Leo darted and weaved as his opponent came at him fast. The Ranger was quick to be sure, but he was also just as strong. Leo deflected what he could, since the Ranger just powered through all the blocks he threw out.
There was no doubt that in a fair fight, this ranger would best the magus, but this wasn't a fair fight. While Leo couldn't use his spells, Leo had picked up a new trick to seal his victory. He lept back and slid his hand along his Rhoka's edge and left a fine, unnoticeable trace of his magic along it.
Leo darted in and went for an easily blocked overhead chop followed by a light quick slice, one that normally the thick hide on the ranger would have buffed away, but the blade was enchanted with Accurate Strikes and flicked through the hide like paper.
The ranger winced and rolled to the side, griping the hampering wound to his side. He stared at Leo's blade, thinking it a trick, but Leo's enchantment had left, as it could only stay on for a few seconds at most. The ranger cursed under his breath as he flicked his blades ignoring the pain and lept back into the fight.
Even wounded, the Ranger was still Leo's better in bladesmanship, and his two blades gave him more options to strike from. Leo continued to back pedal waiting for a opening presented itself. As he did he rolled to the side and grabbed a handful of the loose dirt on the ground to use.
The ranger saw it coming and just as Leo threw his dirt, The ranger's cloak was there to deflect the particles. Leo's eyes wide, the Ranger stepped forward with his blades deflecting Leo's next swing and kicked the magus square in the chest.
Leo rolled, his breath lost, and before he could recover a scimitar slashed at his sword arm. Leo was suddenly neck to blade against the ranger's assault and the ranger whispered in a gravely voice, "Give it up."
Leo reached his left hand up as if to call for a surrender, but in a flash he let his blade go and used the feeling he had left in his right arm to grip the ranger's hand to hold back the blade from his neck. Meanwhile the left hand grabbed the Ranger's hood and yanked it down over his head.
With a mighty heave Leo used both legs to kick the ranger up and over his head, Leo gripped his blade again in his right hand and turned up with a spin around to face his opponent. Leo smiled and said, "I don't need my right hand to beat you, since after all..."
Leo threw his blade over to his left hand and said, "I am left han-"
"No!" Shouted the man in the hat in the other realm, shouting at the skinny man using Leo's sheet.
The man in the hat continued, "You are not pulling a Princess Bride right now."
"What's Princess Bride?" Asked the tall helmeted man holding Alaroc's sheet.
"Oh my God!?" Shouted everyone at the table at the tall man.
"You've never seen Princess Bride!?" Asked the stout man with glasses holding Cruxis' sheet.
"No... should I've?"
The skinny man shouted at him, "YES! It's only..."
The man known as Jones put up his hand and says, "Not right now! We'll show him after. For now the Ranger stands and moves to attack again since you only kicked him 10 feet."
The Ranger attacks again with both his blades, only this time Leo holds the line. Both exchange rapid flurries until the ranger sees and opening and thrust. To bade for him the opening was fake, and Leo brings his knee up to knock the blade off course and held the other sweeping blade at bay for a split second with his wounded arm.
It bought Leo just enough of an opening to thrust his rhoka in and pierce the Ranger's chest. The Ranger's powerful swift movements lost nearly all their force and he stumbled back before falling to the ground.
The crowd exploded as soon as the man hit the ground. They had felt cheated when Zilo spared Carly's life in the previous round, and they finally got the blood they were expecting. Leo stood there for a moment, not hearing the crowd. He had pulled small capers when he fought off guards to be sure, but he'd never outright murdered a man.
In his head he thought it would have been easier, he'd gone through the steps, but never guessed the toll of the results. All he could do to get over it was to not think about it, instead he would focus back on the crowd, so he turned on his heels and waved to his audience.
Leo was led back to the pit fighter's area where his friends greeted him and the next two fighters began readying themselves.
"That was amazing Leo! What a game of cat n' mouse!" Shouted the buzzed Alaroc with Zilo looking to the arena employees carting out the dead body.
"Shame about Tieber, he might have had a family back home." Zilo said as he shook his head. Cruxis stood and walked up to Leo pointing his finger to him.
"Leo you didn't have to kill the man! Freya teaches to celebrate life not snuff it out! He was honorable! I saw him offer you a way out!" Scolded the paladin. Leo pointed right back and said,
"And lose out bet!? No way buddy, besides this is a tourney to the death! Forgive me for acting within the rules!" Cruxis folded his arms and turned to follow Alaroc up some stairs to the fighter's viewing platform. Zilo turned back to Leo and said,
"Don't worry Leo, I saw your eyes after it happened. It hit you hard, and that's what makes you a good man. Next round is starting, you coming with?"
Zilo's words gave Leo pause and the magus sat on a bench shaking his head, "It's alright, I just need to process this for a bit, besides Cruxis doesn't seem too keen to me right now." Zilo patted Leo on the shoulder and made his way up the stairs.
After a few minutes the samurai and nobleman fencer advanced to the arena and the rest of the fighters in the room ascended the stairs. The moment they all left Leo snapped out of his trance. He was troubled by the death to be sure, but he'd have been a terrible ne'er-do-well to let things like that dwell on him, and so he snapped in order to do a little mission of his own.
Now that the fighter's room was clear of the fighters Leo silently cast Major Image to appear still sulk to himself to the guard in the room. He then got up and began rifling through the other fighter's belongings. Leo figured he could win more fights via blackmail than via study.
As he began to make his way into the first bag he suddenly felt his illusion vanish, followed by an indignant voice shouting from the bathroom door. "By Freya! You scum!" Leo rose and turned to take another lashing from Cruxis, only to be stunned silent.
before him stood the stern armored fellow with the immaculately polished blade. His helm still hid most of his face. His hand was steady as the aura of Dispel Magic lingered on his hand. "First you take a life, then you invade people's belongings. If the officials allowed it, I'd strike you down where you stood."
"I wasn't... What I mean to say is-" Leo stammered, taken a back still by the fact it wasn't Cruxis on his back. The man marched forward and retrieved a holy symbol he had under his half plate hanging from his neck.
"You see this, you degenerate, This marks me as a Paladin of Freya and she teaches to respect others, something you clearly need work in. I've got my eye on you, now get up there and watch the fight!"
Leo, intimidated, hopped up the stairs to join his companions. His lecturer joined the group of fighters shortly after. While his companions watched the fight, Leo's thoughts dwelled on the paladin he just met.
Why did he hide his symbol while Cruxis displayed his openly on his shield. Why was he still down there while the rest walked up foe the fight right away. Leo mumbled, "Was he there to snoop too?" Leo it seemed had something to keep him entertained during the tournament.
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