A Battle!(join this! spectate!)

[Io]

Io strode into the barracks with her usual amount of obvious confidence. It was evening and after Io had stolen some dinner and she was full of energy. She was ready to do something! Anything! Io pet Pikea under the chin and he did nothing in return but hang off her back. He was an unappreciative monkey. She walked over to a bench where some other militia were waiting for a challenge. Io could handle a fight.

She waited as all the people before her were picked for battle. By this time Pikea was off her back trying to get some money. He would do tricks and people would throw money his way. When everyone had a sparring partner Io sat calmly on the bench and waited. A man who was obviously a fool stepped up in front of her. She stood up and grabbed from her knives. Before she could get them the man pushed her back down.
"What's the big idea!?", she said angrily.
He replied with a jerk worthy grin,"Look sweetheart, I ain't gonna fight ya. I don't take on small fries".

Io could feel her anger raise and her blood boil. She was an adult! Even though she look young she was twenty.
"You jackass get outta my face," she said bitterly.

She sat on the bench all steamed. Then a smile slowly crept on to her face. Io had an idea. She would wait for the toughest guy to enter the barracks. She might not be able to him/her but she wouldn't be known as the small fry.

[Mazus]

Mazus sat by a fellow Warrior on the bench, after sawing what happened. He looked at her, and calmly said, "I'll fight you, if you want." He saw a monkey, near where they were. He saw them in here before, and guessed that the monkey belonged to her. He would give the monkey some money, but like usual, he didn't had any. He stretched out, and grabbed his Axe. This is my favorite Axe, and there is no use to use this in training, after thinking that, Mazus sat his Axe against the bench, and walked picked up a blunt sword on the ground. This will be better for dueling, he told himself.

He grabbed the sword, in case she accepted his offer. Mazus main weapon was an Axe, which he was fairly skilled with, but he used to use swords, which he isn't as skilled with. He held the sword in his left hand, and stood in front of her. "My name is Mazus," he said softly.

[Io]

There was a rather large man sitting farther down the bench. The jerk had passed this man up. So, would have anyone one else with any sense. It isn't wise to challenge a man wielding big Axe. By the way he talked to her he seemed to understand what she was doing. "Alright," she replied. Then he introduced himself after changing his weapon.

Now it was only fair she did the same. "Io. Let me get ready a moment," she said. Then running out of the room she grabbed a few things. Not her things but still. After fifteen minutes she came back out in armor and wielding a great sword. She had a grin on her face as she stepped into the battle circle. The people around her were either shocked or surprised to see such a young woman fighting with a great sword...and one handed.



(click me!www.warmech.net/special/classes/ff10-2/warrior-rikku.jpg)

[Mazus]

Mazus waited, what seemed to be forever, before she came back, now equipped with armor, and a great sword. It seemed like forever, because he always likes dueling, and he gets excited whenever he has the chance. Looking at the large sword, Mazus thought to himself, Maybe I should of chosen my Axe after all. But he decided to stick with his decision, to use the other sword. I hope she doesn't go all out on me with that sword, she'll be able to cut me in half, he thought to himself. He was happy that he was wearing his armor, even though it weighed him down a lot.

He stepped into the fighting circle after she did. It seemed like she was going to use the sword one handed, which for most swords acquired good strength, but with that sword, she'll need great strength, which he wouldn't be surprised if she had. As a tradition for Mazus, he usually lets his opponents make the first move, no matter if they had better or worse skill. "Make the first move Io," calmly said Mazus, as he prepared himself.

[Io]

Io was a lot stronger than she looked but the great sword was probably the heaviest thing she had ever lifted. No wonder it was the only mostly unguarded weapon in the barracks. Mazus told her she had first move. She sighed. Io hated being first at these things.

Io held the blade out on its side. It was in her left hand because that was her dominate one. Io was quick, her only strength, and she bolted at Mazus. She swung at him at his hip level putting her full bodyweight into it and spinning a full circle. Then she took a step back and stood in a defensive position. "So, are there any rules to this match?", she asked with her eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face.

