Hello there, random forum lurker.
In order to not spam the OLit section, I found it to be best that I compiled all my random writings into just one topic.
They will be displayed in chronological order with the one at the top being the oldest. Have fun reading them : D

Regarding Sebastian "The Nobleman"

Why ActaSanctorum? - Posted in 30-3-2013 (I use dd/mm/yy)
There was an accident with the original thread, therefore, I only have the Google Doc version of this one
Click me!

Unofficial wRHG Battle: SJCRPV (Sebastian) vs Kyra (Kyra) - Posted in 1-4-2013
Click me!

In case you're wondering things like "Who the heck is Sonia?", then I would advise to read the first story.
It's Sebastian's story on how he joined AS, and it explains who she is, as well as reveal a bit more on his past.

Regarding Sebastian Gladstone

The very last morning - Posted in 30-9-2013

This is most likely my last piece of writing that includes Sebastian "The Nobleman" (scroll down on the main post and open the "Previous Gladiator" spoiler to look at his character sheet) as the main character and shows how he died. Please enjoy it.

Google Doc version, if you prefer

Clicky Clicky

k, it must have been close to 6 AM when you could have found me sitting in a bench with my elbows resting on my legs and the chin on my hands.

As I tend to do often, I was looking at infinity, even if I didn’t really have anything in particular in my mind. I was just dealing with guilt, immersed to the point where I didn’t even notice the approach of someone until I felt a gun’s chamber on the back of my head.

By instinct, I tried to turn around, but was firmly scolded by the voice of gun’s owner not to; a feminine voice that I recognized all too well: Sonia’s.

It seemed she had found me first. I had hoped she would have taken longer. I don’t know how much longer, just… longer.

- I’m not dead yet, so I assume there’s something you want to know? – I asked in Portuguese; composed, but a pinch of sadness was noticeable in the way I talked. I tried to hide it, but once more, self-control was failing me. Having a person you love and that you believed to have killed come back 3 years later to murder you in revenge because by some inexplicable reason she survived was a bag of emotions a bit too big to conceal, it seemed.

- Yes, you could say that. – She replied in the same language with a coldness I had never seen in her. – I just want to know: Why? Why did you slaughter the entire town? Why did you seem so happy in doing so and why did you not even hesitate when… you went after me? You told me you had him under control. You told me he couldn’t go further than taking over your speech after he pulled that confession out of you. Why?

I noticed her pause. Maybe she was just trying to look cold, maybe there was a chance she would listen to me after all! However, that only prompted me to lower my head slightly along with a loud sigh to my wishful thinking.

I was still unable to catch even the slightest glimpse of her so I just resigned myself to looking forward as I began speaking:

- Very well. I never did tell you about the first time that happened, did I? I would have remembered if I had done so. – Despite the difficulty I was going to have in explaining her, I was bent on giving her every answer she could want, if only just to tell her that, even though it wouldn’t serve as an excuse, I was sorry.

Shocked, she interrupted me by applying a bit more pressure on my head with her gun, breaking her coldness for just the few seconds it took her to reply, quickly recomposing right after:

- This has happened before!? How many? How many people did you kill!?

My tone of voice just kept getting deeper and words just became heavier and harder to come out with each sound my vocal cords made, but I had decided to answer:

- Yours… was the second. The first one happened two years before that. I razed my hometown out of its inhabitants… including my family. You’ve most likely heard of the “Wednesday Night Slaughter”… – I paused for a second, looking for the right word to continue –Incidents… of this size, thankfully, only two-

- One is already too much. – She interrupted once again.

