The board with the list of names started to beep as the students turned their attention to the noise. Fae and Arlo's names were crossed out and were now replaced with the names of the students who would be sparring next. Wei Chen vs Nikolai Andreyev was displayed on the screen. Looking up at the large screen before him, Wei let out an audible gulp as he clenched his fist, his eyes clouding as Nikolai stepped into the ring, his nerves tingling with anticipation, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that washed over him.
His gaze locked onto his opponent, Nikolai Andreyev, a tall figure with a striking presence and a glint of mischief in his emerald green eyes as he ran his finger through his green and purple locs. The sight of Nikolai sent a shiver down Wei's spine, his aura exuding a confidence that set off alarm bells in Wei's mind.
"Wei Chen, it is an honour to fight against you." He said in a honeyed voice as he stepped back eyeing him lasciviously.
With a subtle smile playing on his lips, Nikolai met Wei's gaze, his demeanor radiating a sense of calm assurance that concealed the danger lurking beneath the surface. Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding wash over him as he prepared to face off against Nikolai. He didn't know why, but he felt like fighting against this man wouldn't be easy. If he remembered correctly, Nikolai used a longsword as his weapon of choice, and he was quite skilled at it, but what unsettled Wei even more was the nagging feeling that Nikolai was holding back, hiding his true strength and capabilities.
After the familiar ring of the buzzer, neither men made any move, staying glued in place only staring at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. The fight had only just begun, but Wei could feel himself sweating already as he stared into Nikolai's eyes, analyzing his every move. No longer being able to contain his anxiety, Wei decides to strike first.
Wei swung his legs in the air in an attempt to knock him off his feet, but Nikolai blocked the kick, hitting him with a sweep reverse which tripped Wei, and he found himself on the ground.
Wei quickly rolled to the side as he dodged another hit from Nikolai. Though he didn't show it on his face, he could feel himself panicking as he could tell the longer this fight went on, the more of a disadvantage he would be in. He knew he wasn't adept at hand to hand combat because he was more of a long distance fighter rather than a close combat fighter. Sweat dripping on his face, he wiped it off, quickly getting back on his feet as Nikolai prepared for his next attack. As the fight continued, Wei found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Nikolai's lightning-fast strikes and agile movements. Despite his best efforts, Wei couldn't shake the feeling that Nikolai was toying with him, testing his limits while carefully concealing his own.
In a race of speed, Wei once again found himself outmatched by Nikolai's seemingly effortless grace and agility. It was clear to Wei that Nikolai was the one in control. His body was relaxed, as he effortlessly dodged and weaved through Wei's attacks, not even bothering to hide how bored he was. As the battle raged on, Wei realized that he was facing not only a skilled opponent but a cunning strategist who knew how to manipulate the battlefield to his advantage. Each attack was clear and concise, meticulously calculated and as the intensity of their clash reached new heights, Wei could tell he was at a disadvantage.
As the tension mounted between Wei and Nikolai, neither man made a move, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills. Wei could feel the weight of anticipation bearing down on him, his heart racing as he charged forward, not wanting to waste a single second.
Sweat beading on his brow, Wei wiped it away with a shaky hand, his mind racing as he prepared for Nikolai's next attack. With each passing moment, he could feel the weight of exhaustion and tension bearing down on him, making it increasingly difficult to move with the agility and grace he knew he needed to overcome his opponent.
"You need to relax," Wei admonished himself internally, but his body refused to comply, tensing up in anticipation of the impending onslaught.
As Nikolai unleashed a flurry of jabs, Wei found himself being pushed back, his movements growing sluggish under the weight of fatigue but he refused to let himself be beaten. Taking a deep breath, Wei attempted to gain back control of the fight, swinging his legs in an attempt to catch Nikolai off guard, but his opponent deftly dodged the kick and countered with a sweep reverse that sent Wei tumbling to the ground. As he struggled to regain his footing, Wei could feel the panic rising within him, the realization sinking in that he was at a distinct disadvantage in close combat but Wei persevered, refusing to admit defeat.
"I'm an awe at how you've managed to keep up with me until now, but I no longer have the patience to play with you." Nikolai said in a playful voice.
"It's time to end this fight."
An array of jabs came his way as Nikolai kept hitting him with more power than before and he could feel himself being pushed back once again. Wei swiftly hit him in the jaw with his elbow and did a reverse kick, pushing Nikolai back but Nikolai anticipated this moved, grabbing his foot and then hit him with a tornado hook kick hitting Wei square in the jaw as he fell to the ground. He could feel his vision blurring as the pain from Nikolai's powerful kick started to kick in. Wei was still conscious and if he willed it, he knew he could get himself back up and continue the fight, but he really didn't want to. He saw no point in getting up because the outcome was obvious. He would lose.
So he laid there on the ground, closing his eyes and regretting his decision to focus on long range attacks instead of focusing on close range attacks. He tapped his hand on the mat and the fight was over. As he laid there, he could feel Nikolai bending over as he whispered into his ears.
