:''"Let yourself go!"'' said the Matis with a solemn air. ''"The blow I'm going to deal you will inflict a critical wound. If you move, it could be your death. I will keep you alive until reinforcements arrive. Then we'll take you to Matia!"

:''"Let yourself go!"'' said the Matis with a solemn air. ''"The blow I'm going to deal you will inflict a critical wound. If you move, it could be your death. I will keep you alive until reinforcements arrive. Then we'll take you to Matia!"

No, he could not give up. He was a Black Warrior of Ma-Duk, forged by the best fighters of the Jungle and blessed by the Kamis. As long as he could fight, he would not give up. Invigorated, his body reacted instinctively as the general brought his weapon down on him to pierce his left collarbone. He sent his right arm into contact with the massive blade to protect himself, and if his short sword did not succeed in blocking the blow, it nevertheless allowed him to deflect the attack, at the cost of a part of his hand, which flew into pieces. The state of extreme tension in which the young warrior found himself had the positive effect of making him completely ignore the pain. The sword scuffed him and planted itself heavily in the ground. Taking advantage of the second's respite he was given, Pü dropped the dagger he held in his left hand and manipulated the surrounding Sap to incant a spell with both hands. His pair of magic amplifiers hanging from his belt now entangled with the roots, he could not equip himself with them. But for what he intended to do, a crude spell should suffice. So '''he didn't hesitate, and set his body on fire to escape from his wooden prison'''. He managed to free himself from the partially burned roots just as the general snatched his sword from the ground. As he launched his second attack, Pü narrowly avoided it with a roll. The Matis followed up with a series of slashes and jabs, which the young warrior dodged with various acrobatics. Disarmed, he was not able to parry the attacks. If he was much more skilful than the general encumbered with his heavy armour, this one seemed much more enduring, and had not yet suffered any injuries. Even more worrying, his blows were becoming more and more precise. For the first time in his life, Pü was fighting a master of arms in a fight to the death. The experience of the Matis was speaking, and it took him only a short time to start anticipating the movements of the young warrior.

No, he could not give up. He was a Black Warrior of Ma-Duk, forged by the best fighters of the Jungle and blessed by the Kamis. As long as he could fight, he would not give up. Invigorated, his body reacted instinctively as the general brought his weapon down on him to pierce his left collarbone. He sent his right arm into contact with the massive blade to protect himself, and if his short sword did not succeed in blocking the blow, it nevertheless allowed him to deflect the attack, at the cost of a part of his hand, which flew into pieces. The state of extreme tension in which the young warrior found himself had the positive effect of making him completely ignore the pain. The sword scuffed him and planted itself heavily in the ground. Taking advantage of the second's respite he was given, Pü dropped the dagger he held in his left hand and manipulated the surrounding Sap to incant a spell with both hands. His pair of magic amplifiers hanging from his belt now entangled with the roots, he could not equip himself with them. But for what he intended to do, a crude spell should suffice. So '''he didn't hesitate, and set his body on fire to escape from his wooden prison'''. He managed to free himself from the partially burned roots just as the general snatched his sword from the ground. As he launched his second attack, Pü narrowly avoided it with a roll. The Matis followed up with a series of slashes and jabs, which the young warrior dodged with various acrobatics. Disarmed, he was not able to parry the attacks. If he was much more skilful than the general encumbered with his heavy armour, this one seemed much more enduring, and had not yet suffered any injuries. Even more worrying, his blows were becoming more and more precise. For the first time in his life, Pü was fighting a master of arms in a fight to the death. The experience of the Matis was speaking, and it took him only a short time to start anticipating the movements of the young warrior.

:''"Give up my boy!"'' he said as he charged.

:''"Give up my boy!"'' he said as he charged.

Totally surprised by the nature of the attack and partially blinded by the fog of debris, the Matis mistakenly believed that the Zoraï was simply trying to flee. He understood too late the reality of the situation when he felt his sword suddenly become heavy on the front. Pü had just landed on the flat of the blade and was dashing like a tightrope walker in the direction of its bearer. Already very unbalanced, the Matis tried in vain to straighten up at the moment when Pü took again support on the weapon for another acrobatics. The young warrior landed this time on his shoulders, and propelled himself once more in the direction of the sky, forcing the Matis to put a knee on the ground. Pü must have been about four meters from the ground, and was flying over the cloud of dust that was beginning to dissipate. He only had to reach out with his good arm to grab the very dagger he had thrown away a few seconds before. Spreading his legs and looking down as gravity began to take effect, he put eyes on the general's face. This one had lost his terrifying look and opened wide the eyelids. Pü read admiration there. The child made another perfect throw and the dagger went straight into the skull of the Matis.

Totally surprised by the nature of the attack and partially blinded by the fog of debris, the Matis mistakenly believed that the Zoraï was simply trying to flee. He understood too late the reality of the situation when he felt his sword suddenly become heavy on the front. Pü had just landed on the flat of the blade and was dashing like a tightrope walker in the direction of its bearer. Already very unbalanced, the Matis tried in vain to straighten up at the moment when Pü took again support on the weapon for another acrobatics. The young warrior landed this time on his shoulders, and propelled himself once more in the direction of the sky, forcing the Matis to put a knee on the ground. Pü must have been about four meters from the ground, and was flying over the cloud of dust that was beginning to dissipate. He only had to reach out with his good arm to grab the very dagger he had thrown away a few seconds before. Spreading his legs and looking down as gravity began to take effect, he put eyes on the general's face. This one had lost his terrifying look and opened wide the eyelids. Pü read admiration there. The child made another perfect throw and the dagger went straight into the skull of the Matis.