- And you’re right… I have lost count of the amount of people that did not deserve to die by my hands. I lament every single one of them though… - I felt her readjusting her gun. I could try to move away and disarm her the next time she did it, but my gut told me that she had the reflexes to answer to it and furthermore, a backup plan in case she hadn’t. There really was no way out. – After my first… uncontrolled event, I wandered Portugal for a few months, keeping away from people, interacting with others the least I could to avoid another one of these… episodes. During that time, I was on the brink of madness. Daicilus was constantly trying to influence me, to have me just give up and allow it to take control and many times it did so successfully. Until I met my sensei. He was the first one who managed to bring me back to reason after my demon took over, the one who thought me how to better control myself, even if just barely, and the one who thought me how to fight. He took care of me for about two years, traveling around Europe, eventually meeting Tito. At that time, Daicilus’ attempts to take control were sporadic and only lasted for a few seconds. It didn’t even warrant any noticeable reaction from me, so I began getting confident. I started believing that no one else had to die because I lacked real self-restraint. I started talking to other people more often, ended up meeting you. I loved the way you weren’t afraid of taking control, that boldness of yours; the way you were brutally honest, and yet still elegant; how you still managed to be cynical and yet polite and how you still knew how to be kind beneath all that. I loved you… and frankly, I still do. But I know the feeling is not mutual… not anymore at least.

It took her a moment to answer, but she did, apparently with the same frozen tone:

- That still doesn’t entirely answer my question, you know.

Now it was my turn to take a moment to answer:

- No… It doesn’t… Daicilus simply pretended. It kept quiet during that time. Let me lower my guard, thinking my sensei’s lessons were more effective than they actually were. Waiting for me to form a bond with someone who he knew he could defeat just so he could crush it as I watch from the back of my mind, helplessly trying to stop him. Hearing his laughs as countless people scream, echoing through me over and over as he cuts down every single one of them! – I began clutching my head, lowering it as I spoke louder the further I got through the sentence, trying to block out all the unwanted flashbacks and unsuccessfully containing the tears that inevitably started overflowing from my eyes.

Only for a few seconds was I allowed to stay in that nearly broken state as I soon felt her weapon pushing against the back of my head, followed by a stern scolding:

- Pull yourself together! I don’t want you giving in to that asshole!

- Oh, believe me, he’s not! – Daicilus interrupted, taking over my speech, turning my voice all the creepier, despite not changing its tone – He was pathetically crying just moments ago on the outside and seeing…, well not exactly seeing, I mean, you won’t even grant him a simple peek you cold, cold, woman. – Sonia probably wasn’t notcing it, but a really large grin was placed upon my face, approving her cruelty. –Meeting you did stir up a lot of instability inside his little mind, however, if there’s something that he’s not allowing me to do, is to move a single muscle in your direction. And I sure as fuck want to. A prey of mine managed to survive a fatal wound? That just makes me want to kill you a hell of a lot more.

- Oh, so now he’s capable of controlling himself? – She asked with a little hint of sarcasm in her.

- Not really. Frankly, the last time he had this kind of willpower was whenever he was around you… at least, until I supposedly killed you that is.

There was a second of silence before Sonia restarted the conversation:

- So, as long as I stay with him you can’t do any harm? – Some sort of prototype of what must have been hope could be noticed if one were to pay attention.

- Again, not really. The kid will get tired eventually and, like I told you three years ago: “Sooner or later, love will not be enough to stop me.” – A soft chuckle came out before it continued – If I can’t kill you today, I’ll kill you in the next chance I get. I don’t mind waiting for a soul like yours. I know you won’t kill the kid.

Almost immediately, she demanded, still maintaining her coldness:

- Bring Sebastian back.

If it could, Daicilus would have probably shrugged before returning me the ability to speak. I simply confirmed her that I was in fact back in control and shut up.

Sliding towards my left until it stopped on my temple, I felt the gun’s barrel moving and, starting at the corner of my left eye, I began to see her walking around the two person, dark green, metal bench that I was sitting on, dressed from toes to neck in a, most likely, slightly thicker than paper-thin suit that seemed to be made of an extremely malleable and metallic material, going for the darker tones of the colour but never giving the impression that it’s more black than grey. Spread somewhat scarcely around her, were relatively thin lines that barely seemed three-dimensional, colored with a light mixture of blue and green. Her hair was still the same, straight, light brown and a bit longer than shoulder length; her eyes still hazel and still giving a cynical look. The only thing that had changed about her was her body. She was taller, more fit and more feminine.