"You've still got a long way to go before you can beat me koshechka." He said in a playful tone which made Wei frown.
He extended his hand in an effort to help Wei up but the latter refused the help, getting himself up on his own.
Like hell I'm gonna accept your help.
Nikolai took no offence to his rejection as a playful smile adorning his lips. The buzzer went off and the two bowed their heads.
"It was an honour to fight with you." They said before walking out of the ring.
"Alright, will the next fighters enter the stage please."
Fletcher looked at Kenneth nervously, her eyes screaming to be saved from this nightmare. She had every right to be nervous since the person she would be fighting against was none other than the oaf, Durian Black. Thought she didn't want to admit it, she knew that there was no way she could win against him, he was just too strong and it pained her to have to admit this truth.
Fletcher would love more than anything to beat the living crap out of Durian, but with the way she was now, that would be impossible.
Kenneth shared the same sentiment as she looked at Durian who was all smiles, without a care in the world. A sudden thought came to her mind.
"Fletcher." She said trying to her attention.
"Obviously its going to be hard for you to win this fight, but its not impossible either. You have speed and agility on your side, use that to your advantage and do whatever you can not to be knocked down by him. Once you are down it'll be impossible for you to get back up." She advised her.
Seeing how concerned Kenneth was for her made Fletcher's nervous heart, calm down a little. She nodded her head in understanding.
What Kenneth said made sense. She was extremely flexible and dextrous and this was all due to her years of training with two swords. She was also skilled with both offence and defence which would help her greatly in this fight.
"Don't focus on winning but focus on holding out as much as you can. You don't have to win." She stressed, looking at her seriously.
"Also, don't fight beyond you means either. Give up when necessary."
"I got it, thank you Kenneth." She said while giving her short hug. She then made her way to the ring with Durian following suit.
Facing each other, she could see Durian's usual smug expression gone as it was replaced with a serious expression. He also didn't taunt nor mock her as he bowed his head and thanked her for the fight, surprising Fletcher greatly.
So even this oaf takes things seriously.
Fletcher took a couple deep breath as she closed her eyes, relaxing her muscles and keeping her mind sharp and focused. Durian and Fletcher, concentrated their breaths blocking all outside distraction in the room.
The eager students looked on as they started to predict who the victor of this sparring match would be. The hum of anticipation filled the air as they prepare to engage in combat. Durian, with his confident stance and determined eyes, exuded a sense of seasoned skill, while Fletcher, though equally skilled, carries an undercurrent of nervous energy beneath her focused gaze. As the fight begins, the clash of their movements reverberates throughout the room, a symphony of agility and strength. Fletcher moved with precision, her movements fluid yet calculated, while Durian's power was undeniable, each strike delivered with force and purpose.
Durian fought with instincts while Fletcher fought with strategy, the contrasting fighting styles could be seen in the way they moved their bodies with each strike.
Despite her skill, Fletcher knows she's at a disadvantage against Durian's sheer strength and experience. Yet, fuelled by determination and the desire to prove herself, she presses on, her mind racing with strategies to outmaneuver him. Fist met fist, each exuding incredible force, as one attacked and the other countered making the onlookers, unable to look away.
Durian, on the other hand, found himself pleasantly surprised by Fletcher's tenacity and skill. Though he could've easily overpowered her, he respected her resolve and eagerly met her attacks. As the fight intensifies, emotions run high while anxiety grips Fletcher as she struggles to keep up the facade of confidence she had in the beginning. She finds herself remembering the words Kenneth had said to her before the fight.
"You have speed and agility on your side, use that to your advantage and do whatever you can not to be knocked down by him. Once you are down it'll be impossible for you to get back up."
Right. Though I might not be able to knock him out or incapacitate him, I can still get a few hits in and dodge as many of his attacks as I can.
Using the same amount of finesse and dexterity used when dual fighting, Fletcher transformed her hands into a weapon using them to strike Durian's vital points, as well as block any jabs swiftly coming her way. She was in both offence and defence, nimbly moving her long and limber body in a rhythmic fashion, a stark contrast to Durian's large and grotesque movements. His immense presence couldn't be overlooked as each hit resounded in the quiet room, growing more and more powerful as the fight went on.
It was obvious to everyone there that if Fletcher ended up not dodging or blocking one of this monstrous punches, she wouldn't be able to go on.
"I am honestly so glad I am not the one sparring against Durian." The girl with green hair said.
"Right? One hit and you'd be knocked out. I don't even know she's able to keep dodging." Another girl commented.
"It's great that she can block his attacks but how long can she really keep this up? They'll be at a constant stalemate if this goes on." Wei remarked.
Fae looked on anxiously and she couldn't help but agree with Wei. Dodging wasn't enough in this situation. She needed to find a way to defeat him or else the fight would keep dragging on which wouldn't pose a problem for Fletcher.
If it was a battle of stamina, the win would most likely go to Durian.