Regretfully, it took my mind a few precious seconds to adapt to the situation just before Karravok's next blow impacted my body. I pushed my body to the left using light to carry me away from him as I caught myself in the light's embrace. I commanded the idle blades to close in on Karravok's body.
Swiftly moving into close proximity to the Gates of Elpis, I watched as twenty percent of my blades ripped and pierced through Karravok's monstrous body, but the spray of blood that should have followed such grievous injuries never came.
His body exploded into a cloud of darkness, the blades of light being swallowed by the darkness, unmaking them.
I'd expected something like that to happen; I wasn't so naive as to think that his real body would be so reckless, not even regarding the shimmering gates as a threat. The rest of my blades began to circle my body, protecting me from any other unexpected attacks.
From the looks of it, Karravok didn't expect me to take measures against his unknown spell. He suddenly appeared at my left, slipping through the blades before they fully reached my body, but he was stuck in it. If this were truly his real body, then he'd taken significant damage.
His face was conflicted, I caught one of my blades, slashing down on his gauntlet while his mind was occupied. His distraction had cost him; the remaining blades were returning and quickly approaching the nape of his neck. Just as my own blade broke through the skin of his arm, he disappeared from view. Flashstepping away.
The blood that briefly caught my eye gave me all I needed to know. I commanded the blades to chase him, bursting forward at a staggering speed. The influx of light blinded me from seeing anything further, my only indication of his condition being my connection to the blades.
I felt them pierce and cut through his flesh, but for some reason, I still felt like danger was practically choking me.
An eerie whistling sound pierced throughout the explosions, silencing them, the blades dissipating. Suddenly, a longsword pierced straight through my chest. I didn't have time to react; it was too fast. My mind didn't even process its existence until it was lodged in my chest.
"Let's see you copy any more of my spells! Whistling Longsword of the Piercing Heavens, my ultimate and last resort spell. I curse you for making me use it; it just proves my own weakness."
Although agonizing pain was rippling throughout my body, I didn't feel like screaming or crying. I only felt laughter overcoming my mind at the devil's words. He had completely failed to determine my character; it was frankly hilarious to me.
"Ahaha! What makes you think I'd copy such a bland spell!?"
The longsword lodged in my gut was just that, a longsword. Nothing interesting about it, unlike his earlier spell, this one didn't invite the same excitement to course through my blood.
"You think I'll let you live now you've insulted my honor and Lady War's spells!"
"Ugh, shut up about 'Lady War.' You know most women don't like obsessive freaks."
I grasped the longsword's pommel using all my force to pull it from my gut. As I did so, I forcefully began to implant my divinity into the blade, using my blood over its surface to root it into it.
My hands started to shine bright as I imprinted myself into its form, my handprint being burned into its pommel.
Karravok pulled his arms back, and the longsword freed itself from my gut and flew back into his arms. I let it go without much resistance. I held onto my wound, pouring my light into it, trying to slow the bleeding, but I was only temporarily successful.
If I let go, I'd most definitely start bleeding again.
"You are becoming an annoying pest, Evernight. I've hit you with everything I've got, and you still stand there tall and unbothered despite the hole in your chest. Why? I'll ensure you don't live past the next cut!" boomed Karravok.
Karravok's face flushed red with burning hot rage, sending the longsword back into the fight, letting it fly, its direction straight to my neck. Before it broke my skin, it suddenly stopped sending a shockwave throughout the empty air.
Tapping its blade with my finger, I turned its blade to Karravok. It responded to me effortlessly, focusing its hostility towards its master.
"What! Why isn't it responding?! Cut him down, Whistling Longsword of the Piercing Heavens!"
"Such a boring weapon doesn't deserve a cool name, I'd suggest you change it if you ever get control back, that is."
"What have you done!"
"I've implanted my blood into the core of the weapon; it will never harm me again. I'm its one and only master, you've been removed."
Karravok's eyes widened, his body instinctively shifting into a defensive position. Tilting the blade towards Karravok's left arm, I tapped the end of its pommel, letting it fly. It swiftly closed in on Karravok's body.
"I've memorized its patterns, even if you take control, it will never—"
Karravok had neglected to actually test if I could perform Flashstep or not; just because I hadn't attempted it yet didn't mean I would never be able to perform it.
Choosing the destination in my mind, I stepped forward immediately, appearing behind Karravok's back directly next to the longsword's pommel.
"You're right, it is an easy technique, no wonder she wouldn't teach me."
Karravok was caught offguard, his mind struggling to keep up with the many developments in this battle. It was only natural to be overwhelmed by the trials of combat; it took me quite a while to grow accustomed to his own strength.
Grasping the pommel in my hands, I twirled it around and cleaved Karravok's arm clean off, following up with another slash to his chest before kicking him away.
My strike landed directly on his open wound. I temporarily lost grip on my wound, so my condition was quickly declining, but I managed to seal the wound again before it could further sap my strength.
Karravok caught himself in the air before he impacted with the houses, arising slowly, the two fatal wounds quickly consuming all his strength.
"I don't know what your deal is, Evernight, but you are dangerous. You may have gotten the best of me, but don't think you'll live to see next year. There are far more powerful devils in Faravos. The Horsemen will take your head, and no one can stop them!"
"Horsemen?"