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.