It should have been game over. After all, the swordsman's opponent was clearly a long-range Martial Artist.
There were long well-established paradigms and conditions for battles between close-range and long-range martial Artists.
The condition for victory in such a battle for close-range Martial Squires was simply being able to close the distance between themselves and their long-range opponent. In ninety-nine percent of cases, this meant death for long-range Martial Squires.
Conversely, being able to keep their close-range opponent at bay by inflicting damage from a distance was the win condition for long-range Martial Squires.
To the swordsman, it was clear to him that he was the one who had successfully fulfilled his conditions for victory.
