Chapter 8: Llednar
The eruption of clangs and bangs were immense as Llednar and Marche fired blows at each other nonstop. Each collision of their swords seemed to add to their hatred of each other. Finally Llednar flipped back and caught his breath. Marche, not skipping a beat, threw an Air Render at him. The green bolt-shaped gust of wind erupted forth, and Llednar rolled to the side before it hit him, and chipped the edge of the Intrepid. Finally Llednar charged again.
Marche swung his sword horizontally at Llednar as soon as he was close enough, but Llednar jumped high in the air too early. Landing behind Marche, he push-kicked him forward, knocking him five feet ahead on the ground. Llednar ran over to him and lunged his sword forward to stab. Thinking quickly, Marche redirected the blade's force to his right, forcing Llednar in another direction. As soon as Marche stood up, however, Llednar immediately turned around and cast Life Render.
Marche felt cold. He fell to his knees, and felt his life slowly slipping away from him. Marche gasped for breath, and looked up as Llednar was about to cast Omega. Marche held out his Excalibur, and cast Holy Blade.
The clash of these two powers was immense, so much so that the airship seemed to teeter. Any more immense and the ship might have started to fall apart.
The resulting explosion knocked both Marche and Llednar back. Marche was on his back, and felt the life slipping out of him from that Life Render attack. What had Llednar done to him?
"It's simple, really. Life Render can cast Doom, sometimes. In a few minutes you'll be done for." Marche knew Llednar was right. He had lost this battle. I guess there's nothing to do but—
"Warning!" The Judge called. "Soon you will be leaving Ivalice. I cannot referee this fight when we have left Ivalice boundaries. I advise you finish this fight as before that."
"What?! Was this their plan all along?" Llednar immediately looked to Marche, angry that he had been fooled. At least he'd be dead soon. Llednar turned around, ready to look for the others. However, as soon as he turned, he saw Sora and Luneth waiting for him.
"Looking for someone?" Luneth flung his two blades ahead, which were blocked by Llednar's one sword. Sora then attacked his stomach with his Keyblade. Unhurt due to Fortune, Llednar retaliated by kicking Sora back. Sora recovered and grabbed Llednar's legs. "What the—" Luneth went behind him and held his arms together.
"You can't hurt me! I'm protected!" Llednar scoffed.
"Not anymore." Marche appeared seemingly out of nowhere, having cured himself of his Doom ailment. He held his Excalibur to Llednar's throat.
"What—what are you talking about?" And as if on cue, the Judge spoke.
"We have left Ivalice borders. I cannot supervise anymore. All laws for this engagement are now null and void."
Llednar seemed to flash quickly, and a look of horror enveloped his face. Fortune was null—he was vulnerable.
"And now…" Marche scoffed, and he punched Llednar several times in the stomach until he was out cold.
