Closed [Fighter's pit] One mercenary, One knight. Trouble time!

[Revy Hiroe]

Revy didn't expect the man to intercept her blade that fast. She reckoned that she would at least hit the joint. Yet instead her sword slid harmlessly behind his leg. Yeah crap, now she was in trouble. She wasn't gonna get out of this without getting hit. She really should stop underestimating this guy. Or she should just drop all her armor. The latter wasn't really an option, because if she did drop it all, she'd be completely vulnerable to his attacks. She'd only do that if she was desperate. Now she had to deal with this guy's counter and despite seeing his kick, she just couldn't pull back in time. She felt his foot connecting to the swordguard, almost knocking it out of her hand. She wasn't going to be able to recover from that fast enough to block his next attack, that much she knew already, so instead she opted to create some distance again. Yet again she was just not fast enough. Darn that bloody plate, she still wasn't used to it. Because of that she didn't completely evade that shield punch. She had to take it with her shoulder and because of that, she lost her balance. While she did land on her back, she spared no time backing as fast as she could. Yes, she was gonna drop the armor. She couldn't fight the way she wanted right now. "Oi, could you give me a tick? I wanna fight you on real equal terms, so let me take off my bloody armor.", she said. God she hated to admit that she wasn't used to something. He probably thought that she was going easy on him, but it was quite the opposite. She was taking off that armor because she had to fight him at full strength. She had to utilize everything she had, even if it'd mean that she'd get hurt. She didn't really wait for his answer, but just decide to trust this 'reputation' of the knights. If he did attack her, well it was just one more reason to hate em. She just casually started with taking off her helmet. Her face was slightly red and gleamed from the sweat on it. The rest went in quick succession. The more she lay off her armor, the easier it became for her to move. Once she was completely done, she stood across Markus, wearing her regular black leather clothing set. She should really buy something light to wear under her plate armor. Maybe then she wouldn't sweat as much.

[Markus Andres]

The sword was kicked away, but the female warrior managed to keep her grip on the sword. It was unfortunate, for had he disarmed her there, the haughty attitude might have been demolished and the woman become more respectful to the knights. Eat her words and apologize. That or harbour resentment against the knight who had disarmed her. Markus foot touched ground with a loud thud. Almost three hundred pounds worth of weight Upper body twisted violently to power the shield punch. The woman was quick to move away. Try and avoid what she probably knew was coming. Didn't matter much. He must have rocked her confidence with the quick reversal of the situation. The sergeant heard the metallic clang as the heater shield connected with her plate armour. The knight knew it wouldn't do much physical damage, but psychologically it would probably chip away at the confidence. Especially when Markus to his enjoyment saw her tumble to the ground. Land on her back with a rattle of metal against stone and metal upon metal. The wonderful sound of an armoured person tumbling to the ground.

The knight decided against ending it then and there. He could probably have managed to close the distance and forced her to the ground again. But he was only beginning to truly enjoy the fight now. The quick counters. The narrow escapes. The instincts that took over. The thrill. The knight loved every moment of it and this woman would propel that enjoyment to a level only Razkar had managed to reach. The grin on his lips hidden from the world as he breathed hot air into the helmet and dark emerald eyes glared at the form of the woman. He advanced slowly toward the woman. Sword poised to strike. The woman yelled out to give her a tick. Markus stopped his advance and tilted his head. Staring at the woman curiously. He sighed annoyed. A delay. A pause in the enjoying battle. But he nodded and would wait for the woman to finish undressing. When she first started by removing the helmet to reveal she was, under normal, circumstances probably an attractive woman. But her face and hair marred with sweat, detracted from her beauty. Still, better looking than Markus had expected a woman of her height and strength.

I will allow it.

Markus watched as the woman undressed and removed her plate armour. It was an agonizing wait only relieved in part by the woman being good looking and undressing.

"Ah, so this is a mating ritual to you..." Markus teased when the woman removed her breast plate and revealed the leather armour underneath. Ooo, that must be unpleasantly warm. No wonder she's so hostile, must have been cooking inside of that armour unable to sweat. Markus didn't voice this concern, might do so later. But he had done enough to taunt the woman - Almost. "So, if I hit you again will you remove the leather armour as well? Has this become a game of strip-spar for you? I must say, I like the idea more than just getting your name once we are through." He taunted the woman. She may be pretty, but the haughty and disrespectful attitude more than destroyed her pretty visage to him. In many ways, she reminded him of Raven.

