By the time the event rolled around, my nerves were frazzled, something told me this was not going to be your standard run of the mill daemon fight, oh no, there was something else working against me.
I couldn’t be sure what it was, but a voice inside of me kept screaming to avoid any shadows that may be present, at any cost.
Troy was already there when I entered the fighting pit and once we were both in place, the ground around us began to rise, creating an impenetrable barrier, locking us both inside until, only one emerged as victor.
“I’m going to make you suffer Malachi, I look forward to witnessing the moment your life leaves your eyes.”
I chose not to reply to him as I removed my shirt and stood before him in a pair of combat shorts, like his own.
“Welcome beings from all races, today we will discover who gets the honour of marrying the Ebony Child. You may both choose your weapon, but choose wisely, as only one of you is permitted to leave this area with your life still intact.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Hades once again took his seat between Persephone and Unya.
Troy chose a Saber and a Haladie, while I claimed a Katana and a Hunga Munga.
Our weapon choices were similar, but my Hunga Munga had a distinct advantage seeing that it could be wielded within my hand or thrown like a throwing knife.
We met in the centre, and our swords touched, neither of us wanted to give the other respect, but it had to be done under Hades’ decree.
Once Hades’ voice bellowed for the final time, the game began. Troy came at me hard and fast, while I deflected and countered with ease. My plan was to let him tire himself out, but after fifteen minutes passed, he was showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, my tactic only seemed to agitate him further and his blows came at me harder and harder each time.
I managed to get a few good blows on him, but they’d been nothing more than flesh wounds, where as his cuts had gone much deeper, making me tire from the blood loss.
His cockiness was growing with every hit he got, while my mind was beginning to grow fuzzy. I had to figure out a way to put an end to this, but no solution was presenting itself yet.
Our swords came together, and he used his to rid me of mine, making it soar through the air and lodge in one of the walls.
His smile grew wider as he kept raining down his blows and only my hunga munga was preventing h
im from impaling his Saber into my head. With a last-ditch effort, I managed to hook the curve of my blade around his sword, and soon his too, was sent flying through the air striking one of the spectators in the chest.
My attention was lost, as I watched the creature clutch onto the sword, as if that could somehow change his fate. His eyes connected to mine as he began to disintegrate and disappeared.
That loss of attention cost me dearly as Troy’s foot impacted with my chest, sending me hurtling into the wall and breaking at least five of my ribs in the process.
I struggled to regain my footing as he hooked his arm around my neck, locking me into a choke hold. The next moment he was thrusting my head down as he brought his knee up, crushing my nose on impact and making the whole world spin before my eyes.
I clutched onto his arm, temporarily forgetting about the only weapon I had left, when I suddenly grabbed hold of it and brought it down onto his arm, nearly cutting it clean off.
Troy screamed in pain, but it didn’t slow him down, he was determined to win this at any cost, and I knew deep inside myself I could not hold out for much longer.
He charged at me, but I swerved at the last moment, he managed to use his momentum to run a few feet up the wall before executing a back flip. He was behind me before I had the chance to turn around and I felt his Haladie enter my back, going into my spine and sending me down onto my knees.
His big win made him forget himself as he held his uninjured arm up, spinning around rejoicing in the crowds’ cheers.
I raised my eyes to Unya, who looked on in shock, but she didn’t look defeated. That gave me a shred of hope, maybe I could somehow still make it through the fight with my life intact. And with Troy showboating to the crowd, it increased my chances.
With my last bit of effort I clutched my weapon in my hand and pulled my arm back, I knew I had to time it just right, I only had one shot and If I messed it up then there would be no more second chances.
The front of his body was returning to my line of sight as I let go of my Hunga Munga and sent it soaring through the air. Troy’s show boating would prove to be his downfall, as he hadn’t even lowered his head to check where I was. He had no idea my weapon was coming for him, not until it lodged within his chest and he too fell to the ground.
We both slumped over together, as we battled with ourselves, trying to hold on to our lives. I had no idea how he was fairing, but a new pain took over, it felt as though something was squeezing my heart. It was like what happened that time on earth, when Janelle had shown up just in time.
But I knew no one would help me this time, I tried to pull myself closer to Troy, to steal the last of his essence but I was already too late. His head was tilted back, and his lifeless eyes stared straight through mine.
I had no chance of saving myself now, I couldn’t even hear what was going on around me. All I could focus on was the tight and excruciating pain that was still radiating from my chest, until everything went dark and I said farewell to what I thought was my immortal life.
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