- You… look great – I shyly commented as she stopped in front of me – Is-

- Don’t. – Sonia interrupted, crouching so we met face to face. – This suit is what keeps me alive. As long as I wear it twenty three hours a day, I’m fine.

- You know Daicilus can hear this as well. Why are you mentioning it? You’re only giving it ideas.

- Because I know you can hold on for just a little bit longer.

My face looked away from hers; casting away that last slimmer of hope that she wouldn’t kill me, only to feel her metal-covered hand pull it back in place and getting caught by surprise when I felt her lips meet up with mine. I hadn’t felt this in three years, the tenderness of such a kiss, which made the fact it only lasted for five seconds feel all the shorter. I had even forgotten during those short instants that I still had a gun pointed against the left side of my head:

- Why? – She asked as soon as she separated herself from me; the cold act dropped entirely and for the first time showing actual sadness in her tone. – Why did it have to be you who had a curse like this? Why couldn’t it have been someone else? I know I’m being selfish, but why? - I didn’t respond. I simply looked down as she continued – I don’t want to, but we both know you can’t continue to live. It’s just too dangerous, for everyone.

Her hand started shaking lightly and she was on the verge of crying, unsure if she should pull the trigger or not. She was right. It was in fact too dangerous. I gave her one look. A simple look of understanding and a second later, returning the gaze, she fired.

On the fraction of the second that it took for her to fully press the trigger, one final thought coursed my mind:

You made the right choice.

[/spoiler]

Joining Story Nº2 - Posted on 24-11-2013

Google Doc: Clicky Clicky

And the regular version:
mputer screen right as I going to pull out the combination I needed to kill the two guards that were just outside the elevator and the one on room right after, for the tenth time. Shoot the one of the left the moment the door opens; throw the gun at the second one while moving forward before he raises his own; pick it back up on its rebound to shoot the third one the moment he moves past the door before finishing the one that was left alive by bashing his brains in with the nearby crowbar. At least that was the plan. The interruption I had suffered had tabbed me out of my window, but I could still see the third guard blast me with his shotgun, exposing my pixilated bowels as my character lay in front of the elevator in a puddle of his own blood with the chicken mask I had brought no longer covering his face. The chat window only showed one word: “Progress.”

I leaned back on my chair, letting my arms go completely limp as I looked at the ceiling with a smile which told that, although somewhat annoyed, I understood it wasn’t her fault; it was just bad timing. Giving life back to my upper limbs, I looked at the screen and typed:

“I have been looking for him for a whole wek now. I just can’t seem to find him.” “week*”

As I waited for a response, I grabbed a snack I had right next to the keyboard and still managed to send to her a second message, moments before her reply:

“Btw, guess what I’m eating X3”

“Is he avoiding you? Did he find out about your intentions?” “And really? *sigh* chocolate”

Allowing my face to show a large grin as I read the reaction, I typed “Yesh > w < “ as a response.

“Great. Now focus.”

It was Sonia on the other side, monitoring the development of my mission. Complying, I quickly wrote out my response:

“I’m not uite certain, and if he did, I have no idea how he found out. I have neither said nor done anything that would give him or anyone else any idea as to my real objective in here. I’m actually leaning towards the possibility that I just haven’t found him by pure chance, according to what I’ve heard and seen about him” “quite*” “… something’s jamming the key :/”

“What do you mean?” She asked

It took me another set of moments to write the answer:

“Apparently, you can call him an oddball between the oddballs. He’s quite literally a cartoon made for comedy. He’s a thief, but he’s clumsy; he’s immortal but has a tendency of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and, if you pull his file, it claims that this guy can break the 4th wall… wut? o_o” “We’re not in a game/movie/book or anything of the sort so, what do you think that means?”