For all his taunting, Markus was actually looking forward to resuming the battle. Especially now that she had removed the plate and her speed had improved. Agility no doubt would have improved. Giving the woman more angles to attack from - but she had sacrificed every bit of defensive gear she had. First the shield, then the armour. All the more telling that he had not managed to disarm her now. For then he would be faced with an unarmed and unarmoured woman. If she began to prove too quick for him he could always resort to the magic that flowed through his veins and surprise the woman and end it quickly.

Though he had no intention of ending it quickly. Still... A grin crossed his lips. Perhaps magic would be used either way. When the woman looked ready he would advance once more. Wary of how much a difference the lack of armour made for the woman. The advance, was still brisk. Right arm with the bastard sword in a high guard. Shield extended before him. Mind duly aware of her free hand. Would probably try to grab his shield again. Something he would have to be prepared for. Once he reached his own optimal range. The blade swung out. A simple stab at the middle of her chest. A quick thrust with no feints in mind. A straight forward attack as well. Why bother changing a winning strategy this early in the game.

[Revy Hiroe]

The woman didn't pay any attention to what the guy was saying. The whole time during her removing the armor, she was grabbing her focus. She was going all out right now, use any trick she had up her sleeve. She was going at him intending to kill him. It all just showed that she respected him as a warrior. That guy wouldn't know that obviously, not unless he had heard rumors about her. The only thing that guy shouldn't do was fight as if she was not a match for him. Gradually the world drained of color, sounds didn't come in anymore. All Revy saw now was her opponent in front of her, all she heard was her own heartbeat and the breathing of her opponent. For now she was completely focussed on the fight, no more distractions or anything. The world could collapse around her and she wouldn't notice until she herself would be in danger because of it. All she said, was: "Time for you to meet Dira." The tone was dead serious, not the taunting tone she had before. And then the knight made his move. A simple jab, easily avoided. That guy severely underestimated the woman it seemed. She avoided it without effort. It seemed more like she just flowed along the blade, sliding next to the knight in not more then a tick. Her blade, still in her left hand, just hung next to her body. She didn't even make an effort to raise it to block the blow. With her right hand, she pushed against the side of the blade, attempting to push it into his own shield. At the same time she raised her left arm behind the night, making a slash for the back of his neck. This was nothing more then a simple attack to her, because she continued not even blinking an eye if her attack failed. She dropped low and just sweeped her left leg in, aiming to hit this guy's inner knees. This she followed up with a simple slash, or so it seemed. The slash was aimed for his right armpit, but if he made as much as an attempt to turn, to either avoid or block it, she'd change the direction to hit his ellbow. Every single attack of hers was aimed to incapitate her opponent. Each attack seeking weakspots in his armor.

[Markus Andres]

The knight raised a brow when the woman spoke. There was no doubt about the tone in her voice - she was serious. It was a threat. A honest to Tyveth threat! Rather than scare Markus, it had the adverse effect as it only intrigued him. For if she began to get serious, let everything she had in her out to defeat him, pulling no punches. It meant he could do the same. They were committed to doing this duel until either one of them no longer could move. To Hai with the orders of Urisu - if the woman took this match to the next level, Markus had every right to defend himself as a knight of the order. The grin that appeared on his lips was overjoyed as he felt a tingle down his spine. This woman might give him the thrill he so desperately had sought. Someone who would give him a fight worthy of Myri. Urisu's orders had been a chain around his legs. Now he might unleash a part of the brutality that so often accompanied the knight when he fought against scum unworthy of life. The woman had fitted in with that lot from the beginning. The knight began to move around his life force. What Joris had explained was his soul. It hardly mattered, he had exploited it before, doing it once more wouldn't hurt. Feeling the djed respond to his call in a manner that had been impossible only a season earlier. With a swiftness as he could push and pull the energy at demand. He felt the power. The strength of the magic as it responded to his commands. It felt wonderful. It felt empowering to have such a wicked force at his fingertips. Since the woman was agile, it meant the energy was best spent in his legs. Ready to pivot or move to counter her attacks and movements. His massive thigh muscles felt the extra power that the flux offered him. The magical essence lay ready for use within the massive body of the sergeant. The woman would regret the day she threatened a knight with Dira. Even if the breath of the goddess down his neck had the hair tingle with excitement. Such a pleasure. A thrill that only one other physical activity might match. A fire began to burn in his eyes as she moved to dodge his attack.

It had begun. Markus adapted. A glimmer of an idea. Brutal as it was brilliant in his own mind.

