Round 1

Zar’Tir
JP with Omni and Lorem

Draza raised her hand to signal the start of the match. "Begin!" she commanded, her voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd.

Macaidon wasted no time, charging forward with a powerful kick aimed at Gonyaul's midsection. His movements were aggressive, driven by the desire to assert his dominance and prove to the other Surathi, especially the Elder and her precious granddaughter that they didn't need the Vaux to defeat Y'ghotan.

Gonyaul’s muscles tensed as he saw the sneer on Macaidon’s face. The words that Macaidon threw at him seemed to hang in the air, but Gonyaul’s mind was already shifting into a state of calm focus. He tuned out the crowd, the tension, and even Draza’s command to begin, hearing only the rhythm of his own breath.

The moment Draza’s hand dropped, signaling the start, Macaidon surged forward. Gonyaul’s eyes followed the motion, noting the flex of Macaidon’s thigh muscles, the tightening of his core—indicators of an imminent kick. He had been taught by his elders that the way to win all possible dominance hierarchies was to pay attention, so every detail became a clue.

With an almost imperceptible shift in his weight, Gonyaul anticipated the trajectory of the attack. As Macaidon’s powerful leg arced towards his midsection, Gonyaul’s body moved with a fluid grace. He twisted his torso to the side, his left foot pivoting on the ground to provide balance. The world seemed to slow as he executed the maneuver, his movements a seamless blend of agility and control.

His evasion wasn’t just a dodge; it was a dance of precision. He let the momentum of Macaidon’s kick carry through its full motion, stepping to the side and slightly backward, allowing the attack to pass harmlessly by. He then appeared to become fluid, feinting downward with his momentum and ending up into a backwards roll that brought him further away and up to his feet by the time Macaidon finished his forward momentum; effectively moving him out of the way of any peripheral attack, like a side arm or hand.

Gonyaul’s eyes remained on Macaidon’s, his concerned, unwavering gaze a stark contrast to the aggression before him. ~That would have hurt.~ he thought.

In that moment, Gonyaul’s evasion not only showcased his physical prowess but also his ability to read his opponent’s intentions, turning what could have been a brutal strike into an opportunity to set the rhythm of the encounter.

Macaidon, very much trained with a proactive and urgent mindset, continued his offensive approach. He stepped back briefly before launching into another series of attacks. He started with a swift jab aimed at Gonyaul’s face.

Gonyaul sidestepped the attack effortlessly.

Macaidon followed up with a rapid succession of strikes, targeting different areas to catch Gonyaul off guard.

Each strike was met with a well-timed dodge, Gonyaul’s movements almost dance-like.

Macaidon attempted a low sweeping kick to trip Gonyaul.

Anticipating the move, Gonyaul leaped lightly over Macaidon's leg and landed with perfect balance. He spun gracefully, repositioning himself back into a defensive stance.

Macaidon's eyes narrowed as he straightened, clearly taken aback by Gonyaul's graceful evasion.

The crowd murmured in surprise and approval, their expectations beginning to shift.

Gonyaul's breathing remained steady, his movements fluid and calculated. He understood that this fight was not just a physical contest but a psychological one as well.

Machaidon lunged again, this time with a flurry of punches aimed at Gonyaul's head and torso. Each strike was delivered with accuracy and power, designed to overwhelm and break through any defense.

But Gonyaul was ready. His body was fluid as it danced around Macaidon's attacks with ease. He used subtle shifts in his stance to redirect the force of the punches, letting them glance off his arms and shoulders harmlessly. His movements were a blend of defensive martial arts, each maneuver calculated to use Macaidon's own strength against him.

Gonyaul saw his opportunity. He spun on his heel, using the momentum to deliver a sweeping kick aimed at Macaidon's legs.

The kick connected, knocking Macaidon off balance and sending him stumbling backward and half falling, making a quick but awkward recovery.

Seeing the Vaux dodge every attack was kind of impressive, but he would have to do better than that. Macaidon scratched at the silver scruff on his chin and smirked at his deft opponent before arrogantly thumbing his nose and putting up his fists for another try. Again he proceeded with attacking first.

Gonyaul knew his opponent would likely become more aggressive, seeking to regain control of the match. Macaidon didn't disappoint. As Macaidon's attacks became quicker, wilder, it was only a matter of time before one strike connected, giving him a slight edge.

Seizing the moment, Macaidon quickly delivered a powerful backhand aimed at Gonyaul's temple. Gonyaul was able to pull his hands up just in time to dampen some of the force, but the blow still knocked him off his feet, and he landed on his butt in the sand. It was a painful mistake that Gonyaul knew he couldn't make again.