Five… six fireballs streaked through the air in rapid succession, tearing across the arena like blazing meteors. They raced straight toward the prince, who was still leaning against the cracked stone wall, dust drifting around him in slow spirals.
Daemion's breathing grew ragged.
Each inhale burned his lungs. Each exhale trembled. The shadows of the incoming firestorm danced wildly across his armor and face, flickering like death's fingers reaching out.
Slowly.....
He closed his eyes.
The crowd gasped.
Some stood. Some covered their mouths. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
The fireballs were almost upon him;
Daemion's eyes snapped open.
In a single motion, he slammed his right palm flat against the arena wall. Stone vibrated under the force. He lifted his right leg, bent it sharply, and planted his boot against the wall beside his hand.
Then he pushed.
Hard.....
The wall cracked further as Daemion launched himself forward like a released spring. He twisted to the right, narrowly dodging the first fireball as it roared past where his chest had been a heartbeat earlier.
The crowd erupted.
"WOAAAH!"
While still airborne, Daemion swung his right sword in a tight semicircle. The blade screamed as it cut the air, forming a compressed arc of wind that shot forward and collided with the next fireball.
The impact detonated mid-air.
Flame dispersed violently, scattering sparks like dying stars.
Daemion didn't slow.
He twisted his body mid-flight, spinning like a coiled rope snapping loose. Both arms moved in perfect, fluid harmony as he slashed again and again, his swords carving through the air in rapid succession.
Multiple air slashes exploded outward.
They spread in every direction, forming a massive circular wave; an invisible shock ring rippling forward through the arena.
The wave struck the remaining fireballs.
One after another, they shattered.
Fire collapsed into nothingness. The wave dissipated, leaving only trembling air and stunned silence behind.
Then...
Cheers thundered.
Daemion surged forward through the fading turbulence and slashed toward Arthur while still floating in the air.
Arthur reacted calmly.
He turned his body slightly to the right, just enough.
Daemion passed him in a blur, his blade missing by inches.
The prince landed hard on both knees, arms stretched outward to steady himself. Sand sprayed beneath the impact. A thin stream of blood slid from his nose, dripping onto the pale ground below.
"Shit… I've used too much stamina on air slashes," he muttered under his breath.
He lowered the sword in his right hand, planting its tip into the sand for support. With the back of his palm, he wiped the blood from his face, leaving a crimson smear across his skin.
Across the arena, Arthur landed as well.
He dropped to one knee, planting the spear's handle firmly into the ground and holding it upright. His chest rose and fell heavily. Sweat rolled down his brow; creating so many fireballs had drained him more than he let on.
For a brief moment.....
Both warriors faced away from each other.
Still.
Silent.
The crowd leaned forward, sensing the tension stretch thin as wire.
Daemion twisted on his knees, turned sharply, and burst forward in an aggressive charge.
Arthur sensed it instantly.
He rose, gripping the spear with both hands.
Daemion reached him and unleashed a flurry of strikes; fast, relentless, each swing carrying desperation and resolve. Arthur held the center of the spear and intercepted every blow, switching between both ends of the weapon with masterful precision.
Steel clashed again and again.
Arthur spun clockwise, pivoting smoothly, and lashed out with a sudden kick from his left leg.
Daemion reacted instinctively.
He dropped his right elbow downward, intercepting the kick, then surged forward and struck with his left sword using all his remaining strength.
Arthur blocked; forcing the spear tip against the blade.
CLIIIIING!
The sword screamed.
Then shattered.
Metal fragments exploded outward, spinning violently through the air. Several shards flashed past Arthur's face. He leapt backward just in time, the fragments slicing through empty space where his head had been moments earlier.
The impact of the broken blade sent Daemion flying backward. He crashed into the sand, rolling once before stopping.
Without hesitation, Daemion grabbed one of the broken sword pieces and hurled it toward Arthur.
Arthur swung his spear and deflected it, sending the fragment spinning away toward the far side of the arena.
The crowd roared again.
Before Arthur could reset;
Daemion slammed his fists into the ground and sprang forward.
Halfway through his charge, he reached into the sand mid-motion, clenched his fist, and flung a handful of grains toward Arthur's face. At the same time, he slashed with the sword in his other hand.
The air slash surged forward;
Carrying the sand with it.
The grains accelerated, embedded within the wind arc like shrapnel.
"WOAH!" the crowd shouted in unison.
The semi-circular wave of air and sand tore across the arena in a spectacular display.
Daemion followed instantly by throwing the sword in his left hand straight at Arthur.
Arthur reacted; but not perfectly.
He dodged the slash, but several grains of sand struck his eyes. He flinched, blinking rapidly, vision blurring for a split second.
That was enough.
Realizing the incoming sword, Arthur swung his spear and deflected it;
BOOOOOM!
The impact blasted him backward through the air.
Even as he flew, Arthur smiled lightly.
A heartbeat earlier.....
As Arthur deflected the sword, Daemion had already seized the broken blade piece. He swung it in a tight semicircle, pouring every last ounce of will into the motion.
An air slash formed.
It struck Arthur square in the chest.
Red light flashed violently.
BOOOOOM!
Arthur crashed down several feet away, landing on one knee and slamming the spear handle into the ground to stop himself.
Daemion dropped to one knee as well, bracing himself with his right hand.
Blood poured more freely from his nose now, dripping steadily into the sand.
Silence fell.
Then,
"The Prince conquers!" the Arena Master's voice thundered across the arena.
"The victor...THE PRINCE EMERGES AS VICTOR!"
The arena erupted into deafening cheers.
High above, the king rose slightly from his throne, pride shining openly on his face.
Daemion wiped the blood from his nose with his free hand, stood slowly, and raised the broken sword piece high into the air.
"VICTOOOOORY!"
The roar that followed shook stone, sky, and destiny itself.