Dal was clearly not the person he was looking for, with strength too weak, it was unknown how he managed to luckily traverse the forest.
Moreover, the other party seed to have been scared stiff or dumbfounded, as they did not leave even after his repeated warnings!
But the mont Artorias looked at Dal once more, he froze for an instant.
For the other party had taken up a foreign posture.
The arm holding the sword was lifted horizontally, with the other hand resting on it, head slightly lowered.
This was the etiquette of the Fran Undead Team, the stance of the Abyss Watcher, the highest courtesy of groups idolizing the Abyss Wanderer.
Though he had never seen such a stance before, Artorias felt an odd sense of familiarity, which even made the pain from the Abyss’ erosion feel lesser.
He could feel the sincere respect emanating from Dal, much like the respect he received from the people back in Yanor Londo.
Maybe Dal’s respect was even deeper?
The strong will to fight coming from the other indicated that this "Dwarf", after witnessing his strength, intended to issue a challenge as well?
"Though I may be laughed at, I still wish to do this."
Dal bent his body low, expertly adopting the posture of the Fran Undead Team.
Having been tempered by the Undead Team and instructed by Sword Saint Gapar, his understanding of the swordsmanship had reached an even deeper level, allowing him to make adjustnts based on his own circumstances, no longer superficial.
If he were to fight Doslepo now, even in Doslepo’s pri, it wasn’t certain that he couldn’t win.
Is this enough to defeat Artorias?
Wishful thinking.
Yet, trapped within the Fog Gate, facing Artorias tornted by the Abyss, he could be killed at any mont.
Dal had no desire to flee in panic, wailing like a coward before death. In front of this legendary hero, he would fight with all he had, challenging like a warrior, despite being as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
After the initial shock, he finally realized the reality, eyes brimming with sadness.
It seed that in the fight between Artorias and the Master of the Abyss, the Abyss had ultimately claid victory.
The Knight barely escaped, not only battered and bruised, his companion also missing, left to wander here, slaughtering Abyss Monsters, warning those who co after not to step into this cursed land.
The reality is no fairytale; justice had not prevailed in the end.
If he could, Dal truly hoped that Artorias would find release, which is why he took this seemingly laughable action.
He had challenged Artorias!
Artorias stood in place immovably, silent, leaving no hint of his expression, which gave Dal ti to prepare.
"Thud, thud, thud..."
Dal fumbled in his satchel at his waist and pulled out four potions, his last stock, ones he hadn’t even considered drinking during his battle with the twin Stone Statue Ghosts.
[Arm-Strengthening], [Slashing Enhancent], [Constitution-Strengthening], [Blood Healing Potion].
As he downed the four bottles in one go, Dal’s muscles bulged, pushing his clothes to their limits, with blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
But that wasn’t all, he employed several buff-type combat skills he had learned.
The speed-increasing [Flowing Water Stance], the [Imitated Slash Domain] taught by Gapar, the [Ghost Man Rampage] which significantly boosted attack power for five seconds...
Flash after flash appeared on his body, his physical tolerance at its limit, but his will forcibly enduring it.
Finally, burning the Wolf Blood!
"Here I co!"
Dal bellowed, as the Undead Team’s posture finally unleashed a move.
In an instant, he flashed to Artorias’ side, the Fran Greatsword carrying unparalleled impact as it slashed towards the opponent’s critical points!
Artorias, seeming indifferent to combat, didn’t even draw his Great Sword, simply gesturing with his still intact arm towards Dal.
A simple strike, yet it carried an intense threat of death.
This was the disparity in power!
And fortunately for Dal, because Artorias’ attack was casual, he was able to dodge.
The combat techniques learned from the Fran Undead Team made his movents agile, avoiding the "attack" with a leap, he flashed in front of Artorias and swung his sword again.
Artorias rely shifted slightly to precisely dodge the attack, but a small explosion of Abyssal energy occurred at that mont, causing Dal’s raised sword to resist and his arm to go numb from the shock!
Normally, one would retreat and seek another opportunity, but Dal couldn’t. He couldn’t stop.
His body was already at its limit from the massive buffing magics and combat skills, holding on purely through determination; any relaxation could result in an explosion with a "BOOM".
Gritting his teeth, he continued his assault, this ti launching high into the air, his whole body’s weight propelling the sword blade directly towards Artorias!
Only then did Artorias react, as he watched Dal’s sequence of movents, he spoke as if in a trance:
"Shif?"
The sword art of the Fran Undead Team was inherited from Wolf Blood, and deeply embedded in that blood was the figure of the great wolf Shif dancing with his Greatsword.
Saying that the Undead Team was imitating Shif was not an overstatent.
Perhaps awakened by the mories, Artorias finally made his move, grasping his Greatsword and swinging it upward.
"Bang!"
Sparks flew; the Wolf Knight remained unmoved, but Dal was once again knocked to the ground.
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