Sword Art Online-Encroaching Shadows

Chapter 37

The <<Hiding>> meter instantly dropped into the twenties the moment Jemza ran forward. Given that Artemis was walking out in the open and the level difference it made sense that the penalties would be stiff. It didn't change the plan at all as far as she was concerned. For now, they still had the element of surprise and could use that to their advantage. Perhaps they could keep Artemis off balance enough to chip away at his health safely.

Jemza rotated once in the air, reversing her grip on the dagger in her hand. The blade began to glow brightly as she set the weapon into the initial placement for <<Puncture>>, a sword skill she had unlocked recently in the dagger skill. Following Jayce's plan meant that this skill would only help to lead them to victory. The poison on her dagger would do a minor bit of damage repeatedly over time, which worked well with <<Puncture>>. The sword skill, if successful, had a secondary effect in that it would apply a bleeding effect to the enemy. Much like the poison on her dagger it was a low amount of damage, but every point mattered.

Artemis looked over his shoulder as the blade of Jemza's dagger erupted in a blinding flash of colors rocketing her towards his back. His eyes widened seeing her now and his hand reflexively moved towards the handle of his sword. Dust kicked up violently from Artemis's movements as Jayce ran to catch up to his partner. The echoing sound of metal meeting metal called out through the night and Jayce skidded to a stop, his mouth hanging open. A short distance ahead, Jemza pressed her dagger against the blade of Artemis's sword. He held the blade in both hands over his shoulder so that the blade reached down behind him intercepting her dagger cleanly.

"Not good." Jayce voiced his concerns while running forward again. Artemis pulled his sword up shoving Jemza back a few steps while spinning to face her.

"You dare to try and rob me? Do you even know who I am?" Artemis looked between Jemza and Jayce as he challenged them both.

"We know enough." Jemza answered bringing her dagger back into a normal grip. Artemis's eyes narrowed as she spoke lifting the sword high above his head into a ready stance.

"Is that so? Of course...you must be Rose's thugs. She's getting desperate these days." Artemis began to circle keeping his blade ready to swing at any moment. There was no fear in his voice as he spoke to them. Even outnumbered he sounded confident that he could not lose. Jayce watched him carefully as they continued to circle one another. He focused on the man's legs seeing the smallest of twitches every so often.

"Kurt made you drink quite a bit didn't he?" Jayce smiled under the facemask and Artemis growled angrily in response.

"You're both dead."

"We'll see about that. We have a chance, he's drunk." Jayce moved forward rolling his Anneal Blade around so the blade rested along his left arm, the tip stretching towards Artemis. Jemza fell in behind him using his body to obscure her own body from the man's vision.

Jayce moved the blade of his sword back activating the sword skill <<Slant>> and let the game's system take over his movements. The Anneal Blade glowed brightly pulling his body forward into the predetermined motions of the skill. Artemis slashed his sword in a wide arc catching Jayce's sword, slapping it aside harmlessly. Jemza used one hand to vault herself over Jayce's shoulder. She landed between him and Artemis driving her dagger forward towards the man's stomach. He twisted leaning back so the dagger caught only air before righting himself and swinging the sword down towards Jemza's head.

"Roll!" Jayce yelled out activating another sword skill, <<Horizontal>> to parry Artemis's strike before it could hit his partner. At the same time Jemza tucked herself into a ball rolling forward past the man until she was behind him. The speed that this man had while wielding a sword of this size was impressive. He spun in circles weaving the blade up and down to parry both Jayce and Jemza's attacks. Every swing or stab they made was met with his weapon and pushed aside harmlessly. The plan had been to slowly chip away at his health and keep distance, but they weren't even able to land a single hit on him yet.