Will gasped as an uppercut crushed into his stomach. He retreated, falling back several paces as he desperately tried to regain his breath. This man, this General Val’kez was nothing short of a mountain, trying to crush him.

Will surged forward, bringing his sword up. He lunged, swinging the Taintless Blade low, going for the man’s midsection. The attack found its mark, but cracked off the armour, without leaving so much as a scratch.

‘How do you expect to beat him that way?’ a voice scolded from Will’s side. In front of him, the massive form of General Val’kez took a step forward, a smile crawling its way across his face.

‘Stop looking at him, and look at me, Will… I asked you a question.’

Will turned, the image of Buri shimmering into existence before his eyes.

‘You…’ he tried.

‘Quiet, Will. Your skills are hardly enough to carry you to victory against him… Not the way you’re fighting, anyway… Oh, wait a moment… He’s attacking. You should feint, then go for the neck. Feint now!’

Will stared at the man, then looked to General Val’kez, who was stepping forward, his fist swinging out.

‘Oh, you should have listened to me…’ Buri sighed.

Will felt pain explode against the side of his face, his jaw should have broken with the force of the attack, but it didn’t. As he flew backward, crumpling to the ground, he could feel his face swelling as blood leaked free from his mouth. Will struggled to sit up, but fell back at the effort. His head rolled to one side, and as it did, the image of Buri appeared before him again, in an instant. It looked as though the air were piecing him together, like some impossibly complex puzzle.

‘You’re confused, right?’ the man smiled. ‘I don’t blame you… But I do applaud you on containing your anger. It’s a powerful emotion that could have easily destroyed you…’

‘Buri…’ Will slurred through broken, swollen lips.

The man shook his head. ‘No… Well, I suppose you can call me that, if it makes you more comfortable. To be truthful, I’m more of a ghost… Well, sort of…’

Will groaned as he saw General Val’kez coming to stand over him.

‘I’m actually a copy of Buri. Will, don’t look at him. He won’t attack you just yet.’

Will tried to scoff, but it was no use. He looked to Buri, his head swimming with pain, and now, confusion.

‘Where was I? Oh, yes… I’m a manifestation of the man. You’re right to suspect the sword… It made a copy of Buri, to store the sum of his knowledge. As it has done with every warrior who has ever swung this blade. I know it may be a lot to take in, but you should probably focus on this battle now… Oh, your friend is coming to save you. Look left…’

Will forced himself to turn away, slinging his head around. True enough, Rajhu was rushing toward him, blue mist stretching out from his chest toward General Val’kez. The mist congealed into fists, striking the General in the centre of the chest. Both men careened backward, out of sight. Will could hear the battle continuing as he tried to find the strength to stand.

‘That’s good, Will… That determination, that loyalty… The Taintless Blade likes you.’

Buri snapped into existence beside Will once more, a smile on his wrinkled face. ‘You have a bright future ahead of you, but that’s dependant on what happens here, today.’ He sighed, glancing to the battle out of Will’s sight. ‘Now would be the opportune time to strike, by the way. General Val’kez is distracted, but he won’t be for long… For a victory against such a skilled opponent, you’re going to have to use surprise. I would say greater force, but you don’t have it Will, not yet, anyway…’

Will glared at the man, who held up his hands in placation, then vanished. Silence enveloped him and he grabbed the hilt of the Taintless Blade harder than before. Buri hadn’t warned him of this… He hadn’t told him the sword would test him in this way…

Biting back a curse, he climbed to his feet, using the sword to support himself. He took a deep breath then, lifting the sword out of the ground, rushed into battle after Rajhu.