Rivalry [Kilbey] {FIN}

<sub>Sparring day. It wasn't Kilbey Zaha's favorite exercise, but it was something he needed to address. He was, in all honesty, not the most technical when it came to combat. He was accurate, sure. He would never miss from close range, and he could throw a spear pretty far and always hit the target. It was just, when it came to sword-fighting or spears, he relied much more on his strength than his technical ability.

Hence the 6'4 monster was somewhat annoyed when who else but Indrik Pantheon was picked to spar against him. Kilbey knew Indrik. Not personally, he had never spoken or been spoken to by the long haired teenager. No, Kilbey knew the Career because of his precision and accuracy. The guy was a technician, he did things by the text book. Other Careers would talk of him like he was different... To Kilbey he was just another opponent.

The hollow eyed Career scanned the room. People were paired up, some talking, some sparring. Some goofs were being picky over which spear they wanted. Heck, some were even staring with googly eyes towards Indrik and himself, waiting to see who would win in Talent vs Power. Kilbey already knew the answer. He was older than the long-haired Career. A whole year older. This made him stronger... Not that Indrik would be stronger than him had they been the same age, but the towering individual liked to think that this gave him a distinct advantage over his counterpart.

Kilbey kept the same blank expression as he shifted from his neutral standing position. He found his way over to the rack of spears and picked the third spear from the right randomly. The weapons did not matter to him, they were all the same. His black vest revealed the extent of his tree-trunk arms, massive in size and eager to flex. He clutched the spear loosely and walked to the mat, his tracksuit pants made no sound as he did so.

"Seen you benching. Lets see if you can put that strength of yours into practice."</sub>

<sub>The time for conversation was clearly over. Whilst Kilbey was always one for friendly banter, this fight was anything but friendly. If anything, it was a grudge match. Everyone in their little Career training group knew that Indrik was a technical genius when it came to combat, and everyone knew that Kilbey was a titan. The mammoth of a boy had nothing to prove, he already had his reputation, he just reveled the chance to put people who doubted him to rest.

Without warning, the long haired athletic boy bounded towards him in quick steps, silently. He leaped forwards, twirling as he did so. Kilbey had time to dart out of the way, yet the monstrosity stood his ground, keeping the same stance. He did not tense, if anything, he loosened a little. Indrik landed on two feet and thrusted his momentum forwards, the blunt spearhead aimed at the foe's chest. In one swift movement, Kilbey palmed the spear to his right with meat-cleaver sized hands, simultaneously leaning back as to see the spear narrowly miss him.

Indrik pulled away, still bouncing about like an irritating grasshopper. Kilbey would be the one to squash the bug. The insect boy darted right, before thrusting left. The large teenager grunted as he was forced to palm the spear away a second time with his free hand, the other gripping the spear tightly. Now Indrik seemed to perform a roundhouse maneuver with the spear, sweeping low with the spear. This time, Kilbey was hit. He made no effort to jump over the sweeping motion, the blunt spear hitting his oil-rig legs. But the swipe barely made the mammoth teenager flinch. Like hitting a tree with a stick.

It was now, when the smaller boy would be shocked at the little effect of his attack that Kilbey should attack. Yet the larger teenager did not move. He could easily take one step forward and finish this now with a resounding blow, yet he stifled a grin. Half the game was combat, the other was intimidation - Mind games.

"Is that it?" The beady eyed titan grinned a shark-toothed grin, "I expected something more... Memorable..."

Keeping the same pose, the Juggernaut cocked his head slightly, grinning. Waiting. Preparing. Planning.</sub>

<sub>Kilbey was disappointed in Indrik's lack of conversational skills. He was clearly too smart to even respond to the larger teen's mind games. He was above it, he knew that to respond would be what Kilbey wanted, like a fish being reeled in by a hook. The larger of the boys should have known this, and not even bothered trying. It didn't mater, perhaps he would look more dominant as the silent figure. It seemed to work for Indrik.

More people gathered to watch the two titans trade blows. Yet at the moment, it was just Indrik warming Kilbey up. The mammoth of a boy refused to attack as of yet. He was assessing and judging his opponent. More importantly, he would see how his opponent deals with a static foe. He seemed to keep out of Kilbey's circle. The circle was clearly the area of reach that the dark skinned boy could achieve. With the spear, this was about double his arm length. Interesting, Indrik didn't want to get too close and personal with his rival. Everyone knew why.

