As they stood across from each other the air between Amukelo and Naguk crackled with a quiet tension. The fading light of the day cast long shadows over the campsite, and the distant hum of the wilderness was the only sound besides their measured breathing.
"Tell me when you're ready," Naguk said, his voice calm.
Amukelo's grip on his sword tightened slightly. "I'm ready all the time," he replied, his voice equally calm.
"Very well," Naguk responded, and without warning, he rushed forward.
Naguk moved with surprising speed, far faster than Amukelo had expected from someone of his size and bulk. His one-armed disadvantage seemed to mean little as he closed the gap between them with long, powerful strides. The force behind Naguk's charge was palpable, and Amukelo had only moments to react. But his reflexes allowed him to react in time. With a swift sidestep, Amukelo narrowly avoided Naguk's initial strike and countered with a quick slash aimed at Naguk's side.
But Naguk was not caught off guard. With impressive control, he redirected Amukelo's sword using the back of his handgrip, forcing the blade downward with a sharp movement. The sheer force of the maneuver surprised Amukelo, his sword clattering against Naguk's in a way that threw off his balance. Amukelo immediately jumped back, putting distance between them to reset his stance.
Naguk didn't give him much time to recover. The orc charged again and this time, Amukelo was more prepared. He attempted to redirect Naguk's blade just as the orc had done moments ago, but as their swords clashed, Amukelo felt the raw power behind Naguk's swing. It was like trying to deflect a boulder. For a brief moment, Amukelo was reminded of his fight with the Landwyrm, the monstrous creature whose sheer size and power had nearly bested him. Yet here was Naguk matching that level of strength with one arm.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Amukelo's mouth. There was something almost exhilarating about the challenge, something that reminded him of the joy he had once felt in the heat of battle before everything had been taken from him.
"Let's get more serious," Amukelo said, his voice steady but charged with determination.
This time, it was Amukelo who initiated the attack. He rushed forward, his sword aimed with precision at Naguk's chest. The orc was ready, swinging his blade in a wide arc to intercept the strike. But Amukelo anticipated the move. Instead of meeting Naguk's sword head-on, Amukelo shifted his weight at the last second, sliding his blade beneath Naguk's and closing the distance between them in a flash.
Naguk, sensing the closeness of the fight, attempted to headbutt Amukelo, his movements quick and instinctive. But Amukelo had no intention of engaging in a brute force contest. Instead, he slipped to the side, using the momentum of their clash to move into Naguk's exposed flank. With a swift movement, Amukelo raised his sword and slashed toward Naguk's side, the blade cutting through the air with deadly precision.
But Amukelo stopped mere inches from striking Naguk. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Both warriors froze in place, their heavy breaths the only sound breaking the stillness.
Amukelo lowered his sword, stepping back to give Naguk space.
"Wow," Naguk said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. He shook his head slightly as if trying to process the fight. "I knew you were strong, but I didn't expect you to be this strong."
Amukelo gave a small nod in response. "You're strong too," Amukelo said, his voice steady but with a hint of respect. "If I had only one hand like you, I would've surely lost."
Naguk chuckled, clearly pleased by the compliment. "I got used to it," he admitted, his grin widening.
"So," Amukelo asked, his eyes glinting with renewed energy, "what do you think about round two?"
Naguk grinned, his large tusks catching the last bit of the fading light. "Sure," he replied without hesitation, clearly enjoying the challenge as much as Amukelo.
They took their stances once again, both of them adjusting slightly. This time, Amukelo decided to take the initiative. Without waiting for Naguk to charge, Amukelo darted forward, his sword angled for a strong, direct clash. He knew Naguk had the advantage in raw strength, but Amukelo had agility on his side. He clashed with Naguk's blade, feeling the immediate pressure as Naguk's one-armed swing sent a shockwave of force down the length of his sword.
As expected, Amukelo was overpowered in the clash, but instead of trying to resist, he allowed Naguk's blade to break through his defense. In that moment, Amukelo sidestepped, letting Naguk's sword swing past him, narrowly avoiding the sharp edge. He was prepared to counter, but when he tried to move his sword, he realized it was stuck. Naguk's sheer force had created such pressure that Amukelo's blade was pinned in place, unable to move freely.
