Chapter 8: Alexandra and Kwupo
I was just about to see the sunlight, but my platform got stuck mere feet from the height needed in order to walk toward the field of battle. Still filled with anger and malice, I jumped and managed to get three feet above the referee's head and landed on my feet, in front of the both of them. "With this fight, if Eric should win, he is ranked up by two points. But should Alexandra and Kwupo win, they are both ranked up one point. Begin!" The announcer shouted and immediately I was blinded by a bright light. This light was Alexandra's sais, I realized that as I just barely managed to dodge one that was in line with my throat. "Enough!" I shouted as I kicked at Alexandra's abdomen, causing her to fall to the ground on her knees. When she got up, she furiously went after me in a flurry of sai attacks, blinding me when she could. She went another attack at the throat, and yet again, I just barely managed to dodge. She was quick, almost too quick for me to keep up this game of back away. She managed to stab my arm, twisting it as she got through the thickness of my arm. I screamed in pain and kicked her in the abdomen again, this time everybody heard the blow loud and clear. She was down on her side, holding herself in agony. When I went to deliver another kick, I noticed a furry creature on my shoe. "Could you get off please?" I say to the little ball of cotton as it then punched me in the face so hard, I flew across the arena.
The crowd shouted in amazement as Kwupo sent me flying through the air, bouncing off of the ground multiple times until I rolled to a stop. It was then he went to Alexandra, who looked as though she had many ruptured organs, to comfort her. This wasn't enough though to get her to stand, she was unable to fight. "Okay puffball, me and you!" I shouted as he then appeared to keel over. It was then that the ball of fluff molded into a man with a figure similar to Henry, but at my height. "To be a master means to show why you're the best, isn't that right weakling?" He said as he looked into my eyes. This caused me to take a step back. "Behold my full power!" Kwupo stated like a warcry. He was now at my feet and looming over me, a sharp metal object in hand.I ducked out of fear and rightfully so, his weapon shaved mere centimeters off of my hair. I was greeted by a hard knee to the face and sent all the way to the other side of the arena. My face felt as though it was hammered in multiple times and my legs weak from the constant tumbling. When the dust started to settle, I saw him getting into a stance, one of which meant the battle was over. "Eric, now do you understand what a warrior is?" Kwupo said with a hearty laugh. "Nobody has ever beaten the jester. Why do you think I'm sealed to that form?" He said again, this time making his eye contact known. He lunged again, but I felt something stir inside of me. The same feeling I had when I had the vision of the wolf started to manifest itself in my chest. I feared I was about to find out what it was.
He started slowly toward me, his weapon in hand. It was a katana hilt with some very damaged blade left attached. The metal shined in my eye, only allowing me to see Kwupo's silhouette. He was completely silent as he was coming over. I started to back away, I started to hear nothing that was going on around me, not even the crowd. I was weary as if this was going to be my grave or not. I then started to see the stars again, I knew a vision was about to become present. I felt the sensation start to grow in prominence, it felt as though I was burning from the inside-out. I placed my hand over my heart, hoping it would help, but to no avail. My heart was beating faster and faster, I was starting to sweat, I was losing my train of thought. I started to think of only how to survive, I felt like a caged animal, and I was in the corner. Kwupo had readied his weapon, ready to attack whenever he so pleased.
I reached my hands at my sides, all of a sudden, I felt something force my hand shut around it. I looked over to see a sword, it resembled a the fang I had removed from the wolf in my vision. The stars then faded out of my sight, and I started to only see his outline with my power. I still couldn't come up with a plan on how to escape my current life or death situation, but I knew there was a battle of epic proportions coming my way. I readied my sword, but I accidentally touched my shoulder with the edge that would curve against my arm. Instead of getting cut like what would normally happen with a sword, the sword turned into a soft material for which my arm could rest. I was amazed about this, and now I knew I had some sort of a defense, but nothing permanent. I was ready to stand my ground, no matter if I won or lost.
