44 Chapter 44: The Swordsman Part 2

Hurtling myself at Aaron was probably the dumbest choice I could have possibly made. No matter how close I get to him, the whirring sword at his side keeps me at bay. For every punch that I launch at him, there is an impenetrable defense of steel. Even a reckless tackle is easily side stepped, I simply have no way of getting close to him.

Between a flurry of blows I see a small smirk on Aarons face, hell he isn't even trying is he?

After another failed blow to Aarons side is met by a fist to my face, I fall to the ground. I can feel my life blood draining almost as quick as my energy reserves. Even calling upon the Earths' Gift to heal myself seems like to little right now. It's time to fight smarter!

I quickly heal myself using Earths' Gift. Regardless of my internal energy I can't very well fight while losing this much blood, it's simply courting death.

Loosening my control on my plate armor I will most of the vines to disappear. Then I secretly conjure another vine, and set it to growing below the earth. I launch at Aaron again using only my claws. Instead of aiming at Aaron I focus entirely on his sword. Wherever it whips to I make sure to have one claw there to catch it.

Aaron suddenly picks up the speed to an insane degree. Look a whirlwind of metal his sword seems to come from everywhere and nowhere. My previously healed skin is quickly dyed an ugly crimson from the multiple slashes and cuts that Aaron has given me. Every retaliatory slash I aim at him is doomed to failure, as he deftly weaves through my swipes.

Panting deeply I quickly catch a descending sword that was aimed at the top of my head. I struggle and push it back as hard as I can, but much like the sword of Damocles it merely hangs there menacingly over my head. Despite my efforts, as my arms shake and strain the sword slowly falls downward.

I focus on my vines forcing them to grow faster and faster moving them into position to try and salvage the situation.

My shaking arms fail hang on, and I have to throw myself sideways on the ground to barely avoid losing my life. I stare at Aaron and he merely waves at me, as if this was a fun game between friends.

'Vines, constrict and bind'

I order them as I jump at Aaron again. He seems mildly surprised that I chose to close the distance again.

Instead of merely running like I was before I get onto my hands and knees, using my thorn claws to dig into the earth and suddenly change trajectory. I circle Aaron like this as I feel the last dregs of my mana eke away there is a call.

"Aaron stop!"

Like a puppet without a puppeteer Aaron stops in his tracks and turns to face his boss. Aarons face loses its color like he had seen a ghost. His boss, that stupid slime, has been fully contained and trapped within a spiders web of thorned vines.

While I fought Aaron I had realized that there was simply no way for me to beat Aaron. His skills are far more polished than mine. The only option left to me was to out think him. I'm glad that Aaron has poor situational awareness, otherwise. I shudder to think.

I dissolve my armor quickly and retrieve my clothing before returning back to the slime boss. After all having a long prolonged fight while naked is one thing, standing in the middle of town to chat? Now that is a horse of another color.

I smugly call out to my captured friend, "You. Gimme the water pixie." I demand and the slime hurries to gesture to his remaining guards.

"Fine, fine you can have her. She didn't seem to wanna marry me anyway."

'Aww, is the slime actually sulking?'

"Well thanks Mr...."

The slime quickly interjects. "Just go with Slime boss like you were earlier. Humans can't pronounce it regardless."

I shrug my shoulders and gratefully accept the water pixie. She looks much like I had imagined, a small near human like frame the size of a large butterfly. She looks remarkably cute, her sky blue hair accents well against her bug-like eyes. I smile at her and she seems to know well enough that I'm here to help her.

"Okay, good. Oh, yeah one more thing."

They all stare at me fearing my next onerous demand. "Don't bully the little incubus that sells pets, he's under me now. Oh and I want his Broach back"

I march away with my head held high, and a lovely onyx broach in my pocket.

'I've done good this day. I stopped that demon from getting harassed, and I even got my third contract beast ready to be accepted. Good job Masamune.'

From behind me I can vaguely hear a bit of what Boss Slime and crew are saying.

"Huh, never would have thought a druid would play for his own team."-Boss Slime

"Yeah, just goes to show ya you never know who might be...like that." -Aaron

"Well, we just need to avoid his boyfriend right? At least we're okay!" -Trash Guard who did nothing

My heart is pounding once more.

'God damn it! Why the fuck did I word it that way!'

I try letting it go, and simply walk away with my heart heavy. "I'm going to have to do some hetero shit after all this crap." I grumble to myself the incubus's home looming in front of me.

Thinking back on what I had said my conditions were for the job....

'Please don't be naked, please don't be naked'

"Hey I'm back little demon." I call into the run down store. I can hear a bump and scraping from the back room again. My eyes light up instantly. This is perfect!

'I'll just leave his broach for him here and bail! It's not like he can ever find me again! Then we can all just pretend this never happened.'

My smile stretches from ear to ear as I softly place the broach on the desk. Then as I turn to leave I can feel the world turn on it's axis. Down is up, and fish can sing as my world view is rocked. My body is shaking and trembling. My legs quickly lose their strength and I slide down onto the dusty floor.

"Oh yeah, mana fatigue." Is all I can mutter before the soft warm embrace of sleep welcomes me.