Gladiator

The door in front of skimp opened up allowing him to view the arena. On the other side, he saw a another person in full armor holding two swords.

Skimp released a sigh as he stepped forward. The entire arena suddenly came alive booming with shouts from the audience. Skimp closed his eyes for a while they opened filled with conviction as he held is dagger.

Suddenly, the noise stopped. Skimp looked around and saw a large private booth overlooking the arena and in it stood a tall built man adorned in expensive looking silk robes. He had an ash mask covering his face but even then, Skimp realized who it was. 'Operandi' he thought with a frown. Operandi held his hand up looking directly at Skimp and wordlessly dropped it. Immediately, the crowed went wild again this time with larger strength.

Skimp looked forward and realized his opponent had already kicked off and was right in front of him, Skimp brought his dagger up just in time to stop a double overhead slash from the gladiator but, the force generated from the blow numbed his hands, knocking the dagger from his hands. Before Skimp could find himself, the gladiator sent a heavy kick to his stomach the kick connected hard, lifting Skimp of his feet and throwing him backwards. Skimp hunched over, bile rising in his throat. Just as he straightened himself, he saw two blades coming towards him from both sides. In a show of surprising agility, skimp leaned backwards as the blades sailed across him, just then a foot crashed into Skimp's face with a large force. Skimp could feel his nose cave in before he was launched back.

He struggled up, holding his nose, 'this isn't good' he thought, his heartbeat drowning out the crowd cheering for his death. The gladiator walked towards him with a swagger a blade in each hand. Despite his face being covered Skimp could feel the glee rolling of his executioner.

Skimp's mind raced as he thought of a way to buy time n order to figure out how his sorcery works not that it was guaranteed to solve anything but it will at least give him an upper hand. Just as the gladiator reached him, Skimp kicked the ground causing dust to rise up and shoot into the gladiators eyes or it would have if his visor didn't block it. 'Shit' was the only thing Skimp could think of as he awaited a fury of attacks.

To his shock, he heard a soft chuckle from the gladiator which immediately developed into full blown laughter and soon enough, the entire arena followed suit. The gladiators laughter turned back into chuckles as he slowly removed his helmet.

A smiling face greeted Skimp, but the smile looked so wrong on his face. The gladiators smile widened becoming more gleeful, a small blush adorning his cheeks. "You're nothing but a battered toy…" he said with a crazy edge to his voice. "… but I like my toys battered, bloody and in despair. I don't see enough blood on you and you still have hope winning, so how about I give you a handy cap and we can get this show on the road." The gladiator said a sadistic smile stretching painfully across his face. To Skimp's shock the gladiator began removing his armor till he was standing bare chested wearing only cotton trousers. "Now, RUN" The gladiator said as he swiftly cut Skimp's calf muscle. Skimp roared in pain but pushed himself off the floor and began running.

The pain was deafening, yet he could feel the gladiator following him. Skimp heard a faint whoosh in another surprising show of agility Skimp sidestepped causing one of the gladiator's blades to fly pass him just as it was almost out of reach his body moved on its own and caught the blade. The moment he held it he felt something familiar something he had only felt once, when he was fighting Operandi's cursed soldiers. A surge of confidence blossomed from his chest.

He turned and faced his opponent blade in hand. The gladiator looked shocked for a while before his smirk widened to unexpected proportions. "hahahahahahahaha…seems like the little toy still has some fight, come let's make you bleed." he said holding up a sword.

The gladiator despite his bloodthirsty look watched Skimp closely trying to discern where the confidence came from he did not live so long in the pit by being complacent. Then he saw it, the boy had form, crude shaky form but form nonetheless and he was sure the boy could hold his own, he wondered why the boy the boy didn't use it earlier. He immediately pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. This was no time to think.

Skimp fueled by adrenaline and new found confidence rushed forward. The moment he was within reach Skimp sent a wide swing. The gladiator sidestepped the swing, landing a swift kick to Skimp's calf. Skimp grunted, stumbling forward. Blood oozed from the calf wound, soaking his pant red.

"Yes bleed, let me see you bleed" the gladiator taunted as he rushed forward pressing for the advantage, unleashing a furry of slashes.

Skimp blocked the slashes with surprising skill, opting to redirect rather than outright block the hits, but he seemed to be lagging as some of the cuts got to him showing his lack of dexterity.

In a flickering moment, Skimp saw an opening, the gladiator had overstepped his swing, Skimp capitalized on it knowing that jumping forward will earn him a cut but he took it. He jumped forward not as far as he hoped, his wound slowing him. He couldn't stab the gladiator so he pivoted on his uninjured right foot and in something like a beautiful dance, he cut into the side of the gladiator and receiving a slight cut on his shoulder.

The moment Skimp cut the gladiator, he jumped back his body moving on it's own as it pushed the jump into a backflip he landed on his right leg, his left raised in the air and sword poised forward.

The gladiator held his side as he watched Skimp, then he saw it. The boys technique was getting better the longer they fought. Realizing he had to end this before the boy got too dangerous, the gladiator moved, faster than before. He realized that even with his vigilance he had underestimated the boy… 'and the boy had done same about him' he thought as he reached Skimp. He saw the boy's leg muscles tense for a jump. 'He going for a stab' as Skimp jumped forward the gladiator smirked. He abruptly stopped and kicked the ground causing dust to jump up and straight into Skimps eyes effectively blocking his vision. The gladiator pressed on, kicking Skimp. He watched as the boy flew into the wall of the arena dropping the sword. He moved swiftly and pick up the sword jumped into the air ready to perform an aerial kill.

The moment Skimps hands touched the ground he felt it, all of it he could feel the dead lying below ready to be called the everything paused. that's when he realized, the grimoire said the spell summoned what was there the ground of the cell was too hard for the hands to breakthrough. This lands have been through numerous wars. And here he had an entire field of skeletons but, he realized that despite being able to feel them, they where heavy. He could only pull one out, two if he tried really hard, but for what he needed one will do just fine.

A ghost smile formed on his face as time resumed. He slammed his fist into the ground causing a skeletal arm making a fist to rise into the sky hitting the gladiator in the wound throwing him of course an unto the ground.

The moment this happened the entire arena became silent before the roaring continued. Looking up Skimp saw Operandi leaning forward head thrown back and a visible shake in his shoulders.

Skimp pulled his attention away from them and back to the fight. He watched as the gladiator stumble to his feet, wiping some blood off his busted lip. "Starting to regret removing the armor aren't you." Skimp taunted with a smirk.

The gladiator only grunted before saying. " I am Vitalis, the greatest gladiator in this arena your petty tricks won't win you this match." his gleeful smile returning to his face

Skimp paused for a while before saying "Alright, round two it is." and he rose his hand [Arms of the forgotten]. Another arm joined the first both clenched into a fist.

"Let's fucking go" he said.

To be continued…