NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: May the Better Man Win
Jade took a low, balanced stance, her feet firmly planted for agility, hands open and ready to react. Her focus was on avoiding Raten's attacks rather than directly engaging. Him being nearly twice her size, trying to block his blows directly would be foolish, and attempting to win in a battle of pure physicality, trading with him blow for blow would also prove detrimental.
Raten smirked snidely and said "May the best man win." With a mocking tone. Then he went with a wide stance, his hands clenched into fists, ready to unleash a heavy strike. His posture was as always aggressive, radiating confidence in his brute strength.
Jade just smiled, "Won't it be awkward when the best man, is a woman?" Raten growled under his breath. Per usual Raten was the first to make a move, he charged forward with a wild haymaker, aiming to overwhelm Jade with sheer force. His strike was powerful, but left him open if it missed. He weighed his options and was overly confident in his advantages. He may be bigger than the petite, and slender lady, but she was simply faster. MUCH faster.
Jade observed his oncoming attack with a hint of confusion on her face. If she hadn't known better, she would have thought him to be going in slow motion. It took almost no effort for her to simply duck under the wild punch, using her agility to stay low. She slipped smoothly to his side, avoiding the hit entirely. She needed to provoke him, and try to ensure that he did not take it easy on her. She was already testing his limits, seeing how quickly she could evade his power without directly confronting it. They distanced themselves, slowly circling one another, no doubt analyzing the last interaction to make alterations accordingly. Jade had a very obvious look of confusion, which caught Raten off guard.
"What? Why do you look confused? Did you think I would go easy just because you're a girl? Or because you're my brother's girl?" His expression grew smug as he foolishly carried on. Suddenly Jade's face changed. Now a look of almost, satisfaction was there.
She let out a short giggle before her hand flew to her mouth stopping the sound abruptly. "Oh, oh gods no, no, I'm sorry, nothing like that."
Raten's smug face fell and his agitation began to show. "Then... What?"
"Well, it's just, I couldn't help but notice how much faster Vorden is when we spar. I had prepared for you to be similar. So now I have to adjust, that's all." She claimed, matter of factley. Vorden's face paled. He cursed silently.
For the first time since their arrival both Shiro's and Sil's smiles had vanished from their joyous faces. Under his breath Shiro said "Oh no, Vorden, he might actually kill her." The three of them stood together off to the side nearest Jade. They were far enough away to not be overheard with Cassidy standing a few yards away. Vorden's expression was grim, but he didn't respond.
Flames ignited in Raten's previously playfully glinting eyes. Furious at missing his initial attack, her comment caused his blood to boil. He swung a wide hook toward her midsection, expecting her to try and dodge again.
To his dismay that's not exactly what took place. Seeing his incoming attempt she leapt back into a back handspring, launching herself away from the hook, she landed lightly on her feet. Trying to control the space, Jade hoped she might be able to get him to tire himself out with heavy swings. Still attempting to not block his strikes directly, she chose instead to sidestep and used her legs to either lunge away or sweep him off balance.
Roars of frustration gave a clear signal of just how heated Raten was quickly becoming. His eyes narrowed, now focused solely on landing a blow. He tried a grappling move, attempting to grab Jade's shoulders and pull her into a headlock or bearhug. Anything he could grab to immobilize the little spritly headache. As Raten moved to grab her, she leaped away from his arms and twisted her body in mid-air to land nearly behind him. Once again making him miss entirely, which in turn caused him to stagger forward and almost lose his footing.
Realizing the opening suddenly in front of her, she darted in for a strike without hesitation pouncing up and shifting her weight at the exact moment to whip around, both narrowly avoiding his fist while simultaneously delivering a spinning kick to his side, aiming to further disrupt his balance. Her foot connected with his ribs, but she pulled the kick back quickly, instead of following it all the way through, to avoid getting caught by his hands.
Raten let out a startled grunt and staggered just a little but ultimately was still standing. His reaction was due more to bewilderment than from the kick itself, which actually wasn't even painful. He tried to retaliate by launching a low sweep to Jade's legs.
However, being consistently one step ahead she once again leaped up to avoid the sweep, executing another back hand spring that put her out of his range. She then used the moment to circle around him, staying light on her feet, searching for another opportunity.
Raten realized that she was using her agility to keep him at bay, feeling anger yet again rising up inside him he charged at her once more, throwing multiple powerful punches, aiming to trap her.
Jade quickly side stepped two punches almost not in time and blocked the third with her forearms, utilizing her agility and continuing to keep her mind free from any and all complex thinking she tried to maintain a purely reactionary mindset. If Jade took even a moment longer to plan out her movements it would all be over. She had to trust in her instincts and go with whatever her immediate gut reaction dictated, making it seem as if she had the use of a foresight ability. Mustering all of her might and using his momentum to attempt to just barely twist his arm out of alignment, and then quickly sweeping his legs, she managed to force him to stagger back. However, Jade's hands were still focused on her own defense, and using his weight against him rather than trying to go in for a strike.
Raten's frustration had reached Its Peak. Feeling his agitation boiling over again, he switched tactics and made a wild, unpredictable lunge at her, with no real form—just power. He began a flurry of absolutely devastating attacks, throwing fists, elbows, and knees at random, hoping one connected. Jade's unbelievable footwork had her almost dancing around him, with such speed she was moving like a blur.
The pace at which they were punching and dodging, lunging and sliding, round and round, traveling all over the floor like a hurricane of sweat, mild vocalizations intermittently heard between extremely heavy breathing. She was definitely tiring him out but she was tiring too. The pair started to slow down at a steady albeit slow rate. She knew how to use his chaotic nature against him. Jade sprung up behind him, attempting to deliver a spinning back kick aimed at his head. Her foot hit just below his temple, and Raten stumbled, dropping to the floor, landing on one knee slightly dazed.
Though dazed and half on the ground, Raten was not hurt. He was still in the fight. He had barely caught his breath, getting a grip on his bearings when he noticed Jade's posture shifting.
The large quantities of alcohol from earlier were finally catching up with her. She wobbled slightly, her face turning green as the physical exertion took its toll. She suddenly darted forward rushing off to the locker room door past where Raten was knealt. At first he believed she was rushing in to attempt another attack while he was still down and raised his hands in a defensive way as he watched her closely to figure out which direction it would come from. However, to his surprise she gave him zero attention, instead flying right past him without a second glance. As he craned his neck around to see her pass through the portal to the lockers, where the restrooms were, he let out a huge sigh of relief.