Chapter 7:
Marcus lunges at Aristoxenus catching him off guard.
Aristoxenus parries the blow but falls to the ground, Marcus jabs at
him on the ground and he parries his sword to the left of his body,
then again to the right. Marcus grabs the sword with both hands and
jabs down, Aristoxenus rolls just in time to avoid the deadly blade.
He staggers to his feet and turns to Marcus. Marcus lunges at him
again, before he can swing Aristoxenus kicks sand straight in his
face and swings at him, this attack being parried by Marcus.
Aristoxenus swings another time catching the disoriented Marcus in
his left forearm, forcing a screech of pain out of the Roman general.
Marcus instinctively swings back at Aristoxenus catching him across
the face. Aristoxenus steps back and checks his wound. The cut is
light across his face, just deep enough to draw blood. He swings at
Marcus once more, the blow is parried but he comes around with the
fist of his left hand and smashes Marcus's jaw. He goes to swing
down upon Marcus's head, but Marcus slides and tackles himself and
Aristoxenus to the ground. Marcus turns over and slashes at
Aristoxenus, he misses as his sight is still blurred, then he takes
Aristoxenus's knee to the face. Marcus falls straight on his back
blood pouring from various cuts all over, Aristoxenus walks away from
the groveling general listening to the sounds of death all around
him, and waits for his opponent to get his weapon again and continue
the fight. Marcus comes about himself and grabs his gladius, gets
himself up, and ready to fight once more. Aristoxenus walks over and
Marcus jabs at him, Aristoxenus cuts to the right and avoids the
blade from hitting his torso, but it catches him in the left bicep.
Screaming out in pain Aristoxenus sees his opportunity, he jabs his
sword up into Marcus's stomach and out his back, blood shoots all
over his arm. Marcus shakes violently once or twice and let's go of
his sword, falling out of Aristoxenus's arm and thumping on the
ground. Marcus standing there, blood drizzling out from his mouth,
his eyes start to glaze over, and shakes violently again when
Aristoxenus removes the blade from his stomach. Aristoxenus goes to
finish Marcus off, pulls his sword back, and with a uppercut jab, the
sword slices vertical into his head from the bottom of his jaw, just
far enough to wear it protrudes just out the top of his hairline
threw his helmet, blood spews all over the front of Aristoxenus as
the sword settles in Marcus's head. Aristoxenus removes the sword,
and pushes Marcus's still standing lifeless body over. The once
mighty and beloved roman faction leader, bloody and limp, hits the
ground with a dead thud.
