Both fighters reset their stances after the exchanges. Mia stepped forward. Taylor stayed calm – shooting her sword forward. It hit her opponent's hand but was again recoiled.
'Two!'
Taylor exclaimed in her mind. Mia also swung down on Taylor. Taylor, unable to dodge let herself get hit in the shoulder. Then, he countered her with an upward strike.
'One point! Yes!'
Mia grinned as she obtained her first point. Both spun around and locked onto each other again. The air filled with tension – The audience held their breaths. Mia closed in once more. Taylor blocked her strike. Mia backed off but Taylor didn't give her a break. She lunged forward and swung down. Mia blocked it, sliding it across her katana. Then, she spun around, hitting her adversary in the torso.
Taylor's eyes widened as she was pushed away. She swung down once more. Taylor rolled over and stood up, catching her breath. Her enemy approached carefully. Taylor stood and launched a strike first. Caught off guard, Mia hastily raised a sword. But she was unable to block the attack. Taylor's blade hit her shoulder. Mia delivered a reciprocal and backed off. Taylor also backed off. She gulped as Mia stared her down.
"Oh! The match is getting intense~" Dante spoke.
"Three points for Taylor and Mia if you're not counting." Mack pointed out.
"This is gonna take a while, ain't it?" Dante said while watching Taylor launch again.
"Yeah…" Mack replied as Mia countered Taylor's attack. "Another point for Mia. Two now."
Taylor backed off from her blow. Bother competitors locked eyes – they knew they had to end this quickly.
'I need to get a lethal blow…'
Taylor's mind raced as she watched Mia.
'She's good. She more like an offensive type…Probably going to go for a lethal blow, then.'
Mia thought, gripping her katana firmly. She stepped forward in a flash. Taylor reacted and that was Mia's chance. He twisted her blade and shot forward. Taylor's counter defense was weak. So, her blade cleanly hit her torso. Then, she quickly backed.
"Amazing! Mia's attacks Taylor with a lethal blow. Two points!" Dante commented, raising two fingers.
"So, in total, she has Four points." Mack added.
Back in the arena, Sweaty was rolling down Taylor's face.
"This is bad…" She muttered under her breath.
She drew sharp breaths, resting for a moment. Her opponent also seemed to be taking a break. She then, decided something.
'Just go with the flow…'
She closed her eyes, exhaling…slowly. Her heart calmed down – her mind became relieved and her body recovered a little. She held up her katana, handling it with both arms. In a flash, she rushed forward. Mia held her sword high. Taylor stepped forward and then, back again. Mia, in confusion lowered her weapon. An opening was made. Taylor's sword shot forward, her eyes widening.
Mia's pupils dilated. She gritted her teeth and raised her arm. Taylor's blade recoiled in an instant, clashing against her enemy's stone skin. Taylor backed off and clicked her tongue.
'Damn it…she's good…'
She glanced at her adversary. She sighed and neared her slowly. Mia moved around her, keeping a good distance from her enemy. Suddenly, Mia rushed forward and swung diagonally. Taylor stayed calm. She activated her attribute. The sword switched direction. Mia's balance deteriorated as her eyes widened. Then, Taylor struck Mia's chest with all her might. Unable to give an after blow, Mia retreated.
"Two points for Taylor. Six points in total!" Mack announced.
Taylor didn't stop. She lunged forward, slashing at her adversary. Mia blocked all of them. Then, Taylor directed her sword towards her enemy's head. Mia raised her guard but just then…Taylor feinted. Mia's eyes widened – her torso was wide open. Taylor struck at her stomach. Mia twisted her body, the blade grazing her skin. Then, she swung down, hitting Taylor's hand. Taylor backed off.
'You're not going anywhere!'
Mai rushed forward. Taylor narrowed her eyes as her opponent neared rapidly. Inches away from her face, Taylor stepped towards Mia – almost colliding. Mia panicked and tried to back off. Taylor caught her in an awkward position. Then, she struck at her wrist. Mia changed her wrist to stone. Taylor frowned. She pulled at Mia's legs, sweeping her off her feet. Mia's eyes widened – she fell.
Taylor struck at her upper body again. Mia gave an after blow. Taylor clicked her tongue as her adversary rolled away.
"Almost! Taylor at eight points and Mia at five points." Dante commented.
"It's going to be over soon…" Mack yawned, avoiding his mic. "It's been four minutes already."
Taylor smirked. Feeling confident, she rushed forward. Mia, in a stressed state, immediately tried to go for Taylor's hands. Taylor noticed the attack. She twisted her sword, holding it in an inverted position. The two katanas clashed. Mia's eyes widened – her katana slid down Taylor's blade. Finally, Taylor ended the battle with a clean strike to her opponent's head. The air froze – Time seemed to freeze for a moment as well. The audience held their breaths and then…
The referee blew the whistle. Instantly, the crowd exploded into cheers.
"AND OUR WINNER IS TAYLOR HAWK!!!" Dante screamed.
"Amazing match by our two participants!" Mack clapped.
As the commentators talked over the speakers, Taylor sheathed her sword. She turned around an held out her hand. Mia glanced at it. She sighed and grabbed it. Taylor lifted it up.
"That was a great match. You're really strong." Taylor complimented.
"Thanks…" Mia replied sheepishly. "But it's a bummer I couldn't get to the Quatar-finals."
"Yeah, that's a bummer but…it'll be nice knowing you."
"Same."
The two shook hands. They parted ways, heading for their respective lockers. As they exited the arena, Taylor lifted her head. Then, her brows furrowed. In her way, A grey suited figure with dark accents his clothes stood – Cain.
"What a surprise! We meet again…" Cain spread his arms which were carrying his weapon.
Taylor didn't respond. She passed him without acknowledging his existence. He spun around, trying to grab her attention which he had fully.
"Why aren't you talking? Still crying from our last match…?"
Even then, she didn't respond. Cain rolled his eyes and continued forward.
"So rude, isn't she…?" He whispered.
Just then, the commentators voice rang out once more.
"Next up, we have Cain Rodrick versus…Saul Kish!" Mack stated.
Cain exited the locker at the same time his adversary did. The afternoon sun pierced through the clouds, blinding him for a moment. He closed one eye, gripping his meteor hammer. Ahead of him was a man around the same age as him, wearing a green hoodie with cream trousers and white sneakers. His blonde rode the wind and his brown eyes glimmered in the sun. Cain and Saul locked eyes as the referee approached.
"Ready!" He shouted.
Cain began spinning his hammer while Saul pulled something out from his pocket – a pair brass knuckles. Saul slid them into his fingers and curled his hand into a fist.
'Brass knuckles…? In this day and age?'