After a few more seconds of wait, as I watched the pencil scribbling away in a repeated animation, a response came:

“Don’t know; inter-dimensional communication? o_o” “Keep in mind that the abilities section is written by the participants themselves so he could just be bullshitting people with that” “At any rate, keep looking”

The conversation then derailed into a more informal one, where I was basically calling her a heretic for preferrin

Very solid piece SJCRPV! First sentence was a little awkward, but it quickly built up from there on out. I think you did a good job portraying emotions, but I feel like you could've benefited more had they been a bit more extreme. These people were lovers, and after three years they're finally beside each other again. It must've been utterly devastating for Sebastian to be on the other end of her gun, made his heart ache. At the same time, actually seeing her again must've made his heart race after all this time. He had feelings for her, and it would've been a nice touch if you incorporated it into her description or something to reinforce it.

Her hair was still the same, straight, light brown and a bit longer than shoulder length; her eyes still hazel and still giving a cynical look. The only thing that had changed about her was her body. She was taller, more fit and more feminine.

Her hair was how it always had been, the way she wore it before our world fell apart and the way I saw it in my fondest dreams. Straight, beautifully light brown and a bit past her soft shoulders; her eyes still hazel and still giving a cynical look. God how I missed when they looked at me full of love. The only thing that had changed about her was her body. She was taller, more fit and more feminine.

Another small thing is I think it would've helped if when Daicilus took over his speech it took more of a toll on Sebastian, or he mentally responded with the things he had said.

- Oh, believe me, he’s not! – Daicilus interrupted, taking over my speech, turning my voice all the creepier, despite not changing its tone – He was pathetically crying just moments ago on the outside...

- Oh, believe me, he’s not! – My voice was suddenly ripped from me as Daicilus interrupted, taking over my speech, turning my voice all the creepier, despite not changing its tone. I could feel my fist clench, shaking as he continued. I already thought he had killed her, couldn't he at least let me have this one conversation with her?! This one, last, talk?! – He was pathetically crying just moments ago on the outside...

Again though, very good story, and it's good to see you're back!

Quote from Crankuba

First sentence was a little awkward

Yeah, it was >_<

Quote from Crankuba

I think you did a good job portraying emotions, but I feel like you could've benefited more had they been a bit more extreme. These people were lovers, and after three years they're finally beside each other again. It must've been utterly devastating for Sebastian to be on the other end of her gun, made his heart ache. At the same time, actually seeing her again must've made his heart race after all this time. He had feelings for her, and it would've been a nice touch if you incorporated it into her description or something to reinforce it.

Her hair was still the same, straight, light brown and a bit longer than shoulder length; her eyes still hazel and still giving a cynical look. The only thing that had changed about her was her body. She was taller, more fit and more feminine.

Her hair was how it always had been, the way she wore it before our world fell apart and the way I saw it in my fondest dreams. Straight, beautifully light brown and a bit past her soft shoulders; her eyes still hazel and still giving a cynical look. God how I missed when they looked at me full of love. The only thing that had changed about her was her body. She was taller, more fit and more feminine.

You're right. That part was still a bit too bland and now that I think about it, the demo might be suffering from the same problem as well. I'll try to fix it in the future.

Quote from Crankuba

Another small thing is I think it would've helped if when Daicilus took over his speech it took more of a toll on Sebastian, or he mentally responded with the things he had said.

- Oh, believe me, he’s not! – Daicilus interrupted, taking over my speech, turning my voice all the creepier, despite not changing its tone – He was pathetically crying just moments ago on the outside...

- Oh, believe me, he’s not! – My voice was suddenly ripped from me as Daicilus interrupted, taking over my speech, turning my voice all the creepier, despite not changing its tone. I could feel my fist clench, shaking as he continued. I already thought he had killed her, couldn't he at least let me have this one conversation with her?! This one, last, talk?! – He was pathetically crying just moments ago on the outside...

Again though, very good story, and it's good to see you're back!

Yeah, you have a point. I wasn't sure of how much of a presence I wanted Daicilus to have in this, especially since the demon was convinced that Sonia wouldn't be able to kill Sebastian but I ended up not developing it enough.

At any rate, thank for your feedback Crank and it's good to see you back as well, also with a new gladiator :3

Heh, no sweat!

Guess we're both just sneaky like that!

