章 12: The Duel in the Arena
"Well, this isn't what I expected," I murmured as I faced Draven in the arena. It wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that THE DAMN PLACE WAS FILLED WITH STUDENTS! What the hell are all these people doing here? It's just a fight, right? So why is it as packed as if one of the top 10 were fighting? I don't get it.
Well, maybe I do get it. It's not that big of a deal, you know? I'm just an engineering student challenging a combat student for the first time in the academy's history. It's not that weird, right? Well, now I see why, but no one needed to know, or at least a few. This is all that bastard Draven's fault. He probably went around shouting to everyone that he was going to fight someone from the engineering department. Damn bastard.
Since there's nothing I can do, I'll just give it my all to wipe that smile off his face. Look at him, grinning from ear to ear as if he's already won. I'm going to wipe that damn smile off his ugly face.
"Cassian, I'm glad you showed up. I thought you wouldn't come," Draven said. What's wrong with this bastard? Why is he acting like he challenged me?
"There's no way I wouldn't show up; I'm the one who challenged you," I replied. Sure, I wasn't going to back down, not like I was afraid of losing. After all, I have my pride.
"I wouldn't have blamed you if you hadn't shown up. After all, engineering nerds are weaker than a goblin," he said, laughing. Does this guy think he's funny or something?
"Man, Draven's going to kick that guy's ass," I heard some people say.
"Poor guy for trying to challenge someone in the top hundred from a non-combat department."
"They're going to wreck his pretty face," said someone unknown. Thanks for the compliment.
A professor approached us and said, "I want a clean fight. It will be without weapons, but magic is allowed. The winner will be the one who knocks out the other or admits defeat." Thanks, professor I don't even know, for setting some rules no one told me about.
Draven and I stood facing each other, waiting for the professor to give the signal to start.
"Try to survive five minutes," Draven said with a malicious smile. This bastard is really annoying.
"BEGIN!" shouted the professor.
Draven didn't waste a second. He lunged at me with surprising speed, his punch packed with superhuman force. I barely managed to dodge it, feeling the wind from the blow brush my face. This guy is not only strong but his technique is brutal and precise.
I decided to adopt a defensive stance, preparing for Draven's quick attacks. He didn't waste time launching again, this time with a combination of punches and kicks that demonstrated his martial arts mastery. Each of Draven's movements was charged with relentless force, and his attacks were as fast as lightning.
I managed to block a series of blows with my arms and legs, but Draven's strength constantly pushed me back. I noticed that every time I tried to counterattack, he seemed to anticipate my moves, as if he knew my technique in advance. I needed to adapt to his fighting style.
I began to adjust my strategy. Draven charged with a powerful straight punch, but I managed to deflect the blow with a lateral block and responded with a low kick. Draven stepped back, but quickly recovered, his expression showing both surprise and challenge.
I realized that Draven relied too much on his brute strength, which made him predictable in a sense. I took advantage of his aggressiveness to provoke a mistake. With each attack, I shifted my focus to pressure him from different angles. I forced him to adapt to my moves instead of the other way around.
At a crucial moment, Draven launched a powerful downward punch. I dodged it with an agile twist and responded with a series of spinning kicks that hit his sides. Although his skin was as hard as steel, I managed to make him retreat a few steps. I noticed he was starting to get tired.
To my surprise, Draven increased his intensity; his attacks became even fiercer. It was evident he was frustrated. He threw a series of chained blows, trying to break through my defense. Each blow I blocked required more effort, and I started to feel the accumulated impact on my muscles.
However, his desperation also played in my favor. In one of his bolder moves, Draven attempted a powerful right hook. I saw it coming and ducked just in time, spinning on my heels to deliver a kick to his side. The kick connected and made him stagger, allowing me to close the distance and deliver a precise blow to his abdomen.
I seized the moment to execute a complex combo of martial arts techniques. I used a quick jab followed by a hook, and finally, a high kick that struck his jaw. Draven staggered, his balance compromised by the series of well-executed attacks.
I knew victory was within reach. With a fluid movement, I combined a punch to Draven's jaw with a spinning kick, sending him backwards. His body crashed to the ground, and his attempts to get up were in vain.
Draven slowly got up, but his movements were clumsy and his breathing labored. I took advantage of his weakness with a final attack: a quick combination of punches and kicks that left him completely out of action. With one last decisive blow, Draven fell to the ground, unable to continue.
Exhausted but determined, I raised my fist in the air as I fell to the ground, the pain in my body only compared to the satisfaction of having overcome such a formidable opponent. The crowd did not cheer or shout; it was complete silence.
The professor approached and, with a stunned look, declared, "Cassian is the winner."
Though injured and exhausted, the feeling of having defeated Draven, one of the top 100, was a reward that outweighed any pain. I knew I had exceeded all expectations, and that was enough for me.
And above all, I'm glad to have wiped that damn smile off his ugly face.
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