[Mazus]

Mazus tried to jump backward to dodge it, but she was too quick, and it caught him on his left hip, one of the only unprotected area on his body. Luckily he didn't get the full force of it, but he bled from his hip. Mazus had light armor, that protected his torso, his thighs and lower legs, and of course, he had a plain metal helmet. Mazus gritted his teeth in pain, and convinced himself that he took more pain than that. "Yeah, we should of decided on rules before hand. But, no blows to the head. That is all I can think of, but if you have anything to add, be my guest," the Footsman said quietly.

He stood up straight, clenched his sword tightly, and lunged forward at Io, who was in her defensive position. Mazus swung the sword at her top part of her right arm. Quickly after his swing, he got into his defensive position. Which was a basic stance, he held his sword a half a foot away from his chest, his knees was sightly bent, and his eyes stared at her.

[Io]

No head shots. Simple. Io liked it. She held tight onto the handle of her sword. As he struck she shifted the blade so it would deflect the strike. It was reverted but directly into her arm. "Gaah!", she called but then shook it off. It hurt but she would have time for pain later. She got into attack stance.

Again she charged from the front. She dipped the swung at a diagonal upward angle. She knew not matter what he did, blocked, dodged, deflected or took it with his armor his legs would be free. As she slashed she stepped in close and wrapped her foot and his ankle. Right as her strike began to loose moment and fall back down she caught the dull end with her gloved hand and pushed him hoping to trip. She was anchored well but there was always the possibility that her could pull her with him or trip her from the ground.

[Mazus]

Mazus leaned backward, trying to dodge the full force of her uppercut swing, which he did for the most part. The swung left a large scratch mark on his light armor. Then she put her foot behind his, and pushed him. As he fell, he tried to grab onto her arm, but he was too late. Mazus fell hard, but he managed to maintain grip of the sword. He quickly rolled over so he was laying on his stomach. It was much easier for him to get up that way, then it was when he was on his back. Mazus got up, turned in the direction of Io, and prepared himself, just in case she was planning another attack, when he fell.

She's fighting smart, very smart. I have to wise up, or I'll surely lose, Mazus thought to himself. He quickly thought about his next attack, and went with what the first thing that came across his mind. He would try to trip her, as she did him, but in a different fashion. Quickly, Mazus jumped toward Io, and pushed her from her stomach, with his hand, and then tried to put the blade of his sword behind her legs, as quickly as he could...

[Allen †]

Eragon watched the whole thing from a tree. His eyes were as round as gold coins. Cool battle. He thought. The people looked so awesome!

[Io]

Once he fell she made no attempt to attack him while he was on the ground. Io stepped backward and tried to get into defensive position. But the weight of the sword was already getting to her. Mazus ran up pushed her stomach and held the sword under the back of her knees.

Io released her left hand grip on her sword and grabbed the armor around Mazus' neck. She tightened her stomach muscles and thrust her head forward while pulling on the armor. She was going for a head butt but due to the height difference her forehead only hit his chin. Io let go of the armor a fell to the ground.

On impact she rolled out. She quickly stood up and grabbed her sword. It was easy to see that the weight of the sword and armor were wearing on her. She took a second to catch her breath then ran in for an attack. As she ran the great sword drug along the ground. A swung with an upper cut attack. But the chances of it working were slim.

[Mazus]

Mazus attempt to tip her had failed, and he knew that would cost him. While he tried, she dropped her sword, and grabbed onto his armor, and then head butted his chin. That caused him to retreat a little in pain, but he kept his composer. However, it also caused her to fall down, which gave him some time to think, but it was too late. Before he knew, she came running toward him, dragging her sword along with her, and then she swung her sword upward. He tried with all of his strength to get out of the way, by jumping to his right. Thankfully he was able to dodge it. He knew that if he didn't, then that would of been the end of the duel.

Mazus almost lost hold of his sword, but he luckily didn't. He noticed that the weight of her sword was beginning to get to her, so he knew that this was his time to get in a few good hits. He ran forward, and sliced the sword, right above her hip.