The air in the arena grew tense as the both the fighters faced each other, waiting for the elder signal. Bhoomik was a year older than Aspen, he was in the same class as Shen. His eyes were sharp, his grip on the twin spears steady on the opposite side there was Aspen, broader and bulkier, didn't rush in like he usually did. He knew the truth rushing won't work on a experienced fighter if he threw both axes and missed, he'd be left weaponless, wide open to attack.
So this time, he waited.
Bhoomik made the first move. With a sharp exhale, he lunged forward, his spears slicing through the air in rapid succession, stabbing and slashing at maximum reach. Aspen dodged, rotating around him not wanting to get cornered.
The clash came fast, one spear darted for his ribs but Aspen's axe slammed it aside with a metallic clang, the vibration rattling up Bhoomik's arm. The lean fighter retreated a step, then charged again, relentless.
Aspen moved in response, his right axe swung in a wide, brutal arc. Bhoomik caught it on the shaft of his spear, the edge biting into wood. The second axe came down instantly, only to be caught again. Bhoomik gritted his teeth, holding on with both spears crossed, knees bending under Aspen's weight.
Aspen pressed harder, strength crashing against willpower. Bhoomik dropped to one knee, arms trembling as he held the block. Then Aspen wrist twisted, ripping both the axes outward, dragging the spears wide and leaving Bhoomik exposed. His front open wide.
Without a second's hesitation, Aspen snapped his torso back and smashed his forehead into Bhoomik's face.
CRACK!
The sound silenced the crowd for a heartbeat. Bhoomik's grip faltered, his spears clattering to the dirt. Blood poured from his forehead as his skin ruptured but, Aspen didn't stop he reared back and drove his skull forward again into another sickening headbutt. Now both men were bleeding, blood trickling down Aspen's brow, but only Bhoomik was the one who was swaying.
Aspen laughed as blood trickled down his face, his laugh only fueled Bhoomik's rage, he got up still staggering.
A brutal step-back kick crashed into Bhoomik's, sending him stumbling backward. But Bhoomik used this as advantage creating distance between him and Aspen, while blocking the kick with a cross arm block. He thought he'd created space, but regretted it the next instant.
Aspen came charging, leaping off his left leg and his right knee shot forward like a battering ram—CRACK!—slamming into Bhoomik's face. The lean fighter's head snapped back, his body collapsing midair but as he fell to the ground, with the impact he regained his consciousness and with every bit of power left inside him Bhoomik got up again.
Aspen got irritated, without giving Bhoomik a chance to breathe, he closed the distance in a single stride. Bhoomik swung his fist desperately, but Aspen caught it mid air and, with his other hand, drove a savage punch straight into Bhoomik's face.
The impact was brutal. Bhoomik's eyes rolled as his body went slack, he lost consciousness on the second blow. But Aspen didn't stop. His fist hammered down again and again, each strike echoing across the arena.
Bhoomik's limp body swayed backward, still trapped in Aspen's grip. Only when Aspen finally released his hand, Bhoomik collapsed, buckling like a puppet with its strings cut.
Bhoomik's body hit the dirt, blood smeared across his face. His spears lay scattered, his body motionless. The crowd's roared.
Aspen stood above looking down on him, chest heaving, blood dripping down his forehead. He looked less like a man and more like a beast.
The elder raised his hand. "Aspen wins!"
Cheers followed, Bhoomik didn't rise again as he would need to be carried to the infirmary.
**************
After some time crowd hushed as the two women stepped forward. Both were smaller than Aspen or Bhoomik, but the fire in their eyes burned with same intensity.
Twin daggers glinted in both pairs of hands. Neither moved recklessly each circling, waiting for the other to attack first.
Then at once, they both lunged.
Steel clashed in furious rhythmic clinks, blades flashing as Mei and Vamika struck and countered, feet shuffling in tight arcs. Mei's speed met Vamika's raw power, the daggers ringing each time they connected.
Vamika slashed down while Mei arched her torso back, letting the blade whistle past her chest. In that instant, Mei's hand shot forward holding and twisting Vamika's wrist. CRACK! The dagger slipped loose and fell. Mei kicked it out of the ring, and the crowd cheered thrilled by her performance.
Vamika snarled, swinging her empty hand, snapping across Mei's face SMACK! the sound echoed through the arena. Mei staggered back her cheek stinging her eyes burned with anger. Before Mei looked up, Vamika's boot smashed into her wrist. Mei's own dagger clattered away.
"Now we're even!" said Vamika.
"No one has ever slapped me" said Mei.
"My congratulations on your first slap" Vamika laughed.
Mei's eyes blazed, Vamika raised her blade high and slashed. Mei ducked left, as her body bent her hand on ground like she was doing a one hand side flip and her knee slammed into Vamika's shoulder due to her small height (this move is called Yan erwan) but it was just enough to make Vamika stumble, clutching at her armour.
Vamika's growl rose like an animal's. She charged, dagger flashing low. Mei tried to parry, but Vamika ducked her head aside and shoved her dagger in. THUNK! The blade buried into Mei's shoulder.
"MEI!" Shen shouted from the crowd.
Mei gasped, teeth clenched, stepping back. But even with the dagger in her shoulder, her free hand lashed out her dagger biting into Vamika's ribs as a counter. Both staggered back, blood dripping.
Mei ripped out the dagger from her shoulder with a hiss and threw it outside the arena a. Vamika, grimacing, spat and taking out the dagger from her ribs and threw it outside the arena.
Now, both were unarmed.
Vamika shoved Mei, her strength sent Mei tumbling to the ground. The crowd roared as Vamika reached down to seize her—
But Mei's body coiled like a spring. Both hands pressed into the dirt, she swung her legs upward. CRACK! Her heel smashed into Vamika's face and Vamika staggered back, dazed.
Mei scrambled up, fury in her eyes. She lunged, snapping a kick forward but Vamika blocked it with her knee and launched off her other leg. THUMP! her foot buried into Mei's abdomen like a battering ram. Mei coughed blood as she skid across the arena,s floor.
"Finish her!" someone yelled.
Vamika closed in, grabbed Mei's tunic, and hauled her upright with one hand. Mei dangled, struggling, as Vamika's fist drew back to punch her face.
Mei moved grabbing the arm which was holding her, her other arm shoving down on her shoulder in a arm lock. TWIST! Vamika's arm bent backward, her body forced down.
Mei's knee shot up. Once, Twice, Thrice. Each kick crushed into Vamika's bloodied face.
Vamika's grip slackened, her body swaying.
Mei crouched low spinning, her leg swept the ground. WHAM! Vamika's slammed hard into the dirt, gasping.
Before she could rise, Mei was already on her. A hard slap crashed into Vamika's cheeks, snapping her head sideways. Her body went limp.
The crowd exploded.
The elder lifted his hand, voice cutting through the noise: "Winner Mei!"
Mei staggered back, blood streaming from her shoulder, chest heaving. She didn't raise her hand in victory. She just spat blood onto the dirt and glared down at Vamika's unconscious body.
"Slap me again next time" she muttered coldly, "and see what happens."