The knight was prepared for her dodge. They always moved to his right. Figuring the shield too big an obstacle to overcome. It was unfortunate that they never tried his shield side more often. Would give him the opportunity to bash in their skull with the shield. The advantage of quick thrusts were that they were quick to recover from. He pulled back the blade and to his delighted surprise saw her right hand press against it and trap it against the shield. Without delay his right leg swiftly moved forward and to his right. Directly in the path of the criminal. The power of the djed roared in the thighs. The step forward had been much quicker than the knight had moved earlier. More forceful as well. The knight was an aggressive fighter, very aggressive, but he was not stupid. He did not step out to body block the woman. That would be a useless endeavour - would not damage her enough and only leave his right side open for her blade. It would intercept her path, deny her the possibility to getting behind him so easily.

Open up for his next attack.

Markus knew of a style, when fighting with the Bastard, called half and a half - just happened to be another name for the bastard sword. A style where the blade could be used in very close quarters. A hand on the blade itself, the other on the hilt. Small circular motions as one could cut and weave through the enemy and strike with both pommel and tip with ease. Even use the cross guard as a crowbar to pull someone to the ground. Very useful style. The style was not one he had trained with more than once or twice. For he always carried his shield with him, which denied the use of the sword in this particular manner. Today Markus also carried a shield. Ought to have been denied the style. But it was not his own hand he would use as the 'half' hand. It was hers.

How wonderful.

Using her hand against his shield as the pivoting point as his right hand shot out. The tip of the blade stayed by Markus' left side. But the hilt came speeding in at her chest. The knight would ordinarily have aimed the strike at her face, poked one of the cross guard edges into her face and done some serious damage. Torn apart her beauty and made it match her personality. It was not mercy that held him back, it was cold calculated pragmatism. The woman was quick, almost as fast as Razkar and that man had narrowly avoided so many of his strikes in their fight that Markus aimed for more vulnerable spot on her body to optimize the chances of hitting her. The torso. With the change of armour, he could also inflict vicious damage on her chest with the strike. A heavy strike. Powered both by the flux in his leg and her forward momentum. The knight felt secure that he was close enough that her blade couldn't do any significant damage on him should it be swung in to damage him. He had moved so far inside the arc of the blade for it to gather momentum enough to be capable of trashing through the armour. Though just to make sure his right shoulder was raised as far as the current manoeuvre allowed him. Enough to cover significant parts of his neck from a sideways swipe.

[Revy Hiroe]

This guy... he had been pulling his punches. He moved far faster then she had inticipated. However, it was still within what she could handle. It didn't matter that she couldn't get behind him, as long as she could get next to him he wouldn't be able to use his shield at all. That thing had to go, one way or another. She could easily deal with opponents that wielded only a sword, or any other single weapon, but when they started to dual wield or use a shield, things got more complicated. Despite seeing how that guy had shifted his position, the woman didn't decide to change her attack. She still went through with the slash, but instead of aiming for his neck, she now had to aim for his shoulder. The bad thing was that due to him changing his position like that, she had to release his sword. It was a gamble, but she had to use her right hand as well to apply more force to her blow. She was sure that he'd feel it at least. But she didn't have the time to do it properly, as she had to avoid a blow to her torso. Pivoting on her left foot, she turned away from the blow, barely in time. She could feel the pommel scrape against her ribs. But because of this move, she only applied more force to her slash. That guy would feel it, even if he had maneuvered himself in such a way that she couldn't fully use the power of the blow. Immediately after having hit him, she pushed herself off the ground, backwards. She then thrusted her sword right for his neck, there where it met the torso. It was a move she had pulled on Ximal before, and it had failed, but it did serve as a nice way to avoid a counter easily. Especially since her jump created that distance between them. She had to make a new plan of attack with the knowledge she had about him now. He was able to almost match her speed, how she couldn't figure out and that didn't matter for now. All that mattered was that he could move like that, and that posed a problem. Revy knew that she was the one with the disadvantage here. She didn't wear her armor anymore, nor did she have her shield. Her one advantage seemed to have been nullified in one way or another and now she was in deep trouble.

[Markus Andres]

The knight was surprised. Very surprised by her ability to dodge the attack. Or narrowly dodge it, for he had felt resistance as the pommel had hit something a little more solid than thin air. The grin widened on his lips as he screamed for more. Even as the blade struck his gardbrace and it absorbed the brunt of the force, the knight felt the dull pain spread through his arm. It only spurred him to fight even harder. Made it seem all the more real to him. Her little threat had begin its first of many steps to reaching fruition. Causing him pain would be the first step towards having Dira stop breathing down his neck and snatching him into the afterlife. The tense fight would continue, the knight demanded as much, the woman was still on her feet. Still had energy to fight. Still had the power to lash out and strike the knight.

