Spearbound Ch. 72

Kade shuddered in disgust when the metallic surface on its head rippled. A vertical tear appeared in the center before it pulled back, revealing deep-set, sharp grey eyes meeting his gaze.

The man’s skin was weather-beaten, tinged with a golden-olive tone and log, dark brown hair that was pulled back into a tight knot. A thick, trimmed beard only added to the dangerous look shot his way.

“You are Kade Beckett,” the man had a thick Russian accent with a gravelly edge, like someone who spent years breathing in smoke.

“I am,” Kade nodded, his hands tightening the grip around his [Soulrend]. This was practically confirmation that the man was Tugan. He wasn’t sure why the man was so combative, but he wouldn’t go down without a hell of a fight.

“That girl, Anita... she would have a hundred schemes by now. But you—you’re stronger. I feel it. I prefer you.”

Kade had wondered why Anita’s points had barely changed the last time he checked the leaderboard. Tugan must have taken her out of action.

“What do you gain from fighting me?” Kade asked with frustration.

Tugan looked amused. “Do you not know how your bonded weapon works?”

Kade’s eyes widened. He had hoped his suspicions of Tugan’s axe were unfounded, but it was just confirmed to be a [Soulrend], the first he had seen in the hands of another.

“You are impressive. I had to hunt down others to improve my weapon while you did it knowing nothing.”

Kade wasn’t sure if Tugan was being genuine or sarcastic. It was hard to tell with the stone-faced expression.

“I will give you the same choice as Anita. Let’s see whose weapon is better, and in return, I won’t kill you.”

Kade linked the injuries he sensed on Tugan to Anita. She had lost, but not without leaving Tugan with a memento. The Russian’s lack of need for recuperation before coming to Chicago almost insulted him.

“That’s not much of a choice,” Kade said, stalling for time.

“It is best to get permission. Who knows if that changes how much my weapon will improve?”

Kade would have long accepted the challenge if Tugan just wanted a fight, but involving his [Soulrend] made him think everything over a thousand times.

He couldn’t afford to have it degrade, but if what Tugan claimed was true, he was destined to fight others with a [Soulrend]. The potential to improve a [Soulrend] was too much to ignore, even for him. He would likely hunt others just like Tugan currently was.

Kade shifted when he saw Tugan losing his patience. He couldn’t dodge the fight, so he would do his best to increase the Russian’s injuries, despite victory being unlikely. “Very well, let’s fight.”

Tugan moved first—slower than Kade expected, but still fast enough to be a blur. One heartbeat he was away; the next, a silver blur arced toward his waist.

Kade’s perception stretched to its limits as he twisted to negate the blow. He planted the wooden butt of his [Soulrend], vaulted, spun midair, and drove the blade down toward Tugan’s shoulder.

Steel kissed the metal covering Tugan’s body; the [Soulrend]’s blade scraping against the armor without penetrating. Tugan only laughed, grabbing the shaft with his free hand and halting Kade’s momentum with shocking ease.

With his other hand, Tugan ripped his axe upward in a savage strike. Kade’s eyes widened in alarm and quickly activated [Ethereal Glide]. The axe passed through his body before he fell to the ground and retreated hundreds of feet away under Tugan’s curious look.

“You have some tricks,” Tugan praised. “But so do I.”

The hair on Kade’s neck stood straight as his instincts warned him of danger. He was prepared to use [Ethereal Glide] at a moment’s notice when Tugan disappeared.

Pain screamed from Kade’s side, the impact of a fist landing on his ribs howled across the battlefield, the shockwave alone enough to shatter nearby rubble.

Kade’s boots skidded across the ground as he fought to stop himself from tumbling out of control. He slammed the butt of his [Soulrend] into the ground until he finally came to a stop and spat out of a mouthful of blood.

He looked up to see Tugan exiting a tear in space while shaking his hand with a frown, as if punching him caused it damage.

“Kade Beckett, we can keep playing these tricks on each other, but what is the point? This is not a fight to the death. Let’s agree to have our weapons decide the victor.”

Kade winced as he tried to stand straight. Tugan had offered him a significant advantage, but it made zero sense why someone who can tear the damned space would willingly give that up.

He could only think that Tugan’s unseen injuries which forced him to make the offer. Or it could be something ridiculous like honor, but he couldn’t believe that would be a thing in real life.

“So, it’ll be my spear against your axe?” Kade lifted his [Soulrend] to point the blade at Tugan. He didn’t feel great about this either. It wasn’t like he was skilled with a spear.

He had depended on overpowering his enemies through sheer speed or power, and in the rare cases that weren’t possible, augment himself with [Abilities] that put him in an advantage.

None of those were an option for him this time.

“Yes, no tricks, just our bonded weapons.” Tugan raised his axe, the blade a sharp bluish sheen, exactly like Kade’s spear.

It looked like they both had an [Awakened Soulrend]. Tugan’s words hinted he had worked for it, while Kade had accidentally upgraded his [Soulrend].

“What about your armor?” Kade asked, wanting to get as many concessions as possible. He had dominated so many fights that his pride was screaming at him for stalling in hopes of more advantages.

However, Kade wasn’t about to let his pride risk his [Soulrend]. He wouldn’t care if he would lose a limb or two, but putting his spear on the block was too much to ask.

“Hm,” Tugan frowned. “You make a good point.” The metallic armor melted off and disappeared, revealing tattered clothes that did little to cover his body. “Anything else?”

Kade gaped at the damage to Tugan. Apart from his head, his right side of the body was a mess, with the torso a lattice of half-healed gashes, shallow burns that still looked fresh, and most glaringly, a missing portion of his foot.

“Anita did this?” Kade already thought highly of her, but it apparently wasn’t high enough.

Tugan grunted. “She is full of schemes.”

Kade’s eyes glanced at his interface when he received an unexpected message.

Eliza: I’m glad Finn told me to rush back to the city. Tell me when to enter the fight. He’s stronger than all the monsters we faced.

Kade shook his head for both Tugan and Eliza. “Keep everyone away. This is my fight.”

Tugan didn’t miss the interaction and smiled. “Good luck, Kade Beckett.”

Kade was ready as Tugan crashed in, his steps loud as cannon blasts on the breaking earth. An axe swung overhead with brutal simplicity, as if chopping down an overgrown branch—except the branch was his skull. He answered with uncharacteristic finesse.

Kade didn’t dare to match the brute strength; he slid half a step left and snapped his [Soulrend]’s butt into the swing. The axe deflected slightly to the right, giving him enough room for a counter.

He rolled his [Soulrend] over his forearm; the blade flicking upward into Tugan’s ribs, specifically the heavily damaged right side of the ribs.

Tugan shifted, letting the thrust slice through the tattered fabric and adding another gash to the countless already on his body. Tugan grinned through the fresh blood drawn and used his brute strength to redirect his axe, forcing Kade back to avoid losing an arm.

He winced when his [Soulrend]’s wooden shaft cracked under the pressure of blocking the axe, but barely had time to glance at the damage.

Kade crossed his forearms just in time to block a savage kick, sliding back several feet before he regained his footing. Pain ricocheted through his bones, but he forced himself to ignore it in favor of moving his spear to defend his right flank.

Tugan’s booming laugh filled the nearly empty battlefield. “This is what I wanted! Again, Kade Beckett!”