He looked up at Fitz.
"Sorry," he said. "Just learned it."
"Is that so?" Fitz rubbed his chest. He recalled Eric's move when he defeated that Mercenary—it was just like this.
A sudden burst of Speed, and his combat movements became fluid.
Fitz took a step back.
He hadn't been knocked down.
He had just braced himself.
He glanced down at his chest.
The Chain Armor wasn't broken.
But the Power of that blow still made him hold his breath for a moment.
Fitz looked up, the smile on his face growing even wider.
"Not bad. Using my own momentum against me," he said. "So you know how to do that. I once met a Sword Master from Germany; your move reminds me of his. But if you think you can beat me with just that, it won't be so easy."
Eric didn't answer.
He just readjusted his grip on the Nail Hammer.
'That was actually very risky. If I'd been any slower, I'd probably be on the ground right now.'
Fitz rolled his shoulders, then raised his Nail Hammer again.
This time, he didn't rush to attack.
The distance between the two widened once more.
The arena fell strangely quiet. The audience could sense that the last blow had changed something.
Fitz suddenly moved, his Nail Hammer swinging in a wide arc from the right.
Eric immediately prepared to block.
However, just as the head of the hammer was about to connect, its direction changed.
With a flick of his wrist, Fitz suddenly swung the Nail Hammer upward.
Eric's block missed.
The head of the hammer scraped past his Helmet.
CLANG!
The sound of Metal scraping against his Helmet was ear-splitting.
Eric jerked back.
Fitz chuckled. "You're too eager."
He brought his hammer down again.
This time, Eric didn't immediately counter-attack.
He was beginning to realize the problem. He knew Fitz had figured out the nature of the Master's Strike.
Whenever Eric tried to redirect the force and counter-attack, Fitz would just change his move.
This time, it came straight down from above.
Eric raised his hammer, but instead of trying to guide the blow, he sidestepped.
The head of the hammer smashed into the ground, sending dirt flying.
The distance between them closed once more.
Fitz suddenly said in a low voice, "Not a bad learner."
The next instant, his forehead slammed forward. BANG!
Their two Helmets crashed together violently.
Eric's vision went black.
'Fuck, this old bastard plays dirty.'
BANG!
A dull, metallic sound exploded inside Eric's head.
For a moment, his vision swam.
Fitz didn't stop.
His Nail Hammer was already swinging.
The head of the hammer fell from above.
Eric raised his weapon to block, almost by instinct.
CLANG—!
A massive vibration shot up the handle of the hammer and into his shoulder.
His hands almost lost their grip.
Fitz pressed his advantage, closing in.
In an instant, they were only half a step apart.
Long weapons were almost useless at this range.
Just as Eric raised his Nail Hammer, Fitz grabbed its handle.
They both struggled for control, the Metal of their weapons grinding shrilly in their hands.
Fitz suddenly shoved forward.
His shoulder slammed hard into Eric's chest.
Eric's feet slipped.
They both lost their balance.
THUD!
They fell heavily onto the muddy ground of the arena, sending dirt scattering. The Nail Hammers slipped from their grasp and rolled aside.
A gasp went through the crowd.
Eric had just started to roll over when Fitz was already on top of him.
One of his hands pinned Eric's shoulder down, while the other reached for Eric's Helmet.
He was clearly trying to hold him to the ground.
Eric twisted his body violently. Their Chain Armor scraped together with a harsh noise, and their struggles sent mud flying everywhere.
Fitz's knee pressed into Eric's abdomen with surprising strength.
"Now—" Fitz said in a low voice, "what other weapon can you switch to?"
Eric, panting, suddenly chuckled.
Then he raised his knee and slammed it viciously into Fitz's ribs.
THUMP!
Fitz grunted, his hold loosening for a moment.
Eric seized the opening and violently rolled over.
They both rolled apart and got to their feet at almost the same time.
In the center of the arena, the two Nail Hammers lay quietly in the mud.
Neither of them moved to pick them up immediately.
They just stared at each other, their breathing heavy.
The sound of panting filled their Helmets.
Fitz suddenly laughed. "Now this is exhilarating. This—is what a real duel feels like."
In the center of the arena.
The two Nail Hammers lay quietly in the mud.
Eric and Fitz both stared at the two weapons.
No one spoke.
The sound of their breathing echoed inside their Helmets.
The next instant, they both moved.
Dirt exploded under their feet.
Fitz was faster, his steps steadier.
He closed the distance to one of the Nail Hammers in just two steps.
Eric knew he couldn't beat him to it, so he didn't charge for the weapon.
He charged directly at Fitz. Just as Fitz bent down to grab the Nail Hammer, Eric slammed into him.
THUD!
Two bodies clad in Chain Armor crashed into each other violently.
The impact sent Fitz stumbling forward a step, but his hand had already closed around the hammer's handle. He raised the Nail Hammer and brought it straight down.
Eric dove for the other Nail Hammer, acting almost on instinct.
His fingers had just wrapped around the handle when he heard the whistle of the descending weapon.
He didn't have time to get to his feet, so he could only remain on one knee, raising his Nail Hammer horizontally to block.
CLANG—!
The two heavy weapons collided violently in mid-air.
The immense shock left Eric's entire arm numb.
Fitz's Power was clearly greater; the head of his hammer pressed down on Eric's weapon, forcing it lower bit by bit.
Eric's knee was already sinking into the mud.
Fitz looked down at him. "You're good, but it's over," he said.
Just then, Eric suddenly let up his resistance.
Fitz's Nail Hammer, suddenly meeting no resistance, slammed downward into empty air.
In that instant, Eric suddenly twisted to the side.
The Nail Hammer in his hand swept up violently from below, its head crashing hard against the side of Fitz's Helmet.