'What—?' Amukelo thought, his mind racing as he processed the unexpected situation. Before he could react, he saw from the corner of his eye that Naguk had lifted his leg, preparing to deliver a powerful kick aimed at Amukelo's knee. The move would have sent him tumbling to the ground if it connected. Instinctively, Amukelo jumped back, pulling his sword free from the pressure in one fluid motion, just as Naguk's foot swung through the air, narrowly missing him.
Amukelo let out a soft, relieved breath, whispering to himself, "Huh. That was close."
But there was no time to rest. Naguk, grinning with excitement, charged forward again, his heavy footfalls making the ground tremble slightly. He swung his sword in a powerful overhead arc, aiming to bring it down on Amukelo with enough force to end the round in one strike. But Naguk's tall frame and strength left him vulnerable. Amukelo, reading the movement, waited until the last second before darting beneath the arc of Naguk's blade.
As Naguk's sword passed just above him, Amukelo found himself directly under the orc's guard, with a clear opening. The orc was still recovering from the massive swing, and his sword was too far out of position to defend himself. Amukelo didn't hesitate—he thrust his sword forward, aiming at Naguk's torso. But just as he had in the first round, Amukelo intentionally missed, stopping the blade just short of contact.
Both men froze, the sound of their heavy breathing filling the air. Amukelo sighed, pulling his sword back, and spoke with a note of satisfaction. "That was close."
Naguk, still grinning despite the defeat, shook his head. "Yeah, but you still won." His tone was filled with respect, acknowledging Amukelo's skill. After a brief pause, Naguk's grin widened. "So… do you mind another round? I haven't had a fight this good since I lost my arm."
Amukelo, feeling the same exhilaration he had earlier, nodded. "Why not?"
And so, they squared off again.
The next three rounds were intense. Each one was a test of both strength and strategy, with both warriors learning and adapting to each other's fighting styles. Naguk, though wielding his sword with one hand, was relentless in his attacks. His strikes were like hammer blows, and his size made him difficult to maneuver around. Amukelo, on the other hand, relied on his speed and precision, using every opening he could find to avoid being overpowered by the orc's brute force.
The third round was particularly grueling. Amukelo had just managed to dodge one of Naguk's heavy downward swings, slipping to the side and preparing to strike from Naguk's blind spot. But just as Amukelo moved in for the final strike, Naguk did something unexpected. With a quick, forceful stomp, Naguk pinned Amukelo's sword to the ground, rendering it useless.
The sudden loss of his weapon left Amukelo momentarily defenseless, and in that brief moment of vulnerability, Naguk stepped forward, knocking Amukelo off balance. It was a move that instantly brought to mind Amukelo's first sparring match with Padrin—a move he used to almost get Padrin.
Naguk's laugh was deep and hearty as he held his stance, triumphant. "Looks like I've got you this time," he said, his voice full of good-natured teasing.
Amukelo couldn't help but smile, even as he relinquished the round. "Yeah, you've got me," he admitted, nodding with respect.
The remaining rounds were just as close, with both of them exchanging near victories. Each clash of swords was accompanied by grunts of effort, sweat dripping from their brows as they pushed each other to the limit. Amukelo managed to win the majority of the rounds, but the one victory Naguk earned was particularly satisfying for both of them. It had been a true battle of wits and strength, and Naguk's win had proven that he was far from a pushover.
By the time they finished their final round, both warriors were drenched in sweat, their muscles aching from the exertion. They had fought long into the evening, the sun now completely gone, leaving only the glow of the campfire to light their surroundings. The sounds of their blades clashing had long since faded, replaced by the crackling of the fire and the rustling of the wind through the trees.
Amukelo lowered his sword one final time. "That was a good fight," he said, his voice tired but satisfied.
Naguk, his chest heaving with exertion, nodded. "Yeah, it was." He sheathed his sword, the grin still on his face, though his fatigue was obvious.
After their sparring, the two of them sat down around the fire, their bodies heavy with exhaustion. They shared a meal in silence. The food was simple, but after such an intense bout, it tasted better than anything either of them had eaten in days. Amukelo was genuinely exhausted in a way that allowed him to let his mind not be overwhelmed with thoughts. His mind, usually racing with thoughts of revenge and loss, was quiet.
Later, as the fire dimmed and the night grew darker, Amukelo lay down on the ground. For once, the weight of his thoughts didn't keep him awake. The physical exhaustion from the fight was enough to pull him into sleep almost immediately.