Page 28 of How Gods Bleed

The head of the Cloud Cutter spilt from the impact creating a large and horrible crack through the metal. His eyes were drawn to this damage like a vampire seeing the light of dawn. He was so consumed by the sight of his weapon cracking that he almost did not move back in time to avoid Yorow’s weapon as it was swung across where he once stood. Imbaka then attacked Yorow from behind forcing the half-masked woman to look away from him. Hazum Ka-te took another step back his eyes looking at nothing but his damaged weapon. He had every right to be shocked for the Cloud Cutter was considered a legendary weapon, one that had been wielded in hundreds of battles and had not once received so much as a scratch. The weapon could still be used but far less effectively. Hazum Ka-te looked upon the spear as if he was watching a legend unravel before his very eyes. In a way he was doing exactly that, for his weapon in some ways was even better known then he was. Seeing it damaged to him was like a father seeing his child bleed.

  He looked back to Yorow and the Helluvans who were still fighting ferociously. No one could deny that Yorow had the advantage in the fight showing not so much as a hint she was being overwhelmed or frustrated by their attacks. The Helluvans now seemed to be fighting with nothing but passion alone, and passion may have been a powerful thing, but not powerful enough.

  Imbaka was thrown completely off her feet by a simple blocking maneuver of Yorow’s spear as Zova attempted to come to her rescue. Hazum Ka-te glanced over to where Cada Varl was fighting Solloc and Nara, the three of them seemed locked in a kind of stalemate that would not be ended anytime soon. Hazum Ka-te looked back to Yorow as she blocked the attacks of all three other Helluvans with her spear before counterattacking and knocking all of them to the ground. With her wielding the spear with two hands, there seemed little the Helluvans could do to gain the advantage. An expression as powerful as humanly possible appeared on the face of Hazum Ka-te as he looked down upon the Cloud Cutter and slowly felt the weight of it in his hand. He looked back to the fight in time to see Yorow block an attack by Zova before spinning her spear so its blade cut across the leg of Gokkus. The man dressed in black fell to one knee and received a powerful kick to his chest that bent his armor like it was weak clay. He was thrown back with great violence landing several feet away from where Hazum Ka-te stood.

  Amazingly Gokkus was able to get back to his feet quickly, his eyes filled with determination as he took a step forward, ready to get back into the fray.

  “Gokkus,” Hazum Ka-te said drably instantly bringing the eyes of the man dressed in black upon him. Hazum Ka-te watched for a split second as Zova and Imbaka continued to fight Yorow, in vein. “Have your bow and an arrow ready,” Hazum Ka-te said just as somberly, daring not to take his eyes off of Yorow. Gokkus glanced back to the fight but his eyes were drawn back to the wielder of the Cloud Cutter.

  The man dressed in black had barely a chance to say a single word before Hazum Ka-te yelled so loud and deep his cry was heard by the entire world. He raised his spear holding it firmly with both hands as he rushed forward, an undeniable strength dominated his eyes. Yorow easily heard him coming as they all did, swiping her spear across both weapons of Imbaka and Zova forcing them to stumble and fall away.