The length of the tachi granted the Nameless Knight a decisive advantage in terms of reach. Beneath the relentless sun, he stood as an imposing figure, his body glistening with the sheen of sweat as the two warriors locked eyes in an intense stalemate.
Though his wooden polearm lay severed in two, the monk remained undaunted. Confidence coursed through his veins, a testament to his unwavering belief that victory would be his. And now, a swift shift in his stance revealed his mastery of dual swords.
The Nameless Knight's senses sharpened as he observed the monk's sudden transformation. The monk's proficiency in dual weaponry posed a formidable challenge. Despite the reach advantage offered by his tachi, the knight realized that the monk could effortlessly assail him from two distinct directions.
Tension hung thick in the air, a stark contrast to the serene pond that mirrored the battle's intensity behind the knight. The assembled audience teetered on the precipice of their seats, breaths held in anticipation of the next crucial move.
Seconds elapsed like heartbeats, and it was the Nameless Knight who decided to break the impasse. With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance between himself and the monk in the blink of an eye. His towering stature caught the monk off guard as he halted within striking range, poised to deliver a precise blow aimed directly at the monk's torso. The knight's strategy was clear—to seize the moment and deny the monk the opportunity to react effectively.
The monk recoiled involuntarily, his surprised countenance laid bare for all to see. Among the onlookers, gasps of astonishment erupted, stirred by the unexpected agility displayed by the Nameless Knight. Without the encumbrance of those heavy steel plates, he moved with a swiftness and grace that defied expectation.
The initial strike missed its intended mark as a result of the monk's swift backstep. However, the knight pressed on without hesitation, launching himself forward once more. This time, his slashing attack aimed directly at the monk's abdomen. In this swift exchange, the monk assessed the situation and decided to deflect the attack with his left stick.
A resounding crack echoed through the air as the tachi's trajectory shifted, skillfully redirected by the monk's swift maneuver. The blade of the two-handed tachi met the unyielding ground instead of the monk's body.
Yet Nameless Knight's attempt faltered, and in that fraction of a second, the monk seized the opportunity to retaliate. With a wide, powerful swing of the stick in his grasp, he aimed squarely for the knight's exposed abdomen.
Harnessing his upper body strength, the monk unleashed the weapon with all his might, intending to land a devastating blow. But his attack was abruptly halted as the knight's bare hand shot forward, intercepting the stick mid-air. Gasps of astonishment and disbelief rippled through the crowd as they beheld the Nameless Knight's astonishing feat—catching his opponent's weapon and rendering it immovable within his grasp.
The Nameless Knight's iron grip held the monk's stick in place, and a palpable tension hung in the air as the two combatants locked eyes. It was a clash of sheer strength, the monk's determination against the knight's unwavering resolve.
The knight's fingers, calloused from countless battles, tightened around the wooden shaft, defying its attempt to break free. For a moment, time seemed to slow as the two adversaries remained locked in a fierce struggle, muscles straining.
The monk's expression shifted from surprise to a determined scowl. He could not afford to be caught in this predicament for long. With a sudden, explosive movement, he attempted to yank the stick free from the knight's grasp. Yet, the Nameless Knight's grip proved unyielding, and the struggle continued.
Sweat glistened on their foreheads, and the knight's piercing gaze bore into the monk's eyes, unrelenting. Their faces mere inches apart, their breaths heavy with exertion, they seemed like titans locked in an unwavering contest of strength.
The monk, recognizing the futility of their current situation, took a calculated risk. With a swift pivot of his body and a deft twist of his stick, he attempted to disarm the knight by releasing the weapon from his grasp.
The Nameless Knight, ever vigilant, anticipated this move and relinquished his hold on the stick, allowing it to slip from his hand. In a fluid motion, he stepped back, adopting a defensive stance, prepared for whatever the monk would unleash next.
The monk, now with both sticks in hand, assumed a dual-wielding stance once more, his confidence undiminished. The battle raged on, a contest of wits, strength, and skill beneath the unforgiving sun, witnessed by the mesmerized crowd.
The monk's astonishment was palpable as he realized just how close the Nameless Knight had come to gaining the upper hand. Regret gnawed at him for not executing a follow-up attack using his twin sticks in a single fluid tempo. The opportunity had slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.
Observing the knight's adjustment, lowering the tip of his blade into a low stance, the monk discerned the impending rush. He knew he couldn't afford to give the knight another chance to exploit his vulnerabilities.
With a swift burst of speed and the agility granted by his smaller stature, the monk initiated his counterattack. He evaded the knight's sweeping blows, slipping beneath the knight's field of view with incredible dexterity.
It was then that the monk unleashed his special move. He hurled the left stick directly at the knight's face, forcing the knight into a defensive posture. The monk understood the limitations of two-handed weapons like the tachi—they could only perform one action at a time. By compelling the knight to defend himself, the monk effectively prevented any immediate follow-up attack.
Confusion flickered across the knight's countenance as he blocked the incoming projectile with his arm. Upon regaining his bearings, he swiftly scanned the area, but the monk had seemingly vanished.
In a sudden, deft movement, the monk appeared out of nowhere, exploiting the knight's blind spot, a crafty maneuver he had masterfully executed. He lunged to the knight's right, closing in to deliver a decisive blow, confident that the knight would be caught off guard and unable to evade.
With a powerful thrust, the monk propelled himself with the force of his legs, directing the broken polearm toward the knight's side in a bid to inflict injury. However, as the blade found its mark, it was not the knight who bore the wound. In those fleeting seconds, crimson blood erupted from the monk's thigh as agony washed over him. He crashed to the ground, writhing in pain, realizing that the knight had struck back with incredible precision.
Spectators roared in dumbfounded disbelief as they witnessed the monk, crawling in excruciating pain, leaving a trail of pebbles soaked in his blood. Though the injury was not life-threatening, it was deep enough to render his right leg useless for months to come.
With beads of sweat upon his brow, the monk gazed up at the towering figure of the knight. A grin, fueled by anger and determination, crept across his lips. In response, the Nameless Knight stared down at him with a frenzied look, their duel reaching its climax beneath the unforgiving sun.