“God’s sake” Arthur mumbled.

They all turned towards the woods to see a huge knight clad in dark armour emerge from the shadows. Arthur quickly moved to guard the others, and Kate pulled out a silenced pistol from her coat.

“What did you say girl we’d have a round 2 if you escaped. Well deals a deal” he stated quietly. Smoke began leaking from his armour and he dashed forward appearing in front of Lucina with his first readied. Arthur quickly spun around grabbing their attacker’s arm and with inhuman strength, threw him over his shoulder, sending him flying into the woods, crashing through trees.

“Get out of here now!” Arthur ordered.

“No one is leaving!” a deep voice echoed from the woods. Before anyone could react, the knight was in front of him his armoured fist dug into his abdomen. Arthur quickly grabbed onto the gauntlet to avoid been sent flying back and pulled his attacker forward off balance before thrusting his elbow into the base of the helmet. Instantly Arthur thrusted his knee forward however, an armoured hand caught his knee, and another grabbed onto to his shirt and raised Arthur into the air. The world then came crashing down around him as he was slammed down shattering the ground. Arthur attempted to launch himself towards his attacker however, the black knight just stomped him further into the ground. Grunting Arthur grabbed his ankle and threw him into the cabin, sending him crashing through its walls. Lucina then watched him leap through the newly made hole in the cabin wall after the knight.

“Arthur wait!” Lucina called out, but it was too late he’d already disappeared into the cabin.

“Who is this guy?” Kate asked.

“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter everyone get on” Lucina stated. Instantly the shadows around her began to conjugate and coalesce to form an 8-foot bird like figure. The shadows then dissolved off the figure to reveal crystalline, black feathers that almost seemed to reflect the stars in the night sky. A raven shaped mask carved out of white marble covered the creatures face except its eyes that glowed violet. Lucina was a summoner and could summon many magical creatures such as this one she had named Cali.

“Everyone get on – “She was interrupted by an eruption of mana which generated a force that ripped apart the cabin sending debris in all directions. As she went to shield Eri she noticed Arthur flying out with the debris into the forest.

“I said no one is leaving” a deep voice growled, in an instant he was upon Cali his fist raised and imbued with mana, black smoke flowing from his armour.

“Cali dodge!” Lucina commanded but he was too fast, his fist struck the bird sending it crashing through trees. Kate pulled the trigger of her pistol sending a golden bullet flying into his chest-plate however, the bullet just dispersed against his mana coated armour.

“Your accent is Aitian, what are you doing here?” Kate asked while putting away her firearm.

“What does it matter to you”.

“It doesn’t I was just buying time” Kate explained.

Arthur’s fist struck across his helmet rocking his head to the right. Before he could even recover, Arthur threw a left hook into his side causing him to keel forwards allowing an uppercut to knock him back. The two charged at each other and began trading blows causing air and ground to quake at every impact. The knight ducked under one of Arthurs attacks and summoned a black long-shield, yellow sparks dissolving in the air around it. Swinging his arm wide the shield struck Arthur’s chest, causing him to fly back. He then turned and charged at Kate however, Arthur quickly intercepted him at a speed Lucina could barely register. He struck the shield with his shoulder, however, black knight pulled back his shield, hauling Arthur off balance. He gripped Arthur by the neck and sent him crashing into the ground. Immediately he raised his shield with both hands and slammed it down towards Arthur chest however, Arthur quickly caught it. The knight Enhanced his strength and pushed down on the shield, with a force that fractured to ground around them. Arthur pushed back against the shield but only pushed himself further into the ground unable to force the shield back.

“Cali!” Lucina shouted.

‘KRAA!’

Before anyone could react, a black blur rocketed out of the shadows crashing into the black knight forcing him off Arthur.

“Pests” The knight growled as he stood back up. He flexed his hand, and his shield flew to his arm and a black great-sword was appeared in his right hand, some sort of sigils could be seen engraved on the blade. The sigils on the sword and the shield began to glow a bright yellow, as he infused mana into them. The knight dashed forward towards Lucina however was intercepted by the summon. A blade came swinging down onto the bird, but it spread its wing and feathers spread out through the air forming a hexagon. Tendrils of violet lightning began flowing between feathers forming a shield, the blade impacted the shield and sparks flew into the air as the sword stained against it. The shield pulsed and the lightning began to grow unstable suddenly exploding repelling the knight. Cali fired feathers into his chest plate which instantly began to glow violet before exploding launching him further back. The black knight dug his feet into the earth forcing himself to a halt, he then swung his blade through air producing an arc of yellow light that flew towards Cali. The raven attempted to form another shield however, the arc struck the bird’s wing causing it to recoil back, the knight continued to swing his blade resulting in more yellow arcs striking the summon. Cali suddenly screeched and a violet glow spread through the air dissipating any income attacks, the raven then charged forward its body coated in lightning. The black knight readied his shield and collided with the raven, sparks flew, and the air shook as they attempted to overpower one another. The sigils on the knight’s shield began to glow brighter and a yellow light erupted from the shield slamming into the summon with such force it was launched back. Lucina dashed forward however, with incredible speed his image blurred and he upon Cali. He swung his blade down at the creature’s neck however, his arm was suddenly restrained by golden strands.

“Round 2” a voice echoed from behind him. The knight turned to see Arthur, the golden strands in his hand.

“What is this?” the knight growled.

“My web” Arthur stated bluntly. Arthur then wrenched the knight off his feet towards him and threw his elbow into his enemy’s helmet cracking the base. He then quickly ducked under a shield strike before grabbing hold of the knight’s chest plate.

“This will sting a bit” he smirked. A golden glow, a similar colour to his eyes, spread along the veins in his arm, as it reached his palms there was a discharge of electrical energy into the knight was sent recoiling backwards. The knights body began to tense up almost like he was struggling to control his own muscles. Lucina sensed the knight infuse himself and his weapons with more mana, causing his blade to be coated in yellow light. He charged at Arthur. Arthur stepped back avoiding a shield plummeting towards his head, he then ducked under a yellow slash aiming to split him in two, before spinning on the ball of his foot and round house kicking the knight’s torso. The knight ignored the kick and continued his onslaught unleashing a chain of attacks. Arthur continued to avoid and block the incoming attacks, countering whenever his enemy over extended. Lucina watched wide eyed at the brawl which made the ground and air tremble, they seemed to be on equal footing however, she noticed every time Arthur seemed to be getting the upper hand the knight increased his power to match him. The knight is holding back only increasing his strength when he needs to. ‘Why?’ she though ‘maybe he is too prideful and doesn’t want to go all out on us’.

“You need to go” Kate stated, snapping Lucina out of her daze.

“Kate, Arthur won’t be able to win like this” Lucina stated, worried.

“Don’t worry It’ll be fine, now take Eri and go!” Kate commanded “that knight isn’t going to let anyone escape without being distracted”. Noticing her serious demeanour, Lucina quickly grabbed Eri and climbed upon Cali.

“Let’s go” Lucina commanded. With a strong stroke of its wings, the summon rose into the sky. They soared higher into the sky until they were almost touching the clouds.

“No!” the knight roared. Lucina turned to see him launch his sword like a spear with such force the air shuddered, however, it was quickly stopped in its tracks by strands of golden web. Suddenly the sword was flung back towards the knight striking him with such force the blade implanted itself into his chest plate. Wasting no time, they flew through the sky travelling further and higher with each stroke of Cali’s wings. She glanced back towards the knight. He ripped the weapon from his chest and attempted to attack them again, but it was too late. They were already too far away.