3 Battle of will
In a desolate grassland, although lush and green no animals could be seen.
only two figures facing each other, on one side stood a middle-aged man wearing silver armor, a beautifully designed saber half-buried into the ground by his side.
holding his helmet between his arms, his blood-red hair is extremely remarkable in this plain grassland.
Facing him a young man wearing a thick blue coat, long dark hair flowing behind him, holding a simply designed wooden spear with a sharp green crystal tied to its end with a rope.
« A tribal man from the northlands? »
« The warriors of the north are no more they have fallen years ago, I belong to a nomad tribe that inherited their culture »
« Long years have passed but I still remember the rituals you do, especially the one you do before a deathmatch, after all, I fought people of the northlands all my life »
Magnus « but sir a general from the far-away empire, how can you possibly understand the preciousness of life and the respect of a warrior towards his enemies? »
« But I was a general who believes in the saying "know your enemies well and you'll never be defeated" therefore I can say with honesty that I know your culture well »
Magnus « then as the gods as witnesses let us have a fair fight »
Taking few steps forward, adjusting the grip over the spear, calming his breath Magnus runs toward his opponent.
Step by step till he is close enough to attack but also far enough so he can retreat.
The northlands have lived by nature since they were known. called the northland's tribes
They true to their name they were divided into many tribes, each tribe is unique as they have learned and imitated the forms and stances from local monsters.
Magnus belongs to the crystal python tribe, which is known for its irregular and bizarre footwork, and swift precise, and deadly attacks.
Although experienced in fighting if compared to his peers, Magnus is hard-pressed against the battle-hardened general Aznare.
every time he moves with steady and regular steps while his saber is deadly and comes at the right moment each time stopping Magnus from accumulating momentum.
« In the first place people of the northland tend to go on the offense first, although this fighting rhythm is hard to guard against for others, I who fought your people all my life could easily find flaws in your techniques »
« But sir the times have changed and we have also changed »
Taking a step back Magnus's stance changed while before it used to resemble a python about to kill its prey now it is as if a black panther looking at its prey in the middle of the night.
Quick and silent steps, then one two three continuous attacks so fast that it left a sort of afterimage Magnus takes the lead.
Faced with this sudden change The red-haired general stopped being on the defensive and went for the offense.
"After all if I were to stay on the defensive then in time I will just be a sandbag getting beaten"
Then seeing an opening, Magnus takes the opportunity to lunch a deadly strike.
Now if he landed a clear strike he won if he missed then the best he can hope for is a broken shoulder and a one-hand disability for the rest of the combat.
« As I said we have changed, a true predator would never risk a serious injury to catch its prey,» says Magnus right after Piercing the general's armor and nudging it right in his chest breaking his spine.
Glancing at the severed hand by his side Magnus sighed.
« Your will has dulled by the passage of times, since the moment I challenged you were resigned to your fate you have seen too many fails, you are no longer the one you used to be,»
« You fought for survival and I fought for my freedom this is where you lost general,» said Magnus while watching how Aznar's body turned into ashes.