Quote from Crankuba

Very solid piece SJCRPV! First sentence was a little awkward, but it quickly built up from there on out. I think you did a good job portraying emotions, but I feel like you could've benefited more had they been a bit more extreme. These people were lovers, and after three years they're finally beside each other again. It must've been utterly devastating for Sebastian to be on the other end of her gun, made his heart ache. At the same time, actually seeing her again must've made his heart race after all this time. He had feelings for her, and it would've been a nice touch if you incorporated it into her description or something to reinforce it.

Her hair was still the same, straight, light brown and a bit longer than shoulder length; her eyes still hazel and still giving a cynical look. The only thing that had changed about her was her body. She was taller, more fit and more feminine.

Her hair was how it always had been, the way she wore it before our world fell apart and the way I saw it in my fondest dreams. Straight, beautifully light brown and a bit past her soft shoulders; her eyes still hazel and still giving a cynical look. God how I missed when they looked at me full of love. The only thing that had changed about her was her body. She was taller, more fit and more feminine.

Another small thing is I think it would've helped if when Daicilus took over his speech it took more of a toll on Sebastian, or he mentally responded with the things he had said.

- Oh, believe me, he’s not! – Daicilus interrupted, taking over my speech, turning my voice all the creepier, despite not changing its tone – He was pathetically crying just moments ago on the outside...

- Oh, believe me, he’s not! – My voice was suddenly ripped from me as Daicilus interrupted, taking over my speech, turning my voice all the creepier, despite not changing its tone. I could feel my fist clench, shaking as he continued. I already thought he had killed her, couldn't he at least let me have this one conversation with her?! This one, last, talk?! – He was pathetically crying just moments ago on the outside...

Again though, very good story, and it's good to see you're back!

I like your criticism sir...

Hey.
I updated this thread and made it sort of a compendium for anything that I'll ever post in here that is not a battle.

Added the story that explains how Sebastian Gladstone entered ActaSanctorum.
I do not feel like it's much of an improvement (maybe even the oposite) but feel free to give your opinion about it.

*blows dust off of the thread*
This was a battle that was supposed to happen between me and Canis Majoris, the maker of the wRHG Legion. We set a due date and all but, we kind of never got it done.
However, I still looked at it occasionally, adding little bits here and there and I suppose I finished it. So, if anyone actually wants to waste some time, here, have a read at it.
One thing of note though: this battle was supposed to happen about 10 months ago, so in Gladstone's timeline, Sabine, Rykosar and Torvin had yet to join ActaSanctorum. It was just him and George.

Google Docs version - Stop tickling me!

Sonia, we need to make this quick.” – I speedily typed on the dark keyboard with white letters – “I don’t even have time to do a gathering quest. And I do very much want to get the last materials I need to upgrade my double chainswords D:”

“So this time is a real battle?” – I quickly saw as a reply.

“Yuss. I was pitted against someone who’s a bit too fond of roman weaponry.” “A German Caesar that goes by ‘Legion’ “.

I sent her my opponent’s file immediately after and waited to see if there was anything she would like to add. A pencil did scribble away for a few seconds on her end, but it quickly turned upside down and erased everything, not continuing right after. Therefore, I changed the subject:

“But let’s move to other matters.” “Did Selena find any reliable way of getting into SPPD?”

“She did.” – Sonia instantly replied – “Selena and Elena are getting ready to depart.”

“Wonderful.” – I claimed - “Did you tell them where they would be staying?”

“I did.” – There was a small delay from her before the next message – “Do you have everything?”

Everything but my calmness. I was trying to control it, trying to move my mind away from the approaching battle, but I couldn’t manage it entirely; it wasn’t because I was not confident I could win and it wasn’t entirely because I was potentially putting my life on the line, but because I was going to fight for the pleasure of complete strangers.

“I do, Sonia” – I ended up typing.

Of course I’ve had people seeing me fight before, but they were people I trained with. It didn’t bother me. I know it’s somewhat silly, but the feeling of a thousand pairs of eyes from people I have no idea who they are and that are only there to be entertained felt a bit intimidating. I never really liked crowds.

