Chapter 10

"You both know the rules. Wait for the gong." The old man again left the arena and, seconds later, the gong sounded.

Almost instantly, Mitsurugi was less than a foot from me and I saw a katana come seemingly out of nowhere with a vertical slash. I managed to get Soul Calibur in position to parry the katana, but it switched to a horizontal slash mid-swing. The only thing that saved me was the bizarre protrusion from just below the smaller blade, which stopped the katana in its tracks.

This man's attacks were much quicker than I expected; I would have to think up another plan, and quick. If he was so fast, I decided, I would have to make him slow.

I swung Soul Calibur in a horizontal slash, but somehow Mitsurugi was able to match my strength and our weapons became locked together, our faces within inches of each other. Perhaps he had been fooled by my armor into thinking I followed some knight's code of honor, but not only had I been corrupted by Soul Edge, but also before that, I was the leader of the Black Wind bandits. Had he known my history, he would know I do what it takes to win; but he also found that out as my heel came down on his foot.

Mitsurugi's eyes bulged as he grunted, and the strength on his katana weakened. Now was my chance.

I reversed the direction of Soul Calibur and spun in the opposite direction, the sword outstretched. Mitsurugi had regained his composure just quickly enough to spare his life, but not quite completely saving himself as Soul Calibur sunk itself deep into his side before being stopped once again by his katana before being forced out of the deep wound.

His eyes squeezed shut with pain, Mitsurugi made a wild slash in my direction. It cut my armor, but not deep enough to slash the flesh. This katana was extraordinarily sharp; I would have to keep a closer guard if I valued my life.

Mitsurugi, clutching his bloodstained wrap on his left side with one hand and his katana with the other, was clearly in no condition to fight, but yet here he stood before me. I commended his willpower, but there was not much of a threat left of the brave warrior who challenged me. It occurred to me that I shouldn't kill Mitsurugi; we still needed the Soul Edge piece. I came up with a quick plan…

I hooked Mitsurugi's katana inside the hook-like appendage of Soul Calibur and pulled it away. Mitsurugi, shocked, limped toward it, but I stopped him in his tracks with a swift kick to the side. He crumpled to the ground, holding his side with both hands. I seized my chance and rushed toward him, placing one hand on his neck and the other wedged into his wound. I then lifted him into the air, causing to unleash a scream of pain, strained through my grip on his throat.

"Forfeit the match." My hand thrust farther into the profusely bleeding wound. He began to kick his legs and try to pull my hand out as his breath grew shallow with panic. His face deepened from red to purple.

I wedged my hand even farther as I balled it up into a fist inside his wound. Mitsurugi attempted to scream, but it escaped as more as a croak. Finally, seeing no way out of his situation, he stopped his panicked flailing and mouthed the words "Okay, okay, I forfeit!"

I immediately released the drop on his neck and removed my hand from between his organs. His face lightened to his natural color as he inhaled deep, gasping breaths and replaced his hands on his gushing wound. I then watched Mitsurugi limp his way to the medic room as the announcer told the ground that the reigning champion had just forfeited the match. I picked up Soul Calibur, lifted it up onto my shoulder, and also went to the medic room for the armor smiths to fix the breastplate of my armor.