The duel!

Training between the students seemed more lacklustre than ever today and that was because of one reason. The fight between Monk and Gary. The students were excited for the ranking match happening later during the day, it wall anyone could talk about.

Kyle had turned the whole thing into a huge event, he set up a time and place where the fight would be and even set up bets between the students. Gary was the favourite to win but he had given good odds for a Monk as well, using the mystery of the black sash students as a selling point. Of course, this was done away from the eyes of the teachers, they knew about the match but not the betting.

Although ranking matches happened every day, this had become a hot topic because it was a grudge match including the number one in the school. Everyone also knew that Monk was quickly rising through the ranks and even though he was currently at rank fifty, his true ranking would be in the top Tens.

Most of the students had gathered around a section of the outside training area. The crowd of students had formed a square shape of people to use as a ring. Gary and Monk were standing ten feet away from each other ready for the fight to start.

I was standing next to my roommates, Ian, Slyvia, Dan and Martha. When Kyle had come over to talk to us.

"So any of you want to place a bet on who's going to win?" Kyle was holding a piece of paper with a list of names and a tray of money hanging around his neck.

"How could you even ask us, we're friends with both of them, roommates even, I would hate for them to find out we were betting on them."

Dan placed down a Ten Sepy note in Kyles tray.

"Ten on Gary to win easy."

"Dan!" Slyvia shouted.

"Five for Monk from me, I always prefer the underdog," Martha said.

"I can't believe you two, right Ian," Slyvia said.

Ian couldn't look Slyva in the eye and started fiddling with his hands.

"Don't tell me?."

"The big guy already betted on Gary to win," Kyle said.

Kyle then went off shouting to the crowd informing everyone that the betting was now closed and the fight would begin any second now.

"Well, at least I know you didn't bet anything Ray, but I do have to ask do you think Monk has a chance?" Sylvia asked with a worried look on her face.

"Oh, so you also think Garys going to win."

Slyvia didn't reply but the look on her face said everything.

"Monk has put in more effort into our special training than any of us. He outperforms us in nearly every aspect of our training. Although Gary is naturally skilled and could beat nearly everyone, I would say Monk is the worst type of opponent for him now."

Dan who was listening in on us had his words to say.

"Well I fought Gary and lost in under a minute, I honestly don't think Monk stands a chance."

Everyone's attention now went to the two people standing inside the square. Kyle was being a type of ref for the two of them.

The two had their weapons ready in hand facing off to each other. Kyle stood in the middle with his hand in the air.

"3..2...1...Fight."

Kyle's hand went down to signal the start of the fight, he quickly went back into the crowd. Monk started as the aggressor striking Gary as soon as possible. The crowd was impressed Monk was moving and attacking from all different angles. Left, right, below above. The impressive thing was how quickly he would move from one stance to the next.

It was amazing as Monk was using his small body frame to his advantage. People in the crowd were shocked at would they were seeing but what was as equally impressive was Gary, who was managing to block nearly every single one of the attacks.

"Phew, Monk had me worried there for a second," Dan said.

Monk was relentless with his attacks but he was soon running out of stamina and energy unable to keep up the pace. Gary saw this and used the opportunity to strike back.

When Gary went to strike back at Monk, Monk seemed to switch gear with his footwork. His feet were now nearly moving similar to Sir K on the knight test exam. Gary was finding it hard to keep track of Monks movements. Every time Gary would strike were Monk was, he would have moved before his weapon reached his target.

"Go Monk! Don't give up!" Martha shouted.

The fight continued to go back and forth between the two of them for a good ten minutes.

"It looks like this match could go on for a while," Slyvia said.

"No it will end soon, our techniques are used for an assassination. Our whole aim is to defeat our opponents quickly. Monk knew this, that's why he's been trying so hard this whole time. The second it went over the ten-minute mark Monk lost this battle, unless..."

Although I said this to the group, there was still a chance for Monk to win the fight. The fact was that Gary had been underestimating his opponent this whole fight. Gary hadn't been using his full strength this whole fight. He had been playing along with Monk making him go past the ten-minute mark.

Monk was now visibly sweating buckets of sweat, whereas Gary barely had any on him.

"Ready to give up?" Gary said.

Monk didn't say anything and tried to control his breathing. Gary had gotten frustrated at this point and finally used a full-strength attack against Monk. Monk lifted his blade to block the attack. The attack was so powerful from Gary that the wooden sword had snapped into pieces.

"It's over,"

Just then, Monk grabbed one of the broken parts of the wooden sword and held it in his hand like a dagger. He moved the dagger with full strength aiming right for Gary's neck.

The wood splinter had made the weapon sharp. It was no longer the blunt piece of wood that we used for training but a real weapon now. When the wooden dagger was just about to reach the Garys neck. A hand came out and Grabbed the blade stopping it inches away from Gary's neck.

It was my hand.