40

The air hummed, filled with unbearably loud thumps of blades touching. Just as deafening is the noise in the forge, when the blacksmith, with a skillful hand, lowers the hammer on the sword blank, giving it the desired shape. But there was no smithy here, the forest was noisy here, and its indignant rustle was muffled by the furious clang of steel.

The blows came too often, repeatedly causing him to dodge and retreat, circle and parry attacks from five opponents at once. There was no time to be surprised that so far he had not received a single wound. Only somewhere on the edge of consciousness beat a desperate thought that this fight lasts an incredibly long time and draws out the last forces.

Vic was already accustomed to his own increased speed and endurance, which increased significantly at night. But still he tried not to get involved in any alterations, surprisingly too often encountered on his way. At first he attributed it to his own bad luck. And how else to explain that