He remains still with the blade low as he observes me, unlike the others who just rushed in without any calculation... The breath steady and not panicked at all.
The blood jolts in my veins "I can see that it's going to be an interesting fight"
We circle around building tension, none of us going for an attack yet. I look him and try to push his ego down but he meets my gaze with the same mirrored expression... He looks amused, just like me -I've wanted to cross blades with you since the day I heard your name- he says -To finally fight against someone of my level-
-I'm afraid I never heard about you though- I move slowly while replying and see him snicker -Such a shame, I've made a name for myself in my lands but that name hasn't reached this far... Yet-
-If you make it out alive you will, but I haven't met a man capable of surviving against blade up to this day-
He simply smiles at my words and in a second he's beside me, "He's fast...!". His blade comes low, not aimed at my heart's level like everyone else does, but instead he goes for my thighs.
I let go of my other spear and quickly grab my sword, turning it flat against his own to block the hit... It comes with enough power to push me back of a few centimeters,not really visible but enough to make me furious, kicking the second spear away.
I rise my left arm over my face to prepare for an attack and notice the buckles on my armor being cut, his attack was a fake move... He wanted me to block him so he could start ruining my armor, setting the ground for a better attack later on. I grab my bracer and rip it off completely, I don't need it anyway.
Our blades clash again and the force behind each strike in unbelievable for a normal human, He doesn't just swing. He pressures. I find myself in a defensive position more than once instead of always striking first.
He shifts his stance and tests my guard with alight jab. I parry him with ease, letting our blades slide apart from the point of clash with a metallic hiss.
A short exchange follows: three strikes and three respective deflections. Nothing committed, just some lazy footwork... It's looking more like a dance than an actual duel at this point, my face beginning to turn into a bored expression.
"He's testing his range..." I think "Cute, now give me more" I mentally mock him. Then I step back and bait him in by creating a fake opening "Let's see what he can do if I push him a little further".
He takes the bait, sharpening his eyes as the lazy movements begin to disappear, finally! The next swing comes faster and heavier. I sidestep expecting a faint from him but he follows the newly found rhythm, pivoting with a burst of speed.
I parry on instinct, steel grinding as our blades clash once again... No more dance, now it's a hunting game.
I dodge as he attacks from my left but he immediately turns around my back and strike from my right, I block him with the spear from the side and shove him away... I dash forward, too fast for him to see me yet he closes his eyes.
"What the...?!" I think while rushing in, I jump up and lower my sword on his head. With the eyes still closed he moves back dodging the fatal hit and counterattack, the strength of our hit is too powerful and we both gets pushes back of a few meters while sparks burns in our previous spot.
He grins with just the side of his mouth -You're even better than what they say, I can finally feel fatigue... I love this feeling-
I tilt my head -Fatigue? For this little? I haven't broke a sweat yet-
He laughs -Oh really? Well it's not my style to go all out and tire eachother out, I'm more for a cleaner kill... And judging by that, I finally see that I have a chance- he says pointing at my arm
I look at him confused but it immediately hits me, warm and wet, running down my arm... I look down and see blood running down my arm, a clean cut, not deep at all but still a wound... "HOW?" I'm angered and I want to heal it but I cannot use any of my powers now, I need to finish him with just my sword.
I dash and abandon any grace, our blades locked and the shoulders tense... I can still hold my ground without problems even if he's strong and I'm injured, but he doesn't need to know. We agreed of not using powers but fighting strategy isn't just about brute force.
I allow my foot to slide and let him gain the upper hand, pushing harder against me. Then I drop my resistance and turn around, hitting his jaw with the injured arm.
He trippers but doesn't fall, the hand reaching for the lips as blood streams down -I guess I deserved that- he grins and rises his blade, cutting his own arm in the same spot as he hurt mine -Now we're even. No magic and no mercy, but that doesn't mean I can't fight equally-
I narrow my eyes -You're insane, a cut like that doesn't slow me down at all... You just gave yourself a penality-
He smiles -Maybe I did, but I'm a gentleman deep down-
I look at him disgusted -Nobody from your side can be called a gentleman- he shakes his head -I thought you were much more cleaver than this, a war is a war... Not eveyone wants to be here and not eveyone is willing to take part in deplorable acts such as rape and murder-
-What are you trying to say?- I rotate my sword in hand -On your side they say that you will most probably end the war, right?- I nod at that -Then do it- he stands up again -Let's finish this-