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Autumndusk, ChronoColiseum: The Arena, Time: 10:30 AM
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The announcer's voice rang out once more, its excitement palpable. "Ladies and gentlemen, let the battle commence! In the Swampland challenge, may the most skilled warrior emerge victorious!" The announcement resounded, marking the initiation of the fierce contest.
With unwavering focus, James took cautious steps, his movement measured as he navigated the uneven terrain of the swamp.
"Alright, I think I got the hang of this." The water's resistance tested his mobility, yet he adapted swiftly, using submerged land patches to his advantage. His mind raced, assessing the environment and concocting a strategic plan.
Prince Elliott's rapiers glinted in the dim luminescence as he advanced with confident strides, projecting an air of self-assuredness with each movement.
"Fighting amidst the muck seems to suit your disposition," Elliott taunted, his voice echoing through the swamp. He stood atop a small mound, looking down upon James wading through the muddy waters.
James's retort was delivered with composed precision. "I've confronted challenges that make this appear like a stroll." His words carried a calm confidence, reflecting his respect for his opponent and the demanding setting.
In a daring move, James even threw Elliott a smirk, which seemed to aggravate the prince before he lunged forward momentarily. It seems James learned a bunch of more prideful words from Koras.
In the balcony lounge, Ace and Vermilion were watching the battle with Ace somehow dressed in a bunch of early merchandise of James already.
"Seems like he's handling himself pretty well," Vermilion stated as James threw a mean right hook to Elliott's face.
"That's James for you. He quickly adapts to the environment and the situation around him." Ace waved around a bunch of glowsticks.
James intercepted Elliott's attack with fluid motion using his halberd, deftly parrying the assault.
Elliott landed safely in the muddy waters, attempting to maneuver James towards one of the twisted trees. However, James's physical strength proved superior, thwarting Elliott's efforts.
Capitalizing on a strategy he'd witnessed before, James seized Elliott by the throat, lifting him momentarily before hurling him into the mud with a powerful toss.
"You're such a fucking cunt! Do you realize the cost of these garments?" Elliott's exasperated yell echoed as he tumbled into the mire.
Reacting with the swiftness of experience, James charged at Elliott with his halberd, closing the gap rapidly.
Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, Elliott struggled to mount a defense in time, and James's halberd struck its target, causing Nolan's rapiers to fall from his grip and his form to collapse into the mud.
"MMMFGH!" The echoes of his frustration dissipated amidst the watery expanse, his wardrobe's dignity temporarily defeated.
"FFUCKKK!" Elliott's frustration erupted in a furious scream, and in a matter of seconds, he had reclaimed his rapiers and risen to his feet. While his defensive skills might not have been impeccable, his agility and combat prowess were undeniable.
He was not about to relinquish his place of glory to an upstart. With a swift and almost fluid motion, Elliott vanished from view, leaving James momentarily disoriented and on edge.
"WHO?!" Elliott's enraged shout sliced through the air as he reappeared, his rapiers slashing at James's back. The unexpected strike caught James off guard, causing him to stagger and lose his footing before landing face-first into the muddied water.
Rising quickly from the murky depths, James clenched his halberd with renewed determination, prepared for whatever came next.
"DO YOU THINK?!" Elliott's voice rang out with a blend of anger and arrogance as he lunged forward once again, his assault swift and calculated.
He aimed a precise strike at James's shoulder, the impact causing a jolt of pain to course through his body.
The force of the blow rattled him, but it also fueled his resolve. The burning sensation spurred him into action, reminding him of the stakes and the intensity of their confrontation.
"YOU FUCKING ARE?!" Elliott's enraged voice echoed through the arena, his frustration palpable.
With astonishing speed, he materialized in front of James, his rapiers slashing through the air in a swift and deadly X-shaped pattern.
Reacting swiftly, James raised his halberd in time to block the attack, the impact jarring his arms as he was forced to stagger back a few steps, creating a small distance between them. "I think you have a problem..."
Elliott stood before him, his breaths heavy and a white aura enveloping his form. The exertion was evident, and James couldn't help but feel a pang of concern.
"You're pushing yourself too far. Is this why you're feeling so drained?" James's voice held genuine worry, his gaze locked on Elliott's form. However, his attempt at empathy was met with a glare from Elliott.
In a split second, Elliott lunged forward with a lightning-quick pierce attack. Reacting on instinct, James managed to bring his halberd up just in time to block the strike.
The force of the impact rippled through his arms, and he was momentarily flung back, his boots skidding against the swamp's uneven ground.
Unable to regain his balance, he crashed into a giant mushroom before rebounding off it and colliding with a nearby tree.
"Ow, ow, ow!" The impact sent a jolt of pain through his body, and he clenched his teeth against the sensation.
"If I try to do any single of my moves against him right now, I would leave myself wide open." James seemed to spot the flaws he was having.
He could've pulled off Eye Of The Sun, but that would lead Elliott to strike him right in the stomach.
"Maybe I should try to sneak attack him," James muttered to himself as he hid himself among the trees.
Elliott seemed frustrated as he could only watch around to see James wasn't even approaching him. "Okay, stay calm, Elliott. You are making yourself look like an ill-tempered brat right now," Elliott muttered to himself before dashing away, trying to find him.
"He's doing that stupid thing where he hides himself among the trees." Elliott cut one of the trees cleanly off, not even caring that James was hiding behind it. He didn't have a single fighting spirit to give a damn about any of it; he just wanted to win.
'Okay, James. In a count of 3, you will lunge at him with your halberd and do your signature move.' James watched as Elliott was cutting the trees around him, not giving a single care in that man's thought.
Elliott seemed to be approaching the tree that James was hiding as he prepared himself to do it. James jumped off the tree and was ready to strike Elliott down, "Eye of The Sun!" His halberd flared up in flames as he swung at Elliott, who was caught off guard.
James realized the one mistake he forgot; Elliott was way faster than him as he completely dodged the attack.
"Oh, I've become an error," James muttered to himself before he was sent flying by Elliott's slashes.
"I GOT YOU NOW, AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU WILL TASTE MY FOOT UP YOUR. FUCKING. ASS!" Elliott remarked with a bit of pride in him, ready to defeat this rat of a peasant once and for all. James tumbled down the mud as his body and armor were covered in bruises and slashes.
"Pathway of The Sun!" James quickly glowed in bright light to blind Elliott momentarily. Elliott was screaming around and desperately attacking anything he felt. "Now my chance, it's now or never!"
"Alright, time for the real battle to begin!" Ace was excited and ready for what was about to come.
James popped open the lid on his halberd, revealing a space perfectly shaped for a rune. "Need you for this one, buddy."
"SWAMP PURGERS!" echoed through the air, a command that marked the beginning of something transformational.
Rising to his feet, James braced himself for the change that was about to occur. Unbeknownst to him, Elliott's vision came back, and he quickly tried to stop James from whatever he was doing.
Confusion etched across Elliott's face, curiosity mingled with his frustration as he tried to comprehend the unexpected turn of events.
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