“I’ll be watching on the stream, Sebastian. Please don’t take any stupid gambles.”

There was a feeling of realization when I read that. I had forgotten that every gladiator’s first battle was streamed for free on their website, but I cut the thought short when I noticed the computer’s clock and my heart started pounding even faster. I didn’t want to worry her, so I tried to joke with the situation:

“Thank you for the concern, but don’t worry, I’ll be sure to come back. You would probably go insane if you didn’t have someone to torment, right? I can’t let that happen XD”

“I guess so.”

“Don’t worry.” ”I have to go now. I’ll talk to you when I’m with Selena and Elena : D”

Grabbing my gear and with my heart beating as fast as a hummingbird’s, I turned the computer off and left.

Had I looked at the screen one last time however, I would have seen one last message from Sonia:

“You really suck at lying to me…”

I was sitting in one of the two benches that were part of an entirely dark-blue waiting room, hugging one of my pixels tightly. My legs were shaking; something the pixel I had materialized was expressing concern about, despite my attempts to calm it. The room was actually quite small; it probably couldn’t hold more than 10 people bunched together and it was entirely soundproof. The only thing in it besides the benches, were a speaker and a camera tucked away in one of the top corners. It was the perfect place for someone to focus before facing a possible life-threatening scenario.

“Please stand in front of the arena door. It will open shortly.” – a pre-recorded, warm female voice requested from the speaker, taking me away from my trance in a jump, my pixel disappearing almost immediately.

The closer I got to actually entering the arena, the more nervous I got; the shaking even more noticeable as I grabbed the tonfas I had left next to me and did one last check on my gear to confirm that everything was in order. The gloves were on and extended all the way to the end of my forearm; both weapons were fully charged and I had a pixel I could materialize and hug if I needed to.

As promised, the door did open soon after and with it, the voice of an enthusiastic announcer:

- … on his debut as a gladiator: Seeeebastian Gladstone!

Even though my legs didn’t quite want to, I still forced them to carry me forward and into the arena, almost closing my eyes as they quickly adjusted to the new lighting.

I recognized this place. It was the same area where I made my admission test. The same large circle with half a kilometer of a diameter, a sandy ground and seven meter high walls all around it painted in red. They seemed to be made of concrete, the same material they used for the many rows of stands.

The arena was nowhere near to being packed, but there were still easily a few hundred people who cheered my entrance. Most of them were adults that probably ranged from 20 to 40, but I still saw the faces of a few teenagers and even some children, something I deeply disapproved of.
The wRHG should have a minimum age requirement. The term of responsibility that the parents sign doesn’t cut it:

- Today, - the presenter interrupted from somewhere I couldn’t determine. – It’s that time of the month where we pay homage to our roots. As usual, the same rule as always applies: the gladiator may not deliver the killing blow unless their lives are dependent on it. They must pin the other gladiator and wait for the judgment of the ones sitting in the VIP cabin.

Looking up towards the screen sitting just above the special section dedicated to the wealthy and the famous; the big, bullet-proof, glass-covered area in front of the top edge of the arena showed three people wearing togas, waving to the cheering crowd: a clearly aged man with entirely white, balding hair and wrinkled skin. Slightly fat and, although clearly tired from age, his black eyes showed a practiced kindness. The vest he was wearing didn’t quite seem to hold the necessary tone to be white, but at the same time, any other colour didn’t seem to give it a fair description. Other than that, it had a purple border. Most likely accompanying him, was a considerably younger woman, beautiful in appearance, with neatly combed light brown and long hair and a well endowed and kept body. Her emerald eyes also showed the same kind of practiced kindness. Both seemed rather skilled at it. Hers was entirely red with a golden margin. This not accounting for the few rings she was wearing on her hands and the golden necklace. There was a third individual, a man I actually recognized; he was a known goalkeeper back in England, Adam Bale. He had really short ginger hair and an extremely pale skin, but his eyes told, to those who could notice it, he didn’t seem entirely at ease with the situation. His fit body clearly distinguished him from the other two, which I assume only made it worse for him. His toga was simply white. Just a plain one as it seemed usual in all regular roman males attending public events in their time.

