CHPT 8: David Vs. Goliath

The crowd took on an almost savage nature as they cheered and hooted in excitement and anticipation to see someone get beaten out of the ring.

***

After Prof. Raizen signaled for the fight to begin Claude looked over Samuel one more time in a sort of analytical fashion, he could feel the familiar light butterflies in the pits of his stomach as he mentally steeled himself for the fight.

After a few more seconds Claude burst from his spot heading directly at Samuel, just slow enough for Samuel to deliver a confident downward slice with his broadsword. Claude changed direction right before he was in striking distance missing Samuels blade with a loud WOOSH.

Claude — now facing Samuels side, swung his short sword aiming at the open space in Samuels armor and with a wet sounding SCHLICK, he cut Samuels outer elbow resulting in Samuel letting out a loud, "ARRGH!" As he swung his blade to the side wildly.

Claude dodged Samuels wild swing by bounding back to his starting position, legs tensed in preparation to lunge at his opponent again.

Samuel wiped the blood away from his arm with a look of nonchalance as if the cut was a mere mosquito bite.

"Your still as weak as ever Claude, it's actually getting sad." Samuel shouted across the ring as he crouched low, readying for Claudes attack.

"…And your still about as mobile as a tree." Claude replied causing a couple students to snort in an attempt to stifle their laughter.

Claudes retort got Samuel moving with new found motivation to obliterate Claude, he lunged at Claude sending a flurry of slices aimed at his arms, legs and body with loud noises of effort.

"EUGH!"

"HUWAH!"

"HM!"

Claude was evading all the strikes quite impressively. After dodging multiple strikes the crowd began to quiet down, it seemed Claudes display of quick and nimble movements began to plant a seed of doubt in the crowds collective conscious about who would truly be the winner of this match.

Claude continued to evade Samuels onslaught of attacks then suddenly, Samuel feinted his last strike deciding to punch Claude in the face instead, hitting his nose causing a deafening "CRACK"

Claudes head snapped back from the strike stunning him momentarily. Words of excitement and encouragement for Samuel filled Claudes ears, this snapped Claude back to reality with just enough time to dodge a front kick delivered by Samuel that would've easily sent him out of the ring.

In one fluid motion Claude sidestepped— avoiding Samuels kick, he then delivered a kick of his own to the only leg Samuel had on the ground. Samuels feet flew out from under him and he hit the ground with a loud metallic THUD.

The crowd was so silent that all you could hear were the tree leaves rustling in the distance from the wind and the exhausted huffs Claude made as he looked down on Samuel.

"Cheap shot Claude!" Veronica said snapping everyone out of their shock induced silence.

"Yea that was lame", "Knock him down fair and square!" A couple other students chimed in.

Then another student spoke, her voice cutting through the harsh crowd like butter, "That wasn't a cheap shot, it was common sense..he was open."

Claude looked to where the voice came from, it was the buff brunette from earlier. She looked at Claude and raised her flexed arm with pursed lips in a show of support, it was an all too masculine gesture that she seemed to pull off well regardless.

Claude regained his focus as Samuel got himself off the ground. The young noble had a wild look in his eye as he spoke to Claude.

"I'm going to KILL you."

"My plan is coming to fruition." Claude thought as he held Samuels intimidating gaze.

Samuel charged Claude, Claude charged back with immense speed. He reached Samuel first, their swords connecting with a loud "CLAAAAAANG!" Samuel was overpowering Claude— pushing him out of the ring, the crowd was loving Samuel as he displayed his impressive physical strength.

Claude soon realized nobody seemed to understand his rather simple plan, but he more or less expected that. He planned to engage Samuel in a contest of strength like the one he was in now causing Samuel to think he had an easy win and then he'd redistribute Samuels weight, guiding him out of the ring in the process. Getting him as angry as he was seemed to be a good decision to Claude.

As Claude continued to be overpowered by Samuel he could feel the blood dripping from his nose and onto the floor, Samuel must've hit him good because he could taste the thick coppery fluid in his mouth.

He looked up and met Samuels eyes as he continued to slide towards the end of the ring and he noticed something odd...Samuels eyes were..flickering?

Every few seconds his eyes would flash a deep and powerful hue of purple and then go back to normal. This made Claude uneasy but he didn't think too much on it because he was so close to winning...that's what he thought until Samuel spit in his eyes.

SPLAT!

Samuels hot saliva hit Claudes eyes disorienting and disgusting him resulting in Claude executing his weight distribution plan prematurely. He turned as quick as he could and pushed Samuel from behind trying to guide him out of the ring with an effortful grunt.

Claude soon realized that Samuel was able to stop himself from exiting the ring with ease.

"Damn my noodle arms!!" Claude thought while looking at Samuels backside.

To try and capitalize on the opening Claude lunged at Samuel and swiped at his defenseless low back aiming for the kidneys but the sound the blade made wasn't the sound of flesh tearing.

CLANG!

Claude was stunned as his blade bounced off the thin dark purple aura that surrounded Samuels body. "What the fu-"

BOOM!

Before Claude could finish his sentence Samuel turned halfway and shoulder charged Claude at blinding speeds sending him out of the ring and skidding through the dirt like a meteor crash.

The last thing Claude saw was a flash of purple and then his world was enveloped in darkness.