the distance first.
The katana advanced.
Number Two abandoned the shot.
The bow descended.
CLACK!
The shaft caught the katana near the grip.
The impact bent the bow.
Number Two yielded one step.
Éreon advanced with him.
Behind him...
Number Thirteen returned to the ground.
One foot touched the earth.
The other already advanced.
The sword came against Éreon's back.
Éreon heard the approach.
Released the pressure on the bow.
Number Two felt the contact disappear.
Éreon spun.
Number Thirteen's sword was already coming against his back.
The katana met the blade during the rotation.
CLANG!
Éreon did not stop the blow.
SCREEECH!
He guided it.
Number Thirteen's sword was carried forward.
Straight toward Number Two.
Number Two broke the line.
Passed by Number Thirteen's side.
Number Thirteen was still bent by his own advance.
The sword remained extended before him.
Éreon continued the spin.
TWANG!
The arrow passed between the blade and Number Thirteen's face.
Éreon had still not completed the rotation.
He pulled his head back together with the movement.
SHHK!
The projectile passed close to his face.
Éreon completed the turn.
His foot found support.
Number Two was already advancing behind his own shot.
Another arrow appeared between his fingers.
Éreon turned the katana against him.
Number Two continued advancing.
Lowered the bow.
CLACK!
The shaft deflected the katana outward.
Passed by Éreon's side.
The arrow was nocked during the movement.
Éreon spun to follow him.
Number Two also spun.
The bow was already returning to the line.
Creeeck...
The string began to tense.
Éreon advanced before he could complete the draw.
Number Two released.
TWANG!
The arrow was released only a few steps away.
Éreon brought the katana back.
CLANG!
The projectile was thrown out of the line.
The defense contained its advance for a fraction of a second.
Behind him...
Number Thirteen had already recovered his sword.
Spun on his front foot.
Returned along Éreon's side.
The sword came against his neck.
Éreon's katana was still finishing the deflection of the arrow.
There was no time to bring it back.
Éreon released the tension in his legs.
His body descended.
SHHK!
The edge passed over his head.
Still low...
He rotated his hip.
The katana followed.
The edge described a short arc against Number Thirteen's abdomen.
Number Thirteen pulled his hip back.
SHHK!
The tip tore his clothes.
A thin trickle of blood appeared on Number Thirteen's abdomen.
He continued retreating.
Above them...
Number Two was already climbing along the side of the rock formation.
An arrow appeared between his fingers.
TWANG!
Éreon heard the shot.
Continued the rotation close to the ground.
The arrow descended toward him.
His torso left the trajectory.
Number Thirteen continued retreating.
Moved outside the line.
SHHK!
The projectile passed between the two.
Disappeared into the darkness below.
TWANG!
Another arrow was already coming.
Number Two had followed Éreon's movement.
Éreon had still not recovered his height.
The katana remained low in his right hand.
His left hand advanced.
TAC!
The arrow stopped in his hand.
Crack!
Éreon broke the shaft.
The fragments fell over the leaves.
At the same instant...
Number Thirteen was already moving.
Éreon had no time to recover his height.
The sword was already descending against his back.
The bent leg extended all at once.
Éreon launched his body to the side.
His torso tilted.
His legs left the ground.
His body entered the rotation almost parallel to the earth.
The katana followed the entire movement.
The edge described an arc around him.
CLANG!
The two blades met.
The impact interrupted Number Thirteen's advance.
His sword was thrown out of the line.
His body followed.
Number Thirteen was forced to retreat two steps.
Éreon completed the turn.
One foot found the earth.
The other came right after.
He advanced.
Number Thirteen was still recovering his sword.
Éreon gave him no time.
The katana came against his flank.
Number Thirteen retreated.
Turned the blade to receive the cut.
CLANG!
The impact pushed his sword against his body.
Éreon continued advancing.
Creeeck...
The string tensed above the slope.
Number Two had anticipated the pursuit.
TWANG!
Éreon broke contact.
Changed his step.
The arrow crossed the space between him and Number Thirteen.
Number Thirteen recovered his guard.
Éreon had already changed direction.
Climbed the slope.
Straight toward Number Two.
Another arrow appeared between his fingers.
The string began to draw back.
Éreon accelerated.
Number Two fired.
TWANG!
Éreon shifted his body.
SHHK!
The arrow passed close to his shoulder.
He did not interrupt his advance.
Number Two retreated one step.
Pulled another arrow.
Éreon entered.
The katana advanced.
Number Two spun the bow.
CLACK!
The shaft met the blade.
This time...
Éreon did not press.
Withdrew the katana at the instant of contact.
The bow continued the movement.
Number Two noticed.
Éreon had already changed his step.
Passed by his side.
The katana returned.
Number Two spun with him.
Too late.
SHHK!
The edge tore his shoulder.
Blood marked the black garments.
Number Two did not stop.
Completed the turn.
The arrow he still held between his fingers was nocked onto the string.
Éreon was already returning upon him.
Creeeck...
The string began to tense.
Behind Éreon...
Number Thirteen advanced.
Number Two maintained the draw.
Did not fire.
Éreon noticed the approach.
Interrupted his advance.
Spun.
Number Thirteen was already upon him.
The sword advanced.
CLANG!
Éreon received the cut.
The turn ended with Number Two behind him.
TWANG!
Éreon broke contact.
Spun outward.
SHHK!
The arrow passed close to his back.
Number Thirteen followed the exit.
Did not allow Éreon to get away.
The sword returned.
Éreon deflected the blade.
CLANG!
Number Thirteen withdrew his arm.
Changed the angle.
Attacked again.
Éreon yielded half a step.
The edge passed before his chest.
Creeeck...
Number Two had already repositioned the bow.
Éreon moved his eyes.
Number Thirteen advanced.