Occasionally, he would hop in and out of the circle, as if tempting the larger boy. It wouldn't work, Kilbey was occupied analyzing his foe. He wasn't going to attack. Yet. The pestering grasshopper feinted another attack, this one close than the others, as Indrik prodded his spear near Kilbey, but not quite near enough. The dreadnought boy's eyes flickered, almost flinching. Yet his position did not alter.

The boy attacked rapidly, when Kilbey was least expecting it. Prodding sharply at the same foot. This time not a swiping move, but a thrust or a jab. It hit it's target, the large boy shook the minor pain off. That could have been a serious move had they been in the Games. Yet Kilbey had let his mind astray, had not focused on the fight. He let a critical move land, he would be dead in the arena without his leg. He saw what Indrik was showing him, cut the speed, kill the momentum. Legs are important.

Again, without warning or indication, the insect-like boy leaped towards him with a sharp, crisp slice, it's target being the rival's chest. Kilbey rapidly raised his spear horizontally to his mid-section, the two spears clanged together in a chime of metal-on-metal. It was an awkward contact, not all of the impact was absorbed, the attack also hitting part of the large boy's hand. Nothing major, just a small hit. Had a real blade been there, that could be a cut or a gash.

It was the second part of the move that would have been fatal. An upwards jabbing motion that looked to slice his face. Kilbey's head instinctively moved left, the spearhead missing the target. 'He's in close range, attack!' His brain screamed, but before his body could react, it was too late. The long-haired stallion had rolled backwards out of the circle-of-reach. Quick, precise moves. No, scratch that. Quick, dangerous moves.

Not good enough.

Twice he had not been ready. Twice he had been hit and appeared weak. He had been lucky to avoid the upthrust. Keeping a blank face, the titan watched the agile teenager dart and feint all he wanted around the mat. If Kilbey didn't act soon, he would find himself with a handful.

His dilemma was what approach to take. His asset were power-moves. But they were slow and easy to dodge, even easier for someone of Indrik's agility and class. The other option were quick, rapid moves like Indrik was doing. It was a good tactic, but it wasn't something Kilbey would do, he wasn't an agile character. No. He would wait. Stalking his prey like a wild cat.

Waiting for an opening. Waiting. Waiting.

NOW!

The muscular teenager arched his arm backwards, the spear pointing at forty-five degrees upwards. He found the center of balance and let his stance hold for a split second, before throwing his weight forwards, launching the spear like a death-javelin towards his foe. The speed of the weapon was tremendous, Kilbey was happy with that. But he had no doubt that Indrik would dodge this. He made sure that his opponent had read him when he held his pose for a second longer than he needed to. Indrik would have had more time to prepare and get out the way of his now unarmed foe.

It wasn't over. Kilbey let out a battle-cry as he sprinted with surprising pace towards wherever his weapon had landed. He was running towards Indrik. In a swift movement, the teenager ducked, rolled, grabbed the shaft of the spear and swung the weapon with great force in Indrik's direction, aiming for the mid-section of the boy.</sub>

<sub>Kilbey knew it was brash, maybe even crazy running headfirst at his rival. But c'mon, it was fantastic. The way that even someone as sharp and prepared as Indrik couldn't have anticipated something that reckless. It wasn't just a good move, the look on Indrik's face was priceless. A vacant expression with a hint of frustration... Or fear?

Kilbey was surprised at the power of his own attack. Indrik's attempt to parry resulted in grazed knuckles. He almost knocked him down with his momentum, maybe he had underestimated Kilbey? The dark skinned boy was satisfied, but on his guard. He knew to follow up with another attack would be stupid, he was pretty vulnerable up close himself. Instead, he took a step back, his rival spinning his spear about like it was a parade baton. He took a few half-hearted swings at Kilbey's head, to which he ducked or side-stepped. He knew this was just defensive.

Indrik played with him, jabbing his spear at the air, inches away from his chest. Kilbey stepped back each time, only to realize they were faux lunges. It was getting annoying, but he couldn't risk not avoiding them. The foe performed one of his trademark back rolls and coming up with a strange stance. It looked very mantis-like. Spear poised on one hand, the other palm ready to strike, equally deadly to the weapon - Most people underestimated the power of a palm strike, if executed correctly, more deadly than a fist.

Indrik looked like he could parry anything that came his way. He looked equally ready to attack. Kilbey couldn't tell if this stance was offensive or defensive, but it was clever. It was a mixture. It was innovative, it was... Very Indrik. The larger of the two teens narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. Wary of his foe, whom he began to circle. The muscular titan took an offensive stance, crouching low, spear in both hands pointing downwards. Like a cougar, he spiraled around his opponent.