The woman jumped away. Markus pursued. Shield almost casually swung across and knocked the blade aside to Markus' right. Over the shoulder and away. She was quick, but Markus had a reaction speed honed from childhood to be quicker than any attackers weapon. It saved him often and this woman did not hold a candle to the speed of the Myrian fighter. Left foot pushed against the ground. The djed in his thighs added to his speed. Pushed his muscles further than ordinary. Gave him the edge needed. As the woman tried to generate space between the two fighters, Markus would do his best to cover that distance. Luckily he didn't need to cross the entire distance, for the woman had an outstretched limb Markus could reach. The blade swung out as he advanced. The knight had made sure that her blade would be by his shoulder as he struck. The blade would come up from a low angle at her exposed wrist. It was time he shifted the focus from damaging attacks to chipping down the woman's ability to carry on a real fight. Keep attacking the limbs. Remove her speed. Force her into a match of brute strength. A match Markus knew he would win.

Whether or not he hit her hand didn't matter much to Markus. His right foot would push off when the left touched the ground. With a flick of his right wrist the blade would redirect itself after either hitting or missing her wrist and instead stab directly at her left thigh. It was a dull training blade. But such a direct stab to an unprotected limb would probably give her a dead leg. The precision was impeccable despite their furious movements, at the middle of the meaty part.

[Revy Hiroe]

Revy hadn't expected that knight to react that fast at all. She figured that he would be able to react to the stab, but not dive in like that. She couldn't create any distance at all. This was not going as she wanted, not at all. She had to be the one deciding the pace of the fight, because if she wasn't she was at a really big disadvantage. She didn't have any room to take a blow and she could only block an attack with her sword. She didn't want to do this, as she wouldn't be able to counter as easily then. However, she saw his quick slash to her wrist far too late. It was too late to avoid it and thus she felt the blunt sword hit her wrist hard. The blow numbed her wrist, if not injure it. She couldn't hold on to her sword anymore, nor could she properly move her hand. This fight went bad fast. Not only was she unable to use her left hand now, but also had she lost her weapon. She was down to using her right fist... yeah, how was she going to win this now? If the woman hadn't been as distracted as she was due to the sudden change in the knight's style, she would've avoided the stab at her leg easily. The attack was straightforward, easy to read and despite being reasonably fast, easy to avoid for someone not wearing armor. However, Revy didn't avoid it, not at all. She was making yet another mistake of just trying to back away. Due to this, she did get hit. The attack wasn't as effective due to the woman trying to back up, yet still her muscles took a big hit. She felt the muscles tense up completely. Yeah shyke, this was over. She grit her teeth, she really hated it when she lost and this was one of those moments. "Petch, petch, PETCH. I........ just bloody PETCH!", she yelled, "You win, I ain't able to fight you properly. Can barely move my wrist and my leg... can't move it properly thanks to that stab." She just had to sit, her left leg stretched, unable to bend it. Could this day, well night actually, get any worse?

[Markus Andres]

The sergeant breathed hot air as he pursued the woman. Blade flashed out to destroy her only means of attack. He felt it connect to her wrist. Felt the impact vibrate through the training blade. Mercilessly he continued. Even as her weapon left her hand and the fight was over in every sense of the word. The knight pushed on. Blade flicked in and was thrust at her left thigh. It connected squarely and Markus felt a little thrill as he knew for certain that the fight was over. But to his surprise and respect of the woman she didn't scream out in pain. Instead, it was a flurry of swears coming from her lips. To Markus' own credit, he didn't continue the assault. Even though a part of him wanted to continue. Force the blade into her other leg and entirely disable her ability to fight. But there was a sliver of mercy for the haughty woman and he stopped the pursuit as she spoke. Or rather, swore like a sailor.

