SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

Gwyar turned his gaze back to the entrance of the secret base as Kyle and Terrakion took over the interrogation/intimidation.

As the champion finished off what little will to resist was left in the man, Gwyar turned back to him, responding to his words with a thumb over his shoulder.

"Not just yet." He said. "We should look in there."

There may be more poachers still— they still had to find and free the poached pokemon, too.

"I'll take the lead this time, Mr. Lopez." He said as he stepped towards the secret base, his hand drifting to the blade at his hip as he entered. "Let's go."

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

The poor, unfortunate criminal nearly pisses himself as a boulder jabs out of the ground riiight besides his head.

Not going anywhere, that one.

For his part, Gwyar chuckles, shaking his head before taking the lead, stepping down into the hole.

It goes deep— as one might expect from a secret base. Gwyar is light on his feet as he advances, conscious of both the champ and terrakion behind him, as well as the possible dangers ahead.

Should there be any other poachers ahead, the fact their fellow had not returned yet would surely be suspicious.

Reaching into his belt, Gwyar produced a pokeball, before releasing his Rotom onto the field.

Q took the stage, a grin on his face as he looked around in the sudden dark— before zooming in to get a better look at Kyle and terrakion, the bioluminescence of his own body reflecting on their faces.

"Q." Gwyar intoned, somewhat reproachful. On, well, cue, the rotom spun to face him, flashing back towards him. "Scout ahead. If their pokemon aren't out... take them down."

Q nodded with a grin, before disappearing into the wall.

Gwyar nodded back at Kyle and Terrakion, before continuing their advance.

---

Q's head slid out of rock. The tunnel had lead into a wide open area— one poorly furnished, however.

On one end of the chamber, a box replete of ultra balls could be seen.

Three men were sat on some plastic stools around a wooden table, all holding cards in their hands. A deck was at the center, and before the sole unocupied stool, a hand of cards had been left.

Casually, one of the man reached over to check the abandoned cars. None of the other two stopped him or said anything really, merely sighing as they all looked back at the tunnel.

"He's taking forever." One of them noted, scowling.

Another slowly reached for his belt, humming thoughtfully.

"Think he might've...?"

"Tch."

Slowly, both men stood up, hands on their belts. The man looking under the discarded cards groaned, dropping his own cards before rising as well.

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

The metallic clang echoes, and Gwyar slowly turns to look at Kyle, then his sword.

"Haaah... I'll instruct you in half-swording after this." He promises the other man— whilst sounds of rushing steps, and perhaps more alarming, canine panting fill the caverns around them.

Something's rushing towards them...

So Q came out, on cue, to let them know.

"They released the Houndooms!" He yelped just as one dark silhouette leapt out of the dark for Gwyar, the man raising his arm.

"You don't say!" Razor canines clamped around a steel gauntlet as the force threw the blonde against a stony wall, the man quickly finding purchase upon the rocky surface to swing his arm around with a hefty grunt, throwing back the pokemon.

It landed nimbly on its paws, it's maw beginning to glow a bright orange—

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

Gwyar looked over his gauntlet, noting the way it had nearly caved in and crushed his wrist under the force of the canine's jaws.

"I beg to differ." He grumbled, foreseeing a day of work at the forge after this, shaking off the numbness running along his arm as he turned his gaze over to the dark depths of the pit.

"Mr. Lopez— I've changed my mind. I'll be teaching you half-swording right now." He said as the sound of rushing steps reached them once more. Drawing his sword in an instructive manner, one of the blonde's hands left the sword's handle to grip the blade instead, holding firmly. "It is utilized to control the point of the blade and better reach gaps in the enemy's armor. In small spaces, the control is useful."

The kept coming closer— and more the shadows, a Liepard suddenly lunged out with its jaws gleaming. Gwyar brought his sword into its path, bracing himself before letting it bite into the steel, before slamming the large feline to the floor in front of Kyle.

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

He released a relieved sigh as the Liepard was thrown besides the unconscious Houndoom, before smiling wryly at the champ.

"Ah, well... Hmm... When simplified, a spear is just a stick with a point, Yes?" He said after a moment. "One can conceptualize a large sword similarly; an inability to swing is not necessarily an inability to stab, bludgeon or parry."

Casually, he spun around his sword to hold it wholly by the blade. Unlike Kyle's zweihander, his wasn't large enough to be nearly as impeded by the narrow pathways and low ceiling, but it certanily didn't have it easy either.

Still, Gwyar swung the pommel to a nearby, outcropping rock, cracking right off as if a hammer had struck.

"Calling it an all-purpose tool would be extreme hyperbole, but it's still a tool. If all you have is your sword, it's best to not let yourself be too constrained in how you use it."

As he finished saying this, the sounds of nearing steps reached them once again— before a blinding light suddenly cut through the dark, a strong lantern shining over the champ, cop and Sword of justice.

"Oi knew we had rats scurrying about!" Boomed a stoutly man as a pokeball grew to size in his hand.

Besides him, another man raised up a gun.

"Don't bother. I've got this." He said, clearly not noticing the giant sheep horse standing between the two men as he raised the gun to Gwyar's chest.

The blonde seemed unconcerned.

Given how unnaturally dark his shadow was, and the tendrils of purple fabric already beginning to come out, it was probably for a reason.

SECRETS OF THE SWORD

VOL. 2: SPIRIT, CHAPTER 1, EXCERPT BY kyle lopez

Kyle 'panicked' and smashed the gun right out of the man's hand before any of them could react.

A brief look of shock passed over everyone's faces— one that grew into alarm when large curtains suddenly launched out the blonde officer's shadow.

Tyrian purple in color, the fabric wound around the chests of the two man in front firmly before yanking them down to the floor, the men's faces growing pale and their limbs heavy as if filled with lead.

Gwyar launched forward in the Aegislash's wake, rushing the man in the backrow and football-tackling him to the ground roughly.

"Arg— #%^%$&, MY ARM! POLICE BRUTALITY!" Screamed the man as Gwyar pinned him to the ground, pulling the other's arm behind his back while glancing over his shoulder, smiling wide at Kyle.

"Dazzling work, Officer Lopez!" He said, looking almost proud. "You internalized that rather quickly!"