Onlookers were gripped, even the odd instructor found time to leave their assigned pair and watch this hyped duo. Two promising youngsters with heaps of potential. Only one would win. The unstoppable force and the immovable object.

'I'm not getting any younger'

The time for waiting was over. Kilbey's impatience got the better of him once more, he was fed up of games. He lashed out, throwing mediocre swings at Indrik, using both ends of his spear as he held the center two-handed. He was using it as a staff now, swinging attacks at the foe. They were not precise or accurate, nor tactical... They were merely powerful. Perhaps that would be enough to keep Indrik occupied with parrying.

After six or seven of these strikes, Kilbey aimed a kick at his rival's mid section. Aimed to wind his rival, it wasn't in the rule book, but Kilbey was ruthless and unleashed. He was a cornered animal, lashing out. Regardless of if the kick landed, he proceeded to slide both hands apart, each arm at each end of the staff. He then aimed to strike Indrik with the solid metal pole, aiming the weapon's center of mass at his forehead. Following this would be two more strikes from each end of the weapon.

The onslaught was so fast and brutal that Kilbey didn't even know what attacks had hit and what had landed. He panted, the speed of the moves had overwhelmed him, his rage had left him breathless. Exposed.</sub>

<sub>Indrik's finesse was incredible. Kilbey's poorly coordinated fury strikes were all parried easily by the long haired boy. Needless to say, Indrik was working hard to counteract the momentum of Kilbey's strikes. He had to divert the momentum, as apposed to using force to parry. Impressive still.

The kick missed, but Kilbey continued with his attack anyway. The lunge with the horizontal of the bar had been dodged too, but Kilbey's following strikes both hit the target. First, forcefully in the ribs and then striking the shoulder of Indrik. Powerful strikes that Kilbey was happy with. Indrik may be able land more attacks than Kilbey, but the larger teen's strikes did more damage. Thus the game was equal.

Both of the sparring duo took a few seconds - No more - To take breath, before Indrik unleashed his finesse once more. The attacked sweeped round in a spiral before going for the legs once more. Kilbey had this telegraphed and easily hopped over the spear, ready to counter attack. Indrik followed this by bringing his spear in an upwards strike, Kilbey raised his spear to block, only to be dummied and have his left foot struck by the blunt blade. He let out a distinctive grunt, taking a few hobbles backwards.

If this were the games, he would have probably lost some toes.

Indrik advanced to Kilbey and swung for his head and then mid-section. The large behemoth ducked and palmed away, satisfied with his reactions. Then, he found his leg looped and his chest being targeted. He was forced to bend backwards to avoid the spear and subsequently fall over the leg of Indrik. The twelve stone mammoth crashed onto his back with a 'Slap' of the mat. He grunted and rolled backwards from a lying position to a stand once more. He had fallen, he had been taken down. Humiliated. The finesse of Indrik was getting to be an annoyance.

Clearly the foe's tactic was to immobilize him. Take out the legs and you kill any momentum created. It was smart, but predictable. Many people had targeted Kilbey's legs before, it was nothing new. He had surprising resilience.

Indrik then tried something brash. Almost as brash as the rush he had performed moments ago. The long haired stallion planted his weapon down, before leaping horizontally and extending his legs to kick, before using the weapon as a leaver to target Kilbey's shoulder. The speed of the attack was incredible, Kilbey's reactions not as sharp as Indrik's, he desperately tried to palm away the spear. It cut him across the palm as a result, forcing him to stumble backwards with another grunt.

He stared at the blood on his hand. The weapon's in the training center were blunt. So blunt that bloodshed was very rare, yet the speed of the attack had caused him to bleed. This didn't bother Kilbey at all, but shedding blood was a sign of weakness. He glanced at his hand once more, before returning to his offence.

He glanced down as his weapon. Metal, yes. Expensive? No. It was cheap metal used for training. Weak metal. He held the weapon in two hands and brought it down onto his knee with great force. Instead of breaking into two as he had intended, he had rather foolishly ended up bending the metal, leaving him with an "L" shaped spear. People laughed, some more frantically than others. He glared at them, but they only laughed more.

His idea to turn the unfamiliar weapon into two small, easy to use weapons had backfired. He threw the weapon to one side and signaled the instructor. He threw a weapon at Kilbey to catch. It was then that the large teen struck. He didn't even catch the weapon as much as redirect it. In one swift movement, the boy grabbed the spear and threw himself forwards onto his chest, releasing the weapon before he hit the ground so it hurtled towards Indrik's mid-section at an incredible speed.

He pushed himself upwards to view the results of his surprise attack.</sub>