Ice stuttered, relieved yet frightened."What was that?"
The dust cloud settled and slowly the scene became clear again. The elite titan was missing one of his arms and seemed surprised as well.
"I did not expect you to be this strong, child."
Ice did not understand. She had not even done anything, had she? Suddenly she noticed another person standing beside her. A boy around the same age as Mike looked down at her. He had golden hair and blue eyes that glowed in the sunlight. He wore golden yellow armor and carried a blue sword. The blade had a slight blue tint but was more gray, while the grip was completely bright blue like his eyes.
"Hey, are you alright?" the boy asked with the blue blade in hand.
Ice looked at him."Y yes, I am alright."
The boy smiled."Good. You should go to your friend. This fight will not be easy."
He paused for a moment and blinked."Not even for me."
Ice listened to the new ally and went to Mike, placing herself protectively in front of him. Mike was unconscious and noticed nothing. It was a race against time, and Ice could only watch.
The boy called out to her."Call me Hero."
Ice nodded and repeated the name quietly."Hero, hmm."
Hero turned away from Ice and faced the gray titan. The titan grinned."A cute little attack."
He lifted the arm whose hand had just been destroyed, but stones shot across the arm and stuck to it, reforming a new hand."But it heals in no time."
Hero nodded and smiled back."Alright, then let us fight, stone."
Stone? Had he really just called a titan stone? He must have had incredible confidence if he believed he could win. Hero dashed forward, leaving a golden flash behind him. But the titan raised his newly formed hand with blinding speed and cleanly blocked the attack. Hero's blue sword struck the stone hand with full force, yet this time it held.
"Oh, seems someone has learned," Hero remarked and flipped backward, landing perfectly on both feet. He lifted his blade upright, taking a defensive stance.
Suddenly small stones shot toward him."Really, small stones?"
He not only deflected them, he completely pulverized them. Not a single piece remained. But this time a larger boulder flew toward Hero.
"See, you will not beat me with small stones."
Hero stopped and jumped into the boulder that had been thrown at him. The moment his body touched the rock, it exploded into all directions.
"Well, not with big stones either."
Hero laughed and charged again, this time aiming to destroy the titan's head with a single strike. Before he reached him, he slashed forward, but the titan dodged as expected and swung his fist downward. Since Hero had shifted his balance for the strike, the fist hit him directly.
Hero managed to lift his sword vertically at the last moment, stopping the fist."That was close. Too bad. That was nothing."
He pushed upward with force and jumped. With a downward strike, he shattered the titan's hand again. But Hero did not notice the stones flying toward him, larger ones this time. One struck him in the back and sent him falling. His sword slipped from his hand and cut into the ground beside him. Hero rolled to his feet and pulled the sword free.
"Round two."
The remaining stones rushed toward him. He prepared to slice them apart, but the titan went on the offensive. He raised a foot but not in the usual way. The titan actually jumped into the air, his foot pulled downward as he aimed to crush Hero.
Hero focused on the first stones. The first one shattered. The second one shattered as well. The third was slower but Hero had to dodge the titan's kick now. He shot forward in a burst of speed, destroyed the third stone and escaped the titan's strike.
A cloud of dust burst upward as the titan hit the ground, cracks spreading across the surface. Luckily, Ice and Mike were on the opposite side.
Hero's expression grew tense."I have one more idea. This."
He stepped back with one leg and threw his blue sword toward the titan. The sword flew so fast it became invisible, but the titan was faster and raised his massive stone hand.
"You really are foolish, child," the titan mocked and caught the sword.
But suddenly Hero appeared beneath the titan. In full sprint he leaped against him.
"Oh really?"
The titan felt the laws of physics and lost his balance, falling backward. Hero had managed to ram him hard enough to topple him. The air howled and with a sharp whistling sound the titan crashed to the ground. He burst into countless fragments. Since he was smaller than the others, he shattered more cleanly.
Hero raised his hand and the sword obeyed, flying straight to him with the hilt forward.
"I am not foolish," Hero corrected the dead titan.
He looked to Ice, noticing she was approaching him."That was incredible, Hero."
Hero winked."I know."
Ice thanked him repeatedly.
Hero eventually fell silent and then asked Ice about Mike. "What about him?"Ice wanted to answer, but suddenly Mike shot upright.His body rose and he stood up quickly. Hero reacted instantly, drawing his sword and pointing it at Mike.
"Hey, slow down. How am I supposed to trust you?"
Mike did not answer. He did not know what had happened. He did not even know why he was here, only that he recognized the dangerous situation. Mike dashed forward, but Hero struck at him. Mike dodged low. Hero's blade touched Mike's brown hair and cut off a small piece.
"A new hairstyle?" Hero said sarcastically.
Mike drew his sword and pointed it at Hero.
"How funny," Mike answered with the same sarcasm.
Hero said nothing and swung his sword forward. Mike struggled a bit to keep up with Hero's speed, but it was still possible. Slightly delayed, Mike knocked Hero's sword aside with one strike and disarmed him. Mike's sword flew into the air and crashed into the ground, but Mike sprinted forward, kicked Hero in the stomach, and pushed him back.
"Ice, come on, run!"
Hero managed to catch himself, sliding a few centimeters before stopping. He grinned.
"That was really well done."
Mike jumped toward his sword stuck in the ground, reached forward, and tried to pull it free. But Hero stood in front of him again, his blade at Mike's throat.
"Enough now," Hero said.
Mike reacted instantly. He pulled his sword from the ground and pointed it straight at Hero's throat.
Both now held their blades against each other's necks, ready to strike, waiting.
Suddenly Ice rushed in with her sword and struck forward. Her blade hit both of their swords and knocked them aside to the right.
"Stop! We are on the same side!"
Hero grinned. "I do not know. Are we?"
He looked at Mike and waited for his answer.
"Well, who are you anyway?" Mike asked.