Dimas swings a kick at Scott. Obviously with the power of foresight on his side, Scott is able to dodge it with no problem. Scott counterattacks with a leg sweep. Dimas lands on his side. He rolls away as Scott tries landing another kick.
"What's your Brío Arts?" Scott asks.
"Try figuring it out."
"I've been trying. Your match against Daniel didn't give much to go off of. However, your match against Clarke, when he had you down, you were able to get away with let's call it a 'super' push-up. That got me thinking your Brío Arts is super strength. It would also explain how you were able to 'blast' yourself towards Daniel."
Dimas shrugs. "Something like that." Pretty close actually. As close as you can get without knowing the entire truth. That Dimas has no Brío Arts.
"I just don't get one thing, why not use it more often? You use it so sparingly I'm starting to believe you might have a very small Brío reserve. Nothing to be ashamed of. I hear some girls find that kind of stuff very cute."
[Are we still talking about Brío?]
"Doesn't matter. I'mma beat you anyway." Dimas cracks his knuckles.
A tall order. Can Dimas really deliver? Scott may not have an offensive Brío Arts but being able to see his opponent's next move while having the skills to defend and counter puts him high up on the threat list. If Dimas could adopt another's Brío Arts, he would definitely go with Scott's.
[As if my life could ever be that easy.]
Dimas readies himself. Good thing Scott's Brío Arts limits him to waiting for his opponent to make a move. It gives Dimas plenty of time to strategize.
Scott quickly closes the gap between them and goes for a spinning kick.
[So much for strategizing.]
Dimas jumps back, Scott's heel barely missing its mark. Dimas grabs Scott's ankle and pulls Scott along, Scott has no choice but to take small hops towards Dimas to avoid losing his footing. Dimas can see that Scott is unsure of what he intends to do.
Scott wobbles. Dimas sees his chance. With Scott off balance this would be the best time for an attack. Dimas sees Scott's eyes widen with realization.
[He knows what's coming.]
Dimas kicks, Scott moves his arm leaving his side vulnerable.
[Good reflex, bad move.]
Scott winces as the kick lands but his wince is contradicted by the smile that appears on his face. He brings his arm back down and clamps Dimas's leg to his side.
[Great. I got him but he got me. Now what?]
Almost as if to answer him, Scott begins to pull just like Dimas did before.
[Trying to pull my own trick on me? Be my guest. You won't be able to kick without falling.]
Scott immediately stops pulling and starts pushing instead. Dimas is caught off guard and falls backwards. Dimas's instinct to catch himself causes him to let go of Scott. Scott, while still holding onto Dimas's leg, raises his newly freed leg and brings it down towards Dimas's head. Dimas is unable to get away and has to resort to catching Scott's attack. His arms barely hold back the attack.
"You're really impressive! Here I am thinking that it's an even match but that's not really true, is it? My Brío Arts is the only reason I'm keeping up with you right now. It's weird… Even though we both have landed about one hit each, I can't help but think that you're still somehow ahead of me." Scott's grin falters a bit.
Dimas uses Scott's musing to attempt an escape. He pulls his leg free from Scott's grip, pushes Scott's foot off of him, and rolls away.
[What the hell is he going on about?]
Lilee watches as Dimas manages to get free. This is the kind of match she's been waiting to see since the tournament's started. Watching as a normal viewer is nothing compared to watching as a teammate and not as just a teammate either but as a friend. Except she doesn't know whether she should be nervous or excited that one of the fighters is her teammate. Excited because it's her team, she still can't believe those words 'her team', being represented in the fight and nervous because there is a real possibility of her team losing.
Dimas and Scott continue to fight on the display. Neither of them are able to land any solid hits. They're pretty much fighting to a standstill. Although Dimas appears to be slowing down. It's not too noticeable but Lilee can see Scott's hits are starting to get closer to their mark while Dimas's evasions are becoming sluggish.
