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Vequora walks out to the arena, and views Kintre standing on the opposite side of the arena.

Vequora’s thoughts: “This is my shot, I can’t afford to just throw this chance of changing my life away. I’m not going back to my old life. I’m breaking free, right here, right now!”

It turns out Vequora had zoned out in her thoughts, and had not realized the match started. Kintre is charging towards her.

Vequora: “Shimata!”

Vequora opens her parasol, and uses it to deflect Kintre’s charge, which launches her upwards. Vequora runs out from under her as she falls. And turns around to see Kintre charging again.

Vequora: “Please don’t tell me it’s just going to be this the whole match.”

Kintre, with her shield raised and sword at the ready, charged forward once again, her boots pounding the ground as she closed the distance between them. Vequora could feel the vibrations of Kintre’s aggressive movements through the arena floor.

Vequora: “Guess it is.”

She twirled her parasol in her hand, feeling the weight of it, and prepared herself for Kintre’s next assault. As Kintre’s sword came slashing down, Vequora sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow, and used the edge of her wakizashi to deflect the attack. The clang of metal rang out as Kintre’s blade glanced off Vequora’s, but the force behind the strike still sent a jolt through Vequora’s arm.

Kintre spun on her heel, thrusting her shield toward Vequora’s midsection in a swift follow-up. Vequora barely had time to react, throwing her wakizashi up to block the incoming hit. The shield slammed against it, the impact reverberating through her entire body. She gritted her teeth, feeling her arms buckle under the weight of the blow, but she held firm. She pushed back against Kintre’s shield, creating just enough space to dart to the side. Kintre, undeterred, immediately followed up with a quick slash of her sword. Vequora leaned back, feeling the blade cut through the air inches from her face, before she spun away and gained some distance.

Kintre’s relentless assault continued as she charged once more, shield raised in front of her like a battering ram.

Vequora’s thoughts: “She’s like a bull. Just charging at me without a second thought. I can use that.”

She waited, her grip on her blade tightening as Kintre closed in again. Kintre scowled, her grip tightening on her sword. She charged again, this time with a bit more caution. Vequora could see the slight hesitation in her steps, the way Kintre’s eyes narrowed as she tried to read her movements. Vequora knew she couldn’t just keep dodging forever. She needed to strike back, but she also needed to be smart about it. As Kintre approached, Vequora didn’t wait for the attack. Instead, she rushed forward, meeting Kintre head-on. Kintre’s eyes widened in surprise, not expecting Vequora to close the distance so quickly. Vequora spun low, her wakizashi sweeping out in a wide arc. Kintre barely managed to block the strike with her shield, but the force of Vequora’s attack pushed her back a step.

Vequora: “You’re not the only one with power.”

She pressed the attack, not giving Kintre a moment to recover. She thrust her blade forward again, aiming for Kintre’s midsection. Kintre blocked with her shield, but Vequora quickly followed up with a downward slash aimed at her legs. Kintre jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blow, but Vequora wasn’t done yet. Vequora kicked off the ground, using the momentum to flip over Kintre’s head, landing gracefully behind her. As she landed, she spun on her heel and swung her blade upward, aiming for Kintre’s exposed back. Kintre, however, was faster than Vequora anticipated. She whirled around, raising her shield just in time to block the strike. The clang of metal echoed through the arena once more, and for a brief moment, the two of them stood locked in place, their weapons pressed against each other, neither one willing to give ground. She pushed off, breaking the deadlock, and retreated a few steps, reassessing the situation. Kintre was breathing heavily now, her once precise movements growing slightly sluggish. Kintre jumps and performs a downward slash that Vequora blocks after quickly drawing her wakizashi. Vequora uses her blade to push Kintre away. Vequora uses the down time to retract her parasol. Vequora takes a more rigid stance, preparing for another charge. Kintre doesn’t charge, she stands there, with her shield held close to her torso.

Vequora’s thoughts: “what the hell is she doing now?”

Vequora is confused on her opponent’s sudden change in strategy. She paces around Kintre, who doesn’t even turn to keep facing Vequora. Vequora keeps her distance, becoming increasingly suspicious of her opponent. Kintre quickly turns around and turns her shield face-up, and slides her blade over the top, spewing sparks at Vequora from a distance. The sparks fly at Vequora’s face, burning her. Vequora is stunned for a moment. When she returns to her senses, she sees that Kintre had thrown her sword through her foot, pinning her to the ground. Vequora’s pupils shrink, and she can feel her heart beat faster. Kintre bashes Vequora with her shield, sending her flying away, with her right foot now split down the center. Vequora tumbles as she lands, and steps up to her knees.

Vequora’s thoughts: “Shit! How do I keep fighting like this?”

Vequora attempts to stand, but her knees hit the ground once more the second she puts weight on her right foot.

Vequora’s thoughts: “I need to get up!”

Kintre sends more sparks, but this time, at Vequora’s open wound. Vequora lets out a blood curdling scream loud enough that the some of the front row spectators cover their ears. Vequora’s vision blurs slightly from tears welling in her eyes along with her increased heart rate causing her to loose blood very quickly. Vequora grips her parasol, and slowly moves it in front of her. Kintre goes for another charge, and brings her blade down towards Vequora. Vequora blocks the strike, though her hand is weak, and Kintre’s blade glides off and grazes Vequora’s shoulder. Vequora continues moving her parasol, and then opens it. She uses her remaining strength to propel herself off the ground. She decapitates Kintre, then rolls back over.

Vequora’s thoughts: “I didn’t want to kill her, but it got to the point where it was either me, or her.”

Vequora blacks out, the noise of the crowd fading.

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