The two sleepers launched for each other's throats, the proud legacy like a speeding bullet at Kade -- the green trail of his Jian like the tail of a comet. With speed that bypassed common sense, Caster blurred past, swinging his sword with deadly precision.
'God, that fucker is fast!'
It was the thing that made the legacy so deadly. After all, tempo, speed, and spacing are what create the basis of combat, so then things like power, agility, and dexterity come to light. Being unable to decide where combat would flow is tantamount to losing.
But beneath the amber eyes, Kade's mind ran into overdrive, [Never Ending Fury] giving his mind the energy to run at a pace that allowed him somewhat to see where the bastard moved next. Not to mention make sure his body moved like a well-oiled machine.
Even if his brain could catch up with Caster, how would he do so physically?
[Vigilance] surged through his entire body, allowing him the power to smack the blade away with the blood-red gauntlets that the [Rings of the Ravaged] had formed. The two weapons violently shrieked as they clashed.
A devilish grin emerged on Kade's lips, his amber eyes glowing with the violent passion of [Battle Lust]. [Vigilance] was the entire reason he decided to allow the legacy to use his sword. Like balancing on a tightrope, every time he slipped or got closer to the drop, he would receive the power and speed needed to match him.
Was it a very dumb plan? Yes. Gambling his life on this was foolish and idiotic to anyone who considered such a thing so important. Kade did as well, but letting a brat-like caster act superior to him was just as dreadful.
Caster sped past. feet skidded against the smooth flooring of the changing room, the kicked-up wind rushing through his blonde locks, his green eyes filled with focus at his decrepit enemy. The brawler smiled like a gremlin who gazed at a dragon's horde.
His emerald eyes filled with irritation.
"You shouldn't have anything to be happy about, brawler; I'm going to cut you down a peg in a matter of moments. If I were you, I would be on my knees praying for my mercy."
Kade raised his eyebrows.
"Then you must be quite the submissive type of Caster – because you can have my bloody forfeit once in Neverland, jackass!"
Caster scoffed, his figure blurring once again, the air roaring in surprise as the sleeper burst past beside Kade. His sword lashed out again like a deathly whip, and Kade sidestepped the edge barely before having to intercept the following attack with his blood-red gauntlet.
The legacy continued his brutal speed, each strike like a pose that flowed into the other, his sword dancing to meet his heart. Kade desperately attempted to parry and avoid the blade, but despite [Vigilance] and [Never Ending Fury], he wasn't fast enough.
The silver-forged weapon cut across his trusty coat and rough skin. [Scarred] Helping his flesh act like a coarse leather against the blade. The new blooming pain washed away in the dull bliss of his Never-Ending Fury.
Caster's olive-coated muscles bulged in action. Guiding his blade into a perfectly formed horizontal slash, the deathly focus in the legacy's eyes reached a new level. Once again it split the air, mere moments from cutting deep into Kade's chest.
'NO, YOU WON'T.'
Kade shot down like a rocket, the blade cutting loose strands from his hair; Casters' eyes widened, carried through by the inertia. Kade now snuck cleanly under the slash, bunkered like a boxer.
His heels braced the ground, and his entire body turned with the gathered force. His gauntlet meeting the sculptured abs of the legacy like a cannon. Kade pushed through with glee. Caster gasped as the air was forcefully evacuated out of his lungs.
The itch at the back of his mind screamed with anticipation. [Battle Lust] surged, begging him to tear the legacy apart. He chased the feeling like a junkie after his next high. A quick left crashed against the stunned legacy face, dropping him down to the floor for a follow-up slam.
But in the corner of his eyes, Kade noticed the clarity return to Caster, the green hue of his pupil shining through his locks.
It all screamed danger.
A flash of silver suddenly filled his view. Kade reeled in slight shock as pain erupted from his forehead all the way down to his cheek. His own blood starting to fall slowly into his right eye.
Caster's sword had lashed out, barely missing the brawler's eye, yet he had left him with another nasty scar. The grimacing Legacy rose from the ground with unmatched speed, tackling Kade with undying determination.
The two went airborne for a brief second until Caster, aided by gravity, slammed on top of him. The legacy readied his sword downward to impale Kade, yet the brawler saw through the veil of blood, his gauntlets catching the Jian inches from his chest.
The steel groaned. Caster's weight pressed the blade closer, the tip trembling just above Kade's skin.
"Give up," he spat.
Kade grimaced, [Vigilance] pulsating through his muscles as he resisted, managing to gain the advantage in the tug of war.
"Fuck off!"
Veins bulged in Kade's arms as he held the blade back; slowly he was winning the battle of strength. Kade observed as he made more and more space between the fatal blow until he finally saw the opportunity.
'THERE!'
Kade shot his hands from the blade and to Caster's hands. Kade grasped Caster's; the Gauntlet's blood now shaping bold spikes from its form, piercing into the legacy's skin. His grip faltered for a second, just enough for Kade to smack the Jian aside.
Kade crunched forward, a toothy grin splitting his face as he lunged for a tried and true headbutt.
But Caster acted faster.
BANG
The punch cracked across Kade's temple, cutting off his momentum with a flash of white pain. Dizziness gripped him for a heartbeat. Kade tried to retaliate...
He was too slow.
Caster responded with a clean mechanical left, Kade's jaw angling from the impact. Anger and desperation soaring at an all-time high for the Brawler.
And he tried again.
And again.
But Caster punched again and again, beating the brawler at his own game, his fists too fast to react.
Kade felt his world blur under the cascade of blows. Up, down, left, and right blurred into meaninglessness as the world lost its direction. He could no longer hear the murmurs or calls from the crowd.
It was all muted by the sound of Caster's fists impacting his head. His eyes were now blinded by his own blood. The sensation of touch on the cold floor faded as his brain struggled to function under the fury.
Even with the blaring of [Vigilance] powering his strength, he had no direction or input; like a rabid beast, he attempted to lash out or to break from the weight of the sleeper upon him, but he was trapped. It was futile.
The crowd watched with shock and horror as Caster ruthlessly beat Kade, even a distant human-like shadow reeling as Caster beat the bricks into the poor sleeper. With just a simple left and a right. The impacts sounded heavier and heavier as the legacy's aspect increased the velocity of his strikes.
The indifferently focused face of the Caster accruing speckles of red from his victim's blood.
Eventually, the percussion of blows stopped, and Kade lay there silently, unmoving. He looked down breathlessly at the mess he'd made and exhaled.
He got off and patted the grime off him. A pitiful glance left at his victim, words dying on his tongue. He could say something to the fool who brought this on himself. But what would be the point?
When and if-- he woke up would be when he would speak to the arrogant street rat. Maybe after this experience, he would stop overestimating his capabilities just because he had a true name and beaten some mundane gangsters.
'I should be able to get points with Nephis now... She would be favourable to me silencing the mongrel who disrespected her.
With the fight done, smoothing things over with the rest of the cohort would be simple.
Most considered death the most natural response to criminals anyway.
He hadn't killed him. Yet.
Caster stood with his back to where Kade had fallen. And felt a weird sense of unease. Along with hearing a sudden gasp from one of the watching sleepers.
The legacy looked back. His eyes widened in shock.
Kade was up from the ground. Standing proudly with my back into a boxing stance. A low stance. shoulders hunched, fists up, chin dipped.
poorly hidden fury written across his expression.
Caster silently watched as Kade spat one bloodied tooth down to the floor, the entire cohort of sleepers watching his lost molar clatter against the floor.
Kade, now with the stage, declared devilishly.
"Round two dipshit"