'I have to beat him without using the [Foresight of Failure]. If I can't even do this... then I'm not worthy of being here anyway.'
His inner thoughts were cut short by a big, wild swing from Leonardo, aimed right at his face.
Ivan moved. He ducked under the heavy branch. The wind from the swing whistled past his ear. He dropped low and tried to sweep Leonardo's legs out from under him.
But Leonardo was desperate, not stupid. He hopped back, avoiding the sweep. He didn't give Ivan a moment to recover. He lunged forward again.
He was close now. He jabbed with his branch like it was a short spear, trying to stab Ivan in the gut.
Ivan used his own spear to deflect the attack. The wood smacked together with a loud CLACK. Leonardo was stronger. The force of the blow sent a painful vibration up Ivan's arms.
Leonardo used that moment. He was already in close range. He dropped his branch into one hand and threw a punch with the other.
It was a clean, solid punch. It caught Ivan on the jaw.
Ivan's head snapped to the side. Stars exploded behind his eyes. He stumbled back a few steps, his jaw aching.
'He's strong,' Ivan thought, shaking his head to clear it. 'Stronger than me.'
"Listen, Ivan," Leonardo said, breathing hard. He was still holding his branch, ready to attack again. "I don't want to keep beating you up. Just give me the fucking food and I'll go away."
Ivan tasted blood in his mouth. He spat it onto the ground. He looked at Leonardo and a cold, ugly smirk spread across his face. It was a mask.
"How desperate," he said . "It's funny. Because as I said... I won't give you anything unless you beg."
Then Ivan attacked. He lunged forward, using the exact same move Leonardo had just used. A straight jab with his spear, aimed at the stomach.
Leonardo scoffed. "Don't you learn from your mistakes?" he said, moving to deflect the attack, just like Ivan had done.
But as Leonardo's branch came up to block, Ivan's spear wasn't there. He had pulled it back at the last second. It was a fake.
Leonardo was left off-balance, his weapon out of position.
Ivan's smirk widened. "You're getting slower," he said.
"I'll drag you to the deep sea."
He didn't give Leonardo time to think. He attacked again, this time for real. He swung his spear at Leonardo's knees. Leonardo, still recovering from the feint, barely managed to block it.
The fight began for real. It wasn't a duel. It wasn't a noble contest of skill. It was a dog fight. Ugly, clumsy, and brutal.
Leonardo had the advantage in strength. Every time their weapons met, Ivan felt the shock in his bones. He couldn't win a direct contest of force. He had to be smarter.
Leonardo swung his heavy branch again and again. powerful swings meant to crush and break. Ivan didn't try to block them. He just dodged, weaved, and backed away. He was like a matador, letting the bull charge past him again and again.
"Stand still and fight, you coward!" Leonardo yelled, getting frustrated.
'Good,' Ivan thought. 'Get angry. Angry people make mistakes.'
Ivan kept moving, using the trees and rocks in the small clearing to his advantage. He was tiring Leonardo out, making him waste his energy on big, missed swings.
But Leonardo wasn't just a brute. He was learning. He stopped the big swings. He started using shorter, quicker attacks, trying to corner Ivan.
He jabbed at Ivan's chest. Ivan deflected it. Leonardo immediately followed up with a low swing at Ivan's legs. Ivan had to jump back to avoid it. Leonardo pressed his advantage, forcing Ivan back toward his tent.
'Shit,' Ivan thought. 'This fight is harder than I thought.'
He was on the defensive. He was running out of room. His back was almost against his tent.
Leonardo saw his chance. He swung his club in a wide, horizontal arc, aiming to finish the fight.
Ivan knew he couldn't dodge this time. There was nowhere to go.
So he didn't.
At the last second, he dropped his spear and dove forward, under the swing. He crashed into Leonardo's legs, tackling him like a wild animal.
They both went down in a heap, rolling on the ground, kicking and punching. The fight was now just a messy brawl.
Leonardo was stronger. He managed to get on top of Ivan, pinning him down. He started punching Ivan in the face. One punch. Two punches.
Ivan's head was ringing. He felt his consciousness start to fade.
'No,' a voice screamed in his mind. 'Not like this. Not again.'
He remembered the feeling of being helpless. He remembered watching the world burn. The anger, the rage, it came flooding back.
With a surge of adrenaline, he bucked his hips, throwing Leonardo off balance. He brought his knee up hard into Leonardo's back.
Leonardo grunted in pain. It was enough. The pressure lessened for a second.
Ivan escaped out from under him. They both scrambled to their feet, panting, covered in dirt and sweat.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Both of them were tired. Both of them were hurt.
Leonardo swung his club again. It was slower this time.
Ivan dodged to the side. He saw his opening.
He threw his own spear to the ground. It was useless in a close-quarters fight. He rushed forward, inside Leonardo's guard.
He wrapped his arms around Leonardo's waist, lifting him off his feet. He used all his strength. He ran to the side and slammed Leonardo's head against the trunk of a large tree.
THUD.
Leonardo's eyes went glassy for a second.
Ivan didn't stop. He spun around, dragging Leonardo with him, and threw him hard onto the ground.
As Leonardo fell, Ivan quickly bent down and grabbed his own sharpened spear from the dirt. He jumped on top of Leonardo, straddling his chest, pinning him down.
He brought the sharp point of the spear down, stopping it just an inch from Leonardo's eye.
Leonardo froze. He stared at the sharp piece of wood, his eyes wide with terror. He was panting, defeated.
Ivan looked down at him, his own chest heaving. He had won. Without his power. On his own.
A smirk spreaded on his face
"And now," Ivan said. "I think I'm gonna pluck your eye out."