The Match (2)

"Drop the small talk," I mocked. We both gave each other a knowing smile and rushed at one another with no restraint, kicking up dust beneath us, clouding the already foggy night.

Once he reached striking distance, he drew an arc with his sword. His sword caved down on me, but I didn't panic and rushed forward into his strike. I jumped onto his blade, running towards him with my dagger, ready to strike. With unexpected agility, he changed the trajectory of his sword to slash me. I leapt twisting my body in the air throwing a sickle at his shoulder.

He twirled his sword, blocking the oncoming sickle, the sickle bouncing off the wide surface. I flipped, landing on the ground. When I looked up Ralph already regained a stable stance.

"You're right, your agility is admirable," I complimented with a beam. "You never told me what the rules were,"

"Thank you, M'lady," He stabbed his sword in the ground and bowed. "To win you either have to make your opponent surrender or disarm them, other than that just don't try to go for the kill," I nodded in response

He gripped the hilt of his sword once again and sprinted towards me. He swung his sword in every direction possible, trying to break my defence. I got pushed back as I parried his speedy slashes. Electric blue sparks flew around us, lighting the dark blanket cast over the area. The clashing of metal rang in the air like the chorus to the chattering bugs' melody. I twisted my body to evade his strikes, moving just enough to dodge. Only a breadth of a hair between me and the sword, biding my time, waiting for the right moment to counter-attack.

He swung to my side; I ducked, strands of my hair sliced off, never to return. I swung my leg, striking his shin. His balance shifted and taking that opportunity I popped my dagger in my mouth grabbing a sickle and flung it into his thigh and returned my dagger to my hand; it all happened in a split second.

I fell back, putting distance between us. At least, that was what I was going to do. But before I could put my thoughts to action, he slammed his sword into my side. I rolled, avoiding it, barely glimpsing at the deep crevice left behind by his sword before his sword crashed into me again. I rolled again, dodging his thrust. I rolled until the world around me turned to a blur from the dust being shot around. He aimed for my chest; I rolled to elude it but before I knew it he yanked me by the hair and smashed my head into the sandy cracked earth; he faked his strike.

Sand overflowed from my mouth, muffled groans squeezing from between my lips. He lifted me from the ground; I coughed, gasping for air, and tried to expel the grains from my lips and free my tastebuds from its choking dryness. I reached behind me, stabbing his hand. I felt as my dagger pierced through skin and hit bone with a low crack. Ralph threw me to the ground with an anguished groan. I jumped to my feet, but my left eye felt oddly free. The cold air brushing against it and my eyesight was noticeably better. I touched my eye with my fingers, realizing the silky eyepatch was missing.

I closed my eye and turned to face Ralph. "How rude of you to take my eyepatch,"

"Is it? I was just a tad curious. Your eye doesn't look injured to me though," He placed his injured hand on his waist.

"That doesn't mean a thing," I said, laughing.

"True. Also, I'm sorry for scratching your doll face, that's a pity," He sighed. I reached to my face with my hand, feeling for a scratch. "Indigo..." He cooed.

I glanced toward his voice. He was right above me, his sword looming over me with an oppressive force. I scurried back and caught the sword with my two daggers. Sweat pooled on my forehead as he crushed me beneath the hefty sword. My knees bent under the pressure threatening to buckle.

"Never take your eyes off your opponent sweet, sweet Indigo," He said, I practically felt his gummy smile from under the sword.

"I didn't think you would use such petty tricks," A wry smile spread over my face.

"You thought wrong," He laughed and pressed his sword into me, pushing all his weight behind it. "I hope you like your little surprise,"

"What do you-" I cut off my words, my attention brought to my daggers emitting a low crackle. My daggers were being crushed under the sword, not from the pressure but from the heat. They were softening little by little. My blue eye widened to a saucer as I watched in horror his massive sword slowly turning into a deep red, steam puffing from it in a chaotic pulse.

"You!" I yelled in anger but was cut off by the growing heat emanating from his sword, tickling my skin.

"How will you get out of this one? You should be prepared for anything,"

"How was I going to know you would use magic!?" I stared with shuddering eyes at my daggers turning into molten metal right before my eyes. The handle of my daggers turned to a burning inferno. I watched in dismay as my glove burnt through to my skin, leaving my hands to take the brunt of the scorching handles. The sizzling of my blood thumped in my ears like an endless melody. I grit my teeth and released my dagger. The sword fell closer to me, only inches from my nose. Strands of my silvery hair seared black before crumbling away into nothingness.

"Have you gone mad? Releasing your dagger like that!," He panted. A drop of sweat dripped onto his sword, instantly evaporating and joining the steam rising from his sword in a torrent.

"Maybe I have," I scoffed I chucked my dagger and placed my hand out. "I never thought I would have to do this,"

"What?" He tilted his head in confusion.

"Death Scythe..." A smile spread across my face as I spoke "Come slice for your master," A tornado of blood rose and finally settled weaving around like an intricate puzzle forming my scythe. It's black surface shining even in the night, coated with a sheen of silver from the moon's glow. Red inscriptions ran along its blade and a black wisp twirled around it even darker than the coal sky.

"I hope you like my little surprise," I repeated his words, "Let's stop playing now,"