My blade met his neck before the first swing fell,
"I forfeit."
"Wonder Boy Tjer WIIINS ONCE AGAIN! Is there anyone left that can stop him!?" The announcer was followed by the roaring scream of the crowd.
I could feel a twinge in my right hand, that I held back with my left.
What should I do?
I chose to just walk back, and lifted my head up—for the first time I truly looked into the crowd.
My eyes met some of the people who sat there, waving at me, or screaming, but I was distracted by the one person that stood out to me.
It was a man that sat separately from the rest of the public, high in the stands next to just a few people—it was the man who had paid for our inn.
I knew that something about him was special—who is he?
While the people around him spoke, he kept silent, staring into the distance, face tensed and eyes widened—as if he a ghost had appeared—locking eyes with those on the opposite side.
He slowly brought his hand to his chin, covering a part of his mouth, but the slight smile was still visible—he still evaded my gaze.
And I continued on, exiting the stage—entering into the fighters room.
There were six matches left before the next round started.
The difference between the current fighters, and those of yesterday was already apparent—in the first round.
even my first opponent had been more skilled than all the others combined, I could feel my right arm trembling, thinking about the next rounds ahead.
With one guy that stood out amongst everybody else. Caleb, the only guy who had been finishing every fight during the first exchange.
Is he the one that the nobles sent? I could remember Karl saying something similar to that.
I jumped up as a shiver ran down my spine, whether it was fear or not was something I didn't know.
But one thing was sure—the smile that came out alongside it.
I'd have hoped to see him fight... but they don't allow the fighters to watch one another.
But he isn't the only strong fighter I looked through the once crowded room, and saw some faces the announcer and crowds went wild for.
One of those people is the one I'm going to fight next, Crow—or that's what he called himself.
He was a spear user, and unlike the one I fought before this one looked skilled—a spear was especially disadvantageous for me.
"And it's once again time forrrr! SAY IT WITH ME..."
"WONDER BOY TJER!!!" The crowd followed the lead of the announcer, screaming my name in unison—loud enough to make the arena quake.
It's my time already... I felt my left eye quiver as I heard them scream.
"No one has been able to reach him yet—losing has stayed as far from hism as his opponents... BUT WILL IT BE TIME TODAY!?"
"CROWW!!!" The crowd screamed, and this noise brought me one conclusion,
He shows them something special...
Uhm... I had met his gaze, a grin formed on his face,
"Good luck, Tjer—I'm not like your previous spear wielding opponent."
"Good luck as well. And neither am I like the sword wielder." I returned a grin at him as the trembling started to lessen.
"They are already excited! So let's not make them wait for much longer—are you both ready!?"
We nodded in sync,
"GO FOR IT!!!"
We lunged forward, but we didn't meet in the middle.
He had hit me already—far before I could reach him.
It was like a mountain stood between us.
As I jumped back, distancing myself, he took a stance that I couldn't read.
Unable to know whether it's an offensive or defensive one—the only thing left was to guess.
How can I get close enough to make use of the openings?
Crow went for an offensive gameplan.
But the advantage the spear brought was it's natural defensive capabilities, even an attack could be seen as defense—if your opponent can't attack, then no defense would be needed.
It was especially bothersome for me, requiring an extra step to reach him compared to others. But once I broke through it would be my win.
I deflected each of his attacks, most of them were thrusts, but it was troublesome.
While it was slower, each attack could be felt into my elbows—if it was the me from Kage, I would have been blown away with the first attack.
Crow's absolute control over his weapon was the biggest problem, before I could reposition he would even use the backside for a quick succession.
It was impossible for me to reach him, nor could he reach me.
There should be a distance close to him where he cannot reach... My inexperience and the doubts I had created another defensive advantage for Crow.
Even when I targeted his spear I was unable to break through it, while he physically might have been weaker than me, his skills exceeded mine.
At the end of the day, the one holding the edge was him.
"Huff..." With each thrust that came my way another deep breath had to be taken, the multiple tasks that stood before me were the cause.
As a drop of sweat reached the ground beneath me I lifted my face, and saw the trembling drops on his face, with each strike he took a single breath, it was unchanging.
He isn't accustomed to longer battles...
A slight opening, that was all I needed—but neither was I accustomed to longer battles.
I had seen through all his combination as the fight went on—those he used as I tried to close in, and those he used for offense or keep me at a distance.
The main difference was his grip.
Where is he holding it? Which hand is he using? Where does the thrust come from? Those were all things I had seen.
I waited patiently for the moment I could step in—the other fights did not matter anymore.
After I deflected all of his offence—for a split second—his spear left his hands as he switched his grip.
He held it with a single hand, his side pointed at me, I knew what he wanted to do,
He wants to rest—he wants to create distance.
As his spearhead came towards me, I jumped forward—and moved towards it.
Even as I narrowed our distance it didn't seem like he came any close—his reach was three times mine, after all.
He pulled his spear back, and pushed the back of his spear to cover both sides, while taking me out.
The back of his spear swept the hair that floated by as I jumped back.
My head sprung back into place as I jumped forward again, passing by the outside of his spear—he came within my reach.
His spear was left covering the empty space in front of him, his body blocking the only path it had left as I pushed the tip of my blade into his neck—almost drawing his blood.
His spear bounced on the floor, and before the thuds had stopped his emptied hands rose into the air.
"I give up."
It was my win.