Durma assumed his stance. The large dusty arena and the chants of thousands of spectators round about had a nostalgic feel to it. To him, it had been a while, since his journey always began here.
His opponent had also taken his stance, and the both of them waited to begin.
His was about average in height, with an off-white scarf wrapped around the top of his head. His face gave off enthusiasm and his stature gave off agility. Bare-chested, he moved his body and fists which were wrapped in white boxing wraps to the rhythm of his own warm-up ritual.
This fighter here was known as Sadeen, a name refering to the western monkey warrior. Sadeen was the champion of the lower echelon, comprising of fighters who aren't able to challenge the ranked combatants in the main who dueled in main events. In other words, these fighters weren't Daiki users and they were mostly newbies or dregs stuck without a chance of taking things forward here.
Having squared up to each other, there came the drum and that was the call. The match had begun.
"Hwuaaa!!!" Sadeen yelled immediately. Before Durma could move, his opponent had already closed the distance between them and landed a jump kick on his face, sending Durma straight to the ground. He was a bit disoriented and had to recover quickly because this guy was no ordinary fighter. Sadeen then leaped to stomp Durma to the ground where he lay, but he evaded it, creating distance between them again. The rowdy crowd, obviously leaning towards their champion blared with excitement.
There wasn't much damage. He quickly regained his balance and retook his stance but the biased crowd hailing the monkey made him grin. Something he couldn't help himself with since he came here.
Sadeen came at him again and with his right fist, sent a jab towards Durma's face and his upper abdomen simultaneously, but he blocked the both and quickly countered, landing a powerful elbow jab up his opponents jaw, sending him falling backwards. Sadeen recuperated quicky as well, getting back on his feet and taking a step back. Of course, landing the first hit could make the fight flow in ones direction. That was common in fights here.
Sadeen was experienced, but right now, he had been careless, since he thought Durma's reaction speed was clearly that of a junkie.
He took the initiative again, carefully closing the distance between them. But Durma remained firm on his position, observing what Sadeen's next move might be. And soon as he noticed Sadeen's face and body move downwards, perhaps for a sweep attack, he struck, landing a back kick-flip on Sadeen's face, sending him falling backwards again. That was enough sway for the previously biased crowd. Sadeen had taken a much powerful hit to his face and staggered as he got up to regain his balance which took more time now.
Indeed, for a newbie versus a seasoned arena champion, Durma had landed such a lucky blow and should have taken that chance to reduce his opponent to the ground. But he didn't. He waited for Sadeen to get back on his feet.
"What are you doing?!"
"Get him!"
Indeed, there was always that few in every crowd who would go against the odds to bet on a possibility they couldn't predict. There was always that minority that would lean on him. Although he wouldn't let them down, but then, he wasn't here for them; he was here to enjoy his first actual fight in a while.
Then, Sadeen, instead of closing in as usual, gave some more distance this time. It was obvious that this fighter was no rookie. He flexed his body again to another warm-up rhythm.
"You're not tired, are you?" Durma asked.
Sadeen was cautious now, still recuperating from Durma's last strike to his face. He wouldn't move so carelessly again. However, Durma was patient as well. He would indeed win this fight, but he wished to do so in a grand fashion. Enough to sky rocket him to the main events. And he was going to do so without shadow energy.
"Huaaaa!" Sadeen yelled, charging at Durma seemingly frantic. However, Durma had seen this move before. Sometimes, when Sadeen was cornered, he would attack this way. Howl like he had blown a gasket and then feint a side kick, shrouding his aim for a low kick or two to off set his opponent's footing. That would give him enough chance to start a barrage of different strikes. In fact, Durma had been through this twice. Sadeen, being so agile, made to kick his side, but instead struck his footing twice but then, Durma had already grounded himself, absorbing those strikes. Then, he struck again with those same simultaneous attacks using his right fist, one towards Durma's face and stomach and back to his face again. However, Durma blocked them all. As soon as noticed Durma was now on the defensive, he unleashed his barrage, landing successive blows on Durma who guarded against all of them.
But then, Durma knew Sadeen would soon slack, giving him an opening to strike his foothold amidst this barrage of blows. It was bound to happen as it did in his third and fifth turn. And just aa he had expected, he saw that opening and took it immediately. In-between bombardments from Sadeen, he sent a powerful side kick on his footing, destabilising him. And just as he made to regain his balance, Durma struck with an axe kick on Sadeen's head, sending him falling forward to the ground. And after that, he created distance again.
Right now, Sadeen probably regretted his underestimation of Durma's speed. It had left him in a very bad position at the moment.
The noise from the crowd dominated now.
"Finish him!"
"What are you waiting for?!"
It was obvious now that Sadeen wasn't in the same league as Durma. That was something they had just realised.
Durma's eyes drifted around the crowd and then back to Sadeen, as he struggled back on his feet to take his stance once again.
'This was a bit too fast' Durma thought. He wondered if opponent's strengths varied each time he regressed, since this same opponent had beaten him a number of times during his first and third turn. And in the latter, Durma had beat him in their first encounter, but lost to him twice in another encounter that was yet to happen. Since then, he barely underestimated Sadeen's strength. But then, right now, this wasn't exactly what he had expected.
"Huaaaaa!" the western monkey warrior came at him once again frantically. But before he could make any particular move, Durma closed in fast and unexpectedly, connecting his left fist straight to Sadeen's solar plexus. It was a powerful blow that knocked him back to the ground where he remained, unable to get up.
The crowd cheered loudly.
It was already over. Perhaps it wasn't so bad, Durma thought. Sadeen tried to sit up, but he couldn't. He could only watch Durma as he layed back, supporting himself on his elbows. But Durma was already walking away, uninterested in him nor the hailing crowd.
"He didn't even sweat it" Heiva said in amusement.
"Maybe that's not where he belongs"
"Do you think he can survive the main events? You barely see human strength match those of the Daiki here" Jakaa said.
"Hmmmm. True" She agreed.
"But are you certain he's not a Daiki user?" Jakaa asked as Heiva turned to leave. They had come to spectate from the left flank inlet, one of the two entrances to the arena where the fighters waited and entered the battlefield when it was their time.
"Well, why don't you simply put him in the main events, let's find out" she said, smiling crookedly.
"I have a score to settle with the 'Blue rat'. It's almost time Jakaa" she said as she walked away.
"Later"
Durma had collected his payment. A measly ten copper pieces. There was an obvious foul play from the crooked cashiers but then, he really didn't need it. Then, he crossed paths again with the astonished and yet somewhat disappointed Guipin. He had asked the organisers Fris had brought back at the shed to pitch him against a top opponent like Sadeen, since he thought Durma was too much of an impudent.
"We'll see later. Right brat?" He said maliciously as Durma passed by him. Durma simply grinned as usual.
"Later, Guipin çi" he said casually as he walked back out through the garrison gates.