My mind tried to guess why he was here, but the peppy announcer interrupted my train of thought with his propagated voice:

- Now! Gladiators, walk to the center of the arena!

Actually looking in front of me ever since I entered, I moved towards the middle, noticing my opponent doing the same.

He seemed to be wearing an entirely Roman outfit: a grey cuirass with the image of a man’s chest welded into it that seemed to fit him perfectly. I would say metallic, but something in the way it shone told that it didn’t quite seem to be made out of your average material; a helmet that, also fitting in with the theme, was in Roman fashion; made, it seemed, out of the same thing as the cuirass, this one with a faint golden outline. The face was the only thing it didn’t really cover, leaving me to see a rather threatening look from my opponent. Those brown eyes made it look like he was just itching for a challenging fight. I guess I should expect it seeing as I had infiltrated a gladiatorial organization, but it was still discomforting, even if I didn’t show it to him. Underneath his armor, there was a simple red tunic which I assumed went all the way to his knees. I couldn’t confirm it because Legion was using a red scutum on his left hand; a large, rectangular, curved shield supposed to cover him all the way from his shoulder to the lower half of his legs. Something of note in it however, was the decoration. It was entirely red as a background colour, but coming from its center were four golden wings curving each to its direction. In between the side ones, there were two rectangles of the same tone of gold: the one on my left had “X-75” inscribed into it, while the right one read “Legion”. It actually looked kind of neat, but the man also had a right hand, and this one had a single javelin; wooden shaft with a metallic shank to serve as the tip.

- Gladiators! – The slowly-becoming-obnoxious announcer yelled for the entire arena to hear – Begin!

As expected, considering the glare he was constantly giving me, he lunged at me in the very next millisecond, trying to stab me with the javelin, prompting me to step to the left side and take advantage of the momentum to spin both my body and my right tonfa. All the excess force he employed to make that initial strike as fast as possible allowed me to focus my counter more on strength than speed, but it didn’t seem to make much of a difference. Despite spinning around and hitting him squarely in the back of the head, I didn’t seem to do much other than to bob his head forward without even denting the armor. This really wasn’t made out of your regular metal, but at least the crowd cheered as I jumped back quickly enough to dodge Legion’s horizontal slice with his spear. This lead us back to square one.

Since I didn’t know enough about my opponent’s fighting style, I just resorted to observing his movements; something he did as well… for about 5 seconds.

His stare was just disconcerting. He seemed extremely focused on the battle, but it felt like there was more to it than just that. He lunged at me again in the same fashion, but I assumed he would expect me to try to dodge outwards once more, therefore, I dodged inwards this time; just barely enough to not get stabbed by the pilla. Grabbing the handle of my right tonfa tighter, I tried to pressure his shield down to give me just enough space to allow a clear swing at his chin with my other weapon.

His scutum ceded for half a moment, but it quickly rose back up as I was halfway through the swing, bashing me in the face and sending me flying backwards a couple of meters, missing one weapon. The nightstick I had used to try to pull his protective shell down was propelled away a few meters further, but I didn’t see it. I was too busy hitting the ground and stopping a javelin from exploring the inside of my face the moment I re-opened my eyes; doing so by letting go of my second tonfa and grabbing the shaft with both hands.

I could see the shank about a palm away from me and hear the crowd approving the moment of tension with a mix of gasps and cheers.
Although I had stopped it, Caesar kept applying pressure and despite my strength; I could feel that, slowly, I was losing ground. I felt it approaching: that grey, sharp and with an almost-unperceivable stain-around-the-tip piercing weapon coming closer. I needed to do something. My arms were shaking from the amount of strength I was putting on them.

A pixel popped into existence right next to me. The poor thing was scared to death about the situation I was in, but it immediately flew in Legion’s direction.

Unknowing of what it actually was, the legionnaire first tried to raise his shield for protection, but the moment he saw the adorably menacing cube pass right through it and “glue” itself to his face, he took a few steps back trying to remove it, actually leaving his spear.