Markus felt the flux still in his right thigh. He lifted his leg and stomped it into the ground. Felt the energy of the impact vibrate up his leg. He had learnt long ago it was best to get rid of the energy if possible. Expend it once it had been gathered and put into the muscle for use. The expenditure of the energy sent a shiver of thrill down his spine. The woman surrendered and Markus felt a little annoyed. It was getting good. Very good. He felt the thrill of the battle tingle down his spine. But seeing her there on the ground. Complaining about her injury was not something he had expected the criminal warrior to do. She had seemed too proud and angry to show such weakness to him. One of the knights she apparently hated so much. Markus dropped his blade to the ground and the shield soon landed next to it. His arms moved to remove his helmet and that too was soon dropped by the blade and shield. He shook his head a little as he was freed from the metal bucket on his head. Could breathe easier now. Fresher air that didn't come through a session of slits in the helmet. Armour was still restricting, but he was used to that restriction, it was surprisingly rare Markus wore a helmet. despite that being one of the most important pieces of armour for a knight. A blow to the body could be, in an sense, shrugged off, a blow to the head was almost always fatal. Markus stood in front of the woman. There was no sympathy in his eyes, it had been a spar and he had done what was needed to secure the win.

"It will pass in time, but you probably already know that." This woman had reminded him of that grotesque man he had fought almost a year ago. His affiliation with the goddess Myri. Victory and battle. So similar in style, except one much more talented, frighteningly so. Excitingly so. "You fight well. Know how to move efficiently and when to strike and when to back off. But you should spend more time in your armour, neither of my strikes would have injured you like this had you still worn it. But as I said, you fight well, woman" Markus spoke, the last word a reminder that she had yet to give him his prize for the victory, her petching name. But the fight had been a prize in itself. The sergeant moved around the woman and knelt by her left side. "Show me your wrist." He ordered casually but with a sharp confident edge to his tone. Almost a full season as a sergeant, it grew on him. Became easy to issue orders without second thoughts.

[Revy Hiroe]

The woman wasn't paying attention to the knight at all right now. She was just focussing on getting her breath under control. Staying in that hyper focussed state wasn't exactly easy. It was rather taxing on her endurance. Besides, she hadn't worn her plate armor into combat all that often. Sure, she had practiced with it, but a real fight? No, that was something she had done only once before. The mercenary couldn't do anything but listen to that knight's words. With that last word, that emphasized woman, she remembered that she still owed him her name. Rather begrudgingly, she gave it to him: "My name's Revy Hiroe." Ugh, she hated it when she lost. She hated losing against Siiri, she hated losing against Ximal... twice. But the loss she hated he most wasn't that long ago. She lost to that bandit leader and it had left her with some nasty memories. She didn't like having him this close, nor having him touch her, but since she lost she had no right to complain. At least for now. The moment he touched her, she flinched. The memory of what had happened back in the bandit camp still lay fresh in her mind. She's hated the touch of men ever since she lost her family, but after that incident, not more then ten days ago, she couldn't even stay calm when one touched her. She just started to shiver all over her body again, as if she was pinned down by twinblades again. How she hated that, how she hated how her body reacted to men right now. Yet she couldn't do anything about it.

[Markus Andres]

The sergeant noticed how the woman felt uncomfortable with him so close to her. The way she flinched, not because of the pain, not entirely. Markus averted his gaze from her visage and to her wrist. He wasn't a trained doctor, but the injury appeared to be superficial to him. Much like her thigh was probably only still reeling from the blow it had received. But the woman did not seem to recover, for she was beginning to shiver. At first Markus thought the woman was having a fit, something wrong with her.

"Calm down Revy- " Markus spoke confidently, ordering once more. "The fight is over. Just relax and take a deep breath." Markus looked to the wrist again and then let go of her hand. Perhaps it would be best if he didn't touch the woman until she recovered from whatever ailment that was taking hold of her. Both haughty and having some sort of trauma or intense hatred of physical touch. Why do I always run into those messed up. - Markus thought wryly as he calmly observed Revy. Feeling his own heart rate decrease from their previous fight. The air that expanded his lungs came slower. Though he still felt pumped. As if he could take another spar and another one after that. Felt the adrenaline pump through the veins of the sergeant. A feeling he had missed dearly. The woman had almost managed to give him the satisfaction of a fight that would be treasured in his memory. On the threshold for greatness. He hid the disappointment well behind a wall of annoyance with the woman.

"What is wrong with you?" Came the simple question. Direct and to the point. Didn't particularly care enough to be gentle with the woman. She had threatened him with Dira and that gave him liberty to be a little blunt and uncaring about the usual politeness required of a knight. His eyes looked at the dark leather. Couldn't be cold on such a warm evening and the leather should make it uncomfortably warm after their physical activity. Which meant barely restrained anger or something much deeper. Despite his obvious dislike of the woman, he found that he actually cared enough about her well-being to listen to her response. Haughty as it would probably be.