So his knee-kick-headbutt combo attack didn’t work out the way Zenai has planned. Actually, it completely failed and Zenai almost overextended himself thus giving Eridanus a window of opportunity to strike at him when he was most vulnerable. Eridanus had a burst of unusually speed as he back offed from Zenai. Zenai suspects he had some special ability Zenai doesn’t know about but it seems its particular draining on his upper body. Still, the fact of the situation was that Eridanus had dodged his attack and Zenai is in a bit of trouble. However, Zenai was able to twirl to where Eridanus had side-stepped and brought his talon swords to bear to take a swipe at his friend. As Zenai planned earlier, it was blocked like it was supposed to be and it gave time to Zenai to get a stable footing.
Zenai then fired a rapid succession of stabs, jabs, kicks and slashes, hoping to catch Eridanus off-guard. He stabs with his right sword, Eridanus side-stepped it. Zenai then went for a left kick but again, Eridanus dodged it. He withdrew his right blade to swing it wide at Eridanus who then blocked it with his swords. Zenai threw jab through a fake sword cut but Eridanus saw it and prevented Zenai from throwing an effective jab. Zenai kept up his attack, never minding that his attacks were constantly dodged and blocked. His main objective now is to tire Eridanus out and Zenai is finally seeing the fruits of his labor as Eridanus’s movements are getting sluggish.
Eridanus should have a plan right about now. Some wicked move to pull off so Zenai would either be “killed” or make Zenai submit. It has to do something with his speed and agility especially from his legs. He’s been bunny-hopping around and keeping Zenai on his toes. Zenai would need to end this soon as his body is beginning to rant and whine especially his muscles and joints. If Eridanus continued on with his hopping tactic, this would tire Zenai out and he will be the one forced to submit. Zenai has to end this quick as well if he has any chance to succeed.
However, Eridanus took the initiative by using a downward slash which Zenai reacted by bringing his talon sword up to block it. Both blades clashed and locked with each other, neither willing to give up to the other. Little would Zenai know this would be the beginning of the end. Eridanus suddenly let go off his sword and with his free hand, he went for Zenai’s defenseless neck. This was what Eridanus was up to; he wants to get a hold on Zenai’s neck so he can choke him to submission. If there was one thing Zenai doesn’t like, it would be having his space invaded. Not like Eridanus’s looks or suspected orientation have anything to do with Zenai’s outburst. It’s just that Zenai doesn’t like his space invaded and Eridanus is no exception.
Unfortunately for Eridanus, Zenai still has his sword free and would just need to bring it down bearing on his neck. What better way to repay having your neck grabbed than having a sword pressed against your friend’s delicate neck? However, out of the corner of his eye, Zenai could see a glint of Eridanus’s sword coming towards his mid-section.
Petch! It would be difficult to block it properly when Eridanus has a hold on him. He would need to think of something quick before Eridanus end and win this sparring match. Something Zenai would not let happen ever. With his combined outrage and desperation of the situation, Zenai has planned a violent course of action that would turn the tide against Eridanus and teach him a lesson.
Eridanus can clearly see Zenai’s rage spread across his face when Eridanus grabbed Zenai’s neck. Zenai swung down his free sword at Eridanus, pommel first and whacked Eridanus across the cheek. Zenai also lean forward and pushed Eridanus so he would lose his balance in conjunction with losing some of his senses when he pommel-strike in the face. Zenai also let go of his sword in his other hand and moved to grabbed Eridanus’s long sword before it hits. Speed be damned especially Eridanus locked himself into a position where strength wins over speed. Zenai, with his legs, tip Eridanus over so he would fall backwards but since he didn’t let go of Zenai, Zenai was pulled along as well but this was what Zenai wanted.
Zenai made sure he shifted his entire weight into the fall so Eridanus would hit hard against the ground while being pressed against it by Zenai. He also brought up his knees so he would be able to pin down Eridanus with his legs. The crashed came and Zenai choked when Eridanus, still holding onto his neck, was pushing against his Adam’s apple because the Eridanus’s sudden stop and Zenai’s inertia. Zenai who had grabbed Eridanus’s other arm held down the Ethaefal’s arm down to the ground to prevent him from using it to retaliate. Zenai’s right knee pushed down on Eridanus’s stomach. For his final move, Zenai brought down his free sword against Eridanus’s own neck so the blade would press against the tender neck.
The dust settled and the two comrades stared at each other. Eridanus has his hand around Zenai’s neck while Zenai had a blade against Eridanus’s neck; pinned Eridanus’s other arm down; and his knees on Eridanus’s stomach. Sweat started to pour forth from each other’s faces in addition, to the heavy breathing from the intensive blade action but both them still held a tight grip over the other. Zenai, despite having his neck grabbed, spoke, “Okay, let’s end this and call it a draw. I don’t think we would want continue having exhausted each other and Stumble Alley being a dangerous place and all. Agree to a draw and end to this practice session?” If Eridanus agreed, Zenai would just fell besides him and would just like to lie on the ground to rest and contemplate on their fight. If not, then Zenai would need to further beat the shyke out of Eridanus to make him agree to a draw and end the session.
OOCSeriously though, some personal space! Let's end it here and call it a draw.