This, obviously, allowed me to get back up by rolling backwards, but Germanicus had probably already realized that the inside of a Pixel is mostly see-through, so he likely saw me break the pilla by the tip using my left knee and throwing it to the side as well. Part of the crowd seemed enjoyed that.

Since there wasn’t much of a point in keeping my pixel on Legion’s head, given that I had to adjust its position every time my opponent moved, I called it back and patted it softly for a job well done when it came next to me. At the same time though, I slowly kneeled to grab the tonfa right next to me with my left hand. I was still missing one, and I knew it was somewhere behind me, but I couldn’t afford to look. He had to have something else he could fight with, but I could only hypothesize about what it could be.

He nearly killed me there. If I hadn’t stopped that javelin, I would have died. He was not playing nice, so I couldn’t either, and that’s where one would have heard a button press, followed by an immediate jolt of electricity coursing through a filament of silver repeatedly. This man was going down.

I twirled my weapon backwards twice by force of habit; checking if I wasn’t having a sudden blank on how to use the thing before I moved to attack.

I wasn’t quite sure, but I think he flashed a grin the moment I started, taking a deep breath and almost burning me to a crisp by exhaling a wave of fire in my direction right after.

I don’t know how I managed to react that fast and I don’t really care. I just give thanks to the fact that I managed to dive diagonally and tumble away from danger with only the smell of burning rubber coming from the sole of my shoes. That didn’t stop my advance, however. A pixel appeared right behind my left foot; giving me the foothold I needed to maintain my dash. I couldn’t do it exactly in his direction anymore though; didn’t feel like getting a tan. Instead, I ran the couple of steps I needed to get to his side and spawned three more cubes right where my foot was about to land, creating a simple corner that would allow me to turn sharply enough to attack him, something I couldn’t do fast enough in the sand. However, the dragon had stopped breathing fire and was making his own move against my charge.

His right hand reached for a sheath on his waist, hidden behind the shield, and I immediately saw what he wanted to do. Considering that my first attack didn’t faze him that much, I couldn’t take that many chances just because this time I had electricity on my side, so I immediately spawned a pixel in front of my free hand and tried my hardest to push myself back, still trying to swing in his direction, just in case.

I missed him. The tonfa made its full motion without hitting him, but at least Caesar missed as well. The, thankfully, short blade, didn’t manage to cut anything as he drew it. Due to the hastiness of the movement however, I didn’t manage to land properly

Okay, considering I never got to answer to you (I was in-between moving when you messaged me), I should honor you with a response.

God damn. I can't see any grammar flaws in this, which is awesome, considering you're from the same country as I am.
The biggest issue (if you can call it that) I see with this is the lack of dialogue in-battle. It's just a nitpick, since I like that kind of stuff, but it's in no way detrimental to the flow of the battle (which was great, mind) nor to the story (which was also great).
I'll try and finish my story (which is about 65% done) soon and post it on this forum as well. I've also got something in store for later, which is slightly (read: much) bigger than the battle itself.

Quote from Canis Majoris

I was in-between moving when you messaged me

Guess I just have bad timming then :/

Quote from Canis Majoris

I can't see any grammar flaws in this, which is awesome, considering you're from the same country as I am.

Contrary to what it may look, we Portuguse usually have an easier time learning, writing and speaking new languages than most nations : P

Quote from Canis Majoris

The biggest issue (if you can call it that) I see with this is the lack of dialogue in-battle.

The lack of dialogue was deliberate as I didn't seem to find any real way I could get it to fit. Which was a shame because I enjoy writting dialogue the most.

Quote from Canis Majoris

in no way detrimental to the flow of the battle (which was great, mind) nor to the story (which was also great)

I'm sorry to disagree with you, but when I re-read this just before I posted the story, I found it to be dull. Thankfully, a conversation I had with a friend opened my eyes to various mistakes I have been making that need urgent fixing.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, but it could have been a lot better.

Regardless, I look forward to seeing your take on the battle.