◇ Glass Core ◇

Chapter 9: Hasterion Knight

The knight glared behind his visor and sprinted toward me! His armor doesn't seem to weigh him down. He went for a horizontal swing at me, making me jumped up and dodged it with it grazing my shoes.

"Silent but swift. I hate people who don't talk. It's boring!" I shouted as took out my sword. I landed down and came in close with a stabbed at his chest. The armor reduced the penetration and when I attacked again, he sidestepped, and shoulder bashed me away.

I growled and went close again, swinging my weapon twice! But for some reason, he dodged them both with slim grazing then jabbed his long sword. It cut my arm a bit, but I managed to avoid a direct hit. I then hopped back because of a slash right after the pierce.

"So quick! Stupid slick crap!" I picked a metal shard and tossed at him. He dodged right away and as he does that; I dashed at his direction and pushed his sword away. I grabbed on his coat sleeves and stabbed at the armor, inflicting "Wet" effect before had to ducked down and rolled away when he pointed his blade tip. 

The knight dragged his sword and flickered the ground with sparks and minor flame trail. His speed slowly accelerated before a powerful circular slash bestowed at me. The sword engulfed in flame and ended when the action finished. 

I stumbled back from the sheer force, and it had made a semi-deep cut in my body! I started to receive the burn ailment, feeling the constant external pain. I took a deep breath and endured the pain from bothering my fight. 

He's too fast and with a mid-range melee weapon long that, it made my sword looked very small. Damn it!

◇ "Faithful one, there are more than one Negative Catalyst. You could choose from your instinct, the one you desire."

I took a deep breath and glared with a grin. I'm trying the new Unknownity Catalyst and that'll be the "Despaired Claw".

◇ Negative Catalyst Initiated: Despaired Claw
◇ Risk:
◇ Your limbs imbued with the power of the harpy's shadow and Gain 2 Strength (10% Melee Stats)
◇ Weaponless Attacks deal Double Damage and Weaponless Block reduced Damage by half.
◇ Lose 10% Mental per Segment. If Staggered from Mental Lost, this Catalyst get deactivated.

There was a changed in my limbs. My legs became surging of unknown powers as my arms slowly manifested into shadow claws which still allowed me to use my weapon but gaining the Unknownity's traits. I gripped on my sword and had my left hand bending and pointing at the enemy. 

"GRAHHH!" I yelled as I leaped at him with my sword clashing with his. He pushed me back then went in with a quick attack, although I used my arm to parry it before I gave him a backfist in his face. He moved back stunned then I rushed in with a flurry of clawing and slashes!

He became staggered and fallen on his knees, stunned and weakened! I came in and gave a kick, sending him far back as I continued the flow using my claw! 

The knight stood back up and swung his blade, though I easily dodged it. I tossed my blade into his shoulder. He noticed me getting close and took my blade out. However, I was fast and instead of him attacking, I went first, moving my shadowy claw upward, sideways, then puncturing deep into his wounds. His armor couldn't handle the overwhelming damage.

He got back up and dashed backward, walking away as if he was retreating from this fight. I picked up my sword and ran toward him, giving him no chance to do so!

"Get back here! You give me threat and I shall give it back to you!" I chased after him, going faster than he goes backward.

The man became desperate and decided to change his movement, going at me with accelerating speed! His sword scraped against the ground once more, lighting the blade on fire. We both were at a near distance, he spun his sword vertically up in a circle.