Lilee knows it's from his ability. More specifically, its cost. Brío can be expended without exhausting the user. Any Brío Arts user can exhaust all of their Brío and still be ready to go the next day. Not Dimas. His ability exhausts him and he's been using it at least once every fight without a full day of rest. While it won't incapacitate Dimas, it'll keep him tired.
One of Scott's punches lands. Dimas is staggered and it allows Scott to land a few more punches before Dimas is able to get away.
She wishes she could do more for him, at the very least mend his bruises, but she can't. Not yet.
Dimas shakes off the hits and charges towards Scott for another attack. His unwavering fighting spirit is on full display.
Lilee smiles and searches her journal for Nicole's lemonade recipe.
[It's a good thing he's not calling for support.]
The support bell had rung long ago and Scott kept his word to keep the match fair and square.
Dimas gets back to his feet and spits out blood. That last kick from Scott almost took out a tooth. That would bring them to Scott with 27 hits and Dimas with 1. Dimas had been hoping Scott would tire eventually but that strategy would only work if Dimas was at 100% but he's not. Bruised, tired, and suffering from a lack of sleep because of a crappy bed that would serve better as lumber, Dimas curses himself for not thinking of a better strategy.
"Are you getting tired?" Scott asks.
"Nope, just your imagination." Dimas uses the conversation as a brief respite. "How long does your Brío last?"
Scott thinks about it for a second. "About an hour, an hour and a half, why?"
"Just needed to know when you'll stop being a challenge."
[Between an hour or an hour and a half? I am not lasting that long. It's been like what? 4o minutes? Dammit… And I only have one hit on him. What got me that hit? He was off balance.]
Scott rushes Dimas. Dimas blocks the punch aimed at his head but can't do anything for the one heading for his stomach. It's a good thing he and Lilee haven't been able to afford breakfast or else it would have been wasted decorating the arena floor.
While Dimas is doubled over from the punch, Scott brings his knee up catching Dimas on the chin. Dimas stumbles back.
[Dammit, that hurt! I did tell him no to hold back… It's not going to be easy getting him off balance again. I only managed that because I grabbed - That's it!]
Dimas lunges at Scott and goes in for a punch. Scott barely has to move his head to the side to avoid the hit and counters with a punch. It connects with Dimas's cheek and stops him in his tracks.
[Gotcha!]
Dimas coils his arm around Scott's arm keeping them confined to each other's side. With his prey captured, Dimas begins his attack. He punches, Scott is unable to move away from the punch and tries to block it but Dimas twists him around causing Scott to flail his arm, allowing the hit to land.
Dimas doesn't stop to congratulate just yet, he knows victory can be taken back if you're not careful. He continues with his strategy, landing hit after hit, he knows it's only a matter of time before Scott adapts to the situation.
Bam!
Too late, Scott has already started his own attack. Dimas can feel blood spilling from his nose but doesn't stop his punches. Figuring out that blocking is no longer an option, Scott does the same as Dimas and continues to throw punches without any attempt at avoiding them.
The ground underneath the fighters begins to be peppered with bits of blood. The audience stops cheering, they all watch the match with awe, the only sounds that can be heard are the blows being inflicted. It was no longer a match of skill but one of endurance, a match between two fighters willing to put a great strain on their body for a good fight.
Before a finishing blow can be delivered by either side, both fighters collapse to their knees, their arms still entwined.
"Damn Dimas, you got me good!" Scott laughs but winces and grabs his side.
"Can't say the same." Dimas looks at him with a swollen eye.
Scott smiles but it doesn't last long. "You know I think I figured out why it feels like you're ahead of me in this fight. We're both on our knees and yet I'm the only one using their Brío Arts."
[... Dammit… This is going to hurt. For both of us.]
"How good is your healer?" Dimas asks.
"We don't have one. I think we have some healing pellets that can even fix broken bones though."
"Good."
Dimas summons the flecks towards his free hand and slaps, with restraint, Scott on the chest while letting go of his arm.
Scott is sent rolling across the arena until he hits one of the pillars.
[That hurts a lot more when I'm sore…]
Dimas makes sure Scott is still breathing before standing up.
"The winner of this round is Dimas!"