I stood there, my entire body covered in dirt from rolling across the ground.
My eyes kept trying to close.
I couldn't stop the bleeding. My body felt heavy, as if stones were tied to my limbs.
Still, my sword remained tightly gripped in my hand.
The enemy rushed toward me—shield and spear in hand.
Neither of us had a mount now.
I forced myself to focus.
Using my Beast Style footwork, I rushed toward him. A long spear had excellent reach, but if I closed the distance, that advantage would disappear.
He swung his spear from right to left.
I didn't stop.
I ducked beneath the strike and leapt forward, aiming my sword at his throat.
He blocked with his shield.
The impact sent numbness through my arm.
He immediately counterattacked.
Pulling his spear back, he tried to trap me between his shield in front and his spear from behind.
Through my sensory field, I sensed the movement early.
I ducked low and slashed toward his legs.
A shield couldn't protect his lower body.
But he sensed the danger.
He stepped back just in time, my blade missing his leg by inches.
Without wasting a moment, he swung his spear downward.
I moved sideways.
My movements were becoming slower.
We continued exchanging attacks.
Somewhere nearby, I could still see Rusty fighting.
The rider Rusty had knocked down earlier wasn't dead yet.
The fallen horse had collapsed over part of his body, trapping him. Rusty stomped at him repeatedly, trying to finish him off.
Rusty was buying me time.
But I couldn't look away from my opponent for even a second.
If I lost focus, I would die.
The spearman attacked again.
I tried to duck.
But my vision blurred from blood loss.
I moved too slowly.
The spear sliced across my left shoulder.
Pain exploded through my arm.
Not too deep—but another wound.
I rolled across the ground.
Before I could stand, he rushed forward again.
I rolled backward, barely avoiding the thrust, then jumped to my feet and raised my sword to defend.
But I knew the truth.
He was stronger than me right now.
And I was seriously injured.
If the fight continued like this, I would lose.
I immediately used my Beast Style footwork to create distance.
The spearman grinned.
His spear had longer reach.
He knew he had the advantage.
I coated my body with dark aura.
Normally I would also send aura into my weapon.
But not now.
Instead, I drew on miasma.
Only a small amount.
Becoming a berserker in the middle of battle would be dangerous. I needed my mind clear.
The miasma tainted my heart.
My heartbeat grew faster.
My closing eyes snapped open again.
I stared at him.
Then I rushed forward.
Like a madman, I charged using my Beast Style footwork.
He thrust his spear toward me.
I slid sideways, avoiding the tip.
Then I slammed my sword into his shield.
Again.
And again.
And again.
I didn't give him time to recover.
My sword struck the shield repeatedly.
When he tried to move his spear arm, I grabbed it with my left hand.
Now I was pushing him back while striking his shield again and again.
He tried to use a shield bash to create distance.
But I anticipated it.
The moment he pushed forward, I released his arm and dropped to one knee.
I stabbed my sword into the ground to steady myself.
Then I stopped pumping miasma into my heart and returned to using dark aura.
Becoming a berserker now would be a mistake.
At first he thought my plan was to break his shield. As he created some distance between us
But I had another idea.
I rushed forward again.
He raised the shield defensively and thrust his spear from the side.
I ducked low.
Dropping to one knee, I drove my sword into the ground beside his feet and swept his legs.
His balance broke.
He crashed to the ground.
I jumped onto him immediately.
Pinning his arms with my knees, I coated my fists with miasma again.
Then I began punching.
Again.
And again.
And again.
My fists slammed into his face, crushing bone and flesh.
Even while punching, I kept my sensory field active.
Then I felt it.
Someone rushing toward me from behind with a spear.
I rolled away instantly.
The man on the ground barely moved.
Only weak breaths remained.
The approaching enemy stopped.
It was the rider Rusty had knocked down earlier.
He had managed to escape the dead horse that had fallen on him.
He glared at me but didn't attack.
Instead, he lifted the unconscious man from the ground and placed him over his shoulder.
Then he grabbed a nearby horse.
Without another word, he rode away.
Rusty came to my side.
I tried to stand.
But my body refused.
The world spun around me.
I collapsed against Rusty.
From the saddle pouch, I pulled out a handful of Gretkna Grass and chewed it quickly.
The bitter taste filled my mouth.
But the herb would help slow the bleeding.
Right now…
That was all I needed.