The sword came diagonally.
Éreon left the line.
TWANG!
The arrow intercepted his movement.
Éreon stopped his step.
Turned his torso.
SHHK!
The projectile passed before his body.
Number Thirteen gave him no time to recover his posture.
Entered.
CLANG!
The sword met the katana.
Éreon yielded to the impact.
Number Thirteen advanced with him.
Another step.
Éreon continued retreating.
Number Two followed the two with his bow.
Number Thirteen noticed.
Pressed.
Kept Éreon in the line.
The string tensed.
Creeeck...
Éreon heard it.
This time...
He did not try to get out.
Advanced.
Number Thirteen reacted immediately.
Firmed his stance.
The sword descended to prevent his entry.
Éreon moved his head aside.
SHHK!
The edge passed close to the mask.
He continued entering.
His left hand closed over Number Thirteen's armed forearm.
TWANG!
Number Thirteen locked his feet.
Expected the pull.
Éreon did not pull.
Passed inside the arm.
Spun together with Number Thirteen.
SHHK!
The arrow crossed the space behind him.
Éreon finished the movement beside him.
Number Thirteen tried to turn to follow him.
Éreon released his forearm.
The katana was already coming from below.
SHLK!
The edge cut through the side of his thigh.
The leg lost its support.
Number Thirteen fell onto one knee.
But his sword followed Éreon during the fall.
The edge came with it.
Éreon pulled his head out of the line.
SHHK!
The tip passed before his face.
Number Thirteen planted the sword into the earth.
Tried to recover his leg.
It did not respond.
Blood flowed down the side of his thigh.
Éreon did not wait.
Advanced.
The katana rose.
Number Thirteen was still trying to recover his stance.
The edge descended against his neck.
TWANG!
Éreon interrupted the cut.
CLANG!
The katana met the arrow.
The impact launched the projectile toward the trees.
Number Two was already descending the slope.
Another arrow appeared between his fingers.
TWANG!
Number Two fired while moving.
Éreon left the line.
The arrow passed close to his arm.
Number Two continued descending.
Gave him no distance.
Another arrow was already nocked.
Creeeck...
Éreon advanced to meet him.
Number Two released.
TWANG!
Éreon moved his head aside.
The arrow passed close to the mask.
Another was already between Number Two's fingers.
Éreon continued advancing.
Creeeck...
The string tensed.
The katana rose.
TWANG!
CLANG!
The arrow was launched upward.
The distance disappeared.
Number Two did not try to recover space.
Advanced.
Éreon attacked.
The katana came against his neck.
Number Two spun the bow.
CLACK!
The shaft met the side of the blade.
The impact deflected the cut.
Number Two continued the turn.
Passed by Éreon's side.
An arrow appeared between his fingers.
Éreon followed.
The katana returned.
Number Two lowered his body.
SHHK!
The edge passed over his head.
Still low...
He spun on his supporting foot.
The bow returned with him.
CLACK!
The shaft struck Éreon's forearm.
The katana moved a few centimeters out of the line.
Number Two rose together with the movement.
The arrow was nocked onto the string.
Éreon advanced before he could pull.
The katana came from below.
Number Two pulled his hip back.
SHHK!
The tip tore his clothes.
Blood appeared over his flank.
He did not retreat.
The hand holding the string pulled.
Creeeck...
Éreon entered one more step.
Too close for a complete shot.
Number Two released anyway.
TWANG!
Éreon turned his face.
SHHK!
The arrow passed close to his temple.
Number Two had already drawn another.
Éreon gave him no room to nock it.
The katana advanced.
Number Two raised the bow.
CLACK!
The blade met the shaft.
Éreon pressed.
The bow began to yield.
Number Two changed his grip.
Abandoned the attempt to contain the katana.
Spun outward.
Éreon followed.
The blade slid along the shaft.
SCREEECH!
Number Two released the bow.
The weapon fell among the leaves.
Éreon advanced through the opening.
The katana rose.
Number Two also entered.
The arrow still remained in his hand.
Éreon noticed.
Neither of them retreated.
DOOOOOOOOOONG!
The sound crossed the Mountain.
DOOOOOOOOOONG!
The crowns of the pine trees trembled.
The katana stopped against Number Two's neck.
At the same instant...
The tip of the arrow stopped a few centimeters from Éreon's right eye.
For a few seconds...
Nothing moved.
A drop of blood appeared beneath the edge of the katana.
Ran down Number Two's neck.
"Try any movement..."
The voice remained firm.
"...and I'll take your eye with me."
Éreon did not answer.
His eyes remained fixed on Number Two.
A band of light appeared on the horizon.
The first ray of sunlight passed through the crowns of the pine trees.
The darkness began to retreat among the trees.
The light reached the rock formation.
Touched Number Two's face.
Then...
Descended the slope.
Éreon slowly withdrew the katana.
Number Two remained motionless.
Éreon turned.
Began to descend.
A few steps below...
Number Thirteen remained kneeling.
One hand rested on the earth.
The other still held the sword.
The wounded leg remained extended beside his body.
Éreon passed him.
Without saying a word.
Number Thirteen discreetly raised his eyes.
Followed Éreon as he continued descending.
The light of dawn advanced through the Mountain.
Éreon disappeared among the trees.
Number Two sat down.
Number Thirteen remained kneeling for a few moments.
Then...
Using the sword as support...
He stood.
The wounded leg wavered.
He walked to Number Two.
Sat down beside him.
For a few moments...
Neither of them spoke.
Number Thirteen looked at the slope.
Bodies remained scattered among the trees.
He lowered his head.
"Hey..."
The voice came out low.
Hoarse.
"You guys died too fast..."
The wind passed through the pine trees.
Number Two remained silent.
Number Thirteen also said nothing more.