Fight Against Fate: Chapter 17

Alec and Dio clashed in the middle of the arena, their swords grinding against one another’s. They each had their teeth grit together trying to overpower the other but not getting anywhere quickly. They were equally as strong as one another but that didn’t mean they were evenly matched.

Dio stomped his heel down on Alec’s toes. Alec shouted and Dio shoved knocking Alec’s sword wide. He stepped forward with his dagger punching Alec in the face knocking him backwards. Alec stumbled trying to regain his footing and then brought his shield up blocking the follow up sword slash.

Dio swung down again and again pressuring him but his shield held firm. Taking a step forward Alec jumped forward and met Dio’s sword mid swing. The shield caught him at a strange angle and Dio was on the backfoot. Stealing back the momentum he swung the shield out and thrust with his sword.

Dio jerked to the side avoiding the first thrust and then worked backwards jumping away from the attacks and ducking down under a quick slash. Alec leaned forward raising his knee aimed at his face. Dio crossed his arms in front and was knocked onto his back and sent rolling away.

He rolled back to his feet barely stumbling to his feet as Alec charged after him. Regaining his bearings he looked at Alec and then his eyes flitted to his sword and watched where it was going. He jumped back as Alec’s sword came down against the ground and bounced off it at a bad angle.

Hopping forward he turned and kicked Alec’s sword from his hand. He swung with his own sword and Alec ducked under it diving to the side, grabbing for his sword again.

Instead of chasing him Dio took a step backwards catching his breath and readying himself again. Alec rolled back to his feet and pointed his sword at Dio keeping his shield up. “Lee was right. You’re not that fast.”

“Yet you’re still so predictable,” Dio rolled his eyes. “What good is speed if I can call you out at a moment’s notice?”

Alec mouthed  at him talking and stood up straight, “Whatever Dio. Last person who thought they knew what I was about got beat remember? You want to join that list?”

“Quit talking and back it up,” Dio said flicking his fingers and beckoning him toward him.

Alec nodded and smirked, “Alright. I got you right here.” Flipping his sword around he sheathed it at his side and sprinted forward wielding only his shield. He swung his shield like it were a giant axe and Dio ducked under it.

He stepped aside avoiding the swing like Alec was moving through mud. Having enough of him and his games Dio brought his sword up and deflected the shield down the blade of his sword. Spinning around him he lunged with his dagger.

Alec jerked his head backwards avoiding the dagger but not the follow up punch to the stomach. Dio stepped into his range and grabbed Alec’s arm and dragged his dagger backwards slicing off the straps of the shield. It fell to the ground and Alec started to jump backwards and reached for his sword. Dio was faster and grabbed him by the front of his armor and smashed his head against his. Dazed Alec wasn’t paying attention to the fact that he was still holding the front of his armor. He punched him in the stomach again and then the jaw knocking him back to the ground. He started to get up but Dio came over and kicked him in the ribs hard sending him rolling away.

“Alec!” Felix shouted from the sidelines. “Come on Alec get up!”

“Stay down Alec,” Dio said resting his sword at his hip. “This is ov-“

Alec jumped from the ground and launched his fist against Dio’s chin taking him clean off the ground. Dio fell to the ground and Alec landed putting both hands on his hips then groaned. The crowd erupted in cheers. “What I tell you Dio? Get cocky and you get added to the list.”

Dio growled as he got to his feet using his dagger and sword to balance. He almost sank but caught himself and stood entirely. Taking a slow step forward Alec felt a chill going down his spine. He drew his sword again and held it with both hands not even bothering to get his shield again.

“You never change Alec. Never backing down from a fight no matter how many times you get knocked down,” he said and winced glancing at his shoulder. Shaking his head, he tossed his dagger away.

Alec watched that look and started forward slowly, “Not at all. No fight’s over until it’s well and truly over. And I’m not done. Not by a long shot.”

As he spoke he paused his vision swimming. It was like golden strings fluttered in front of his face. Glittering in the sunlight and swaying. A few struck out to him. As two touched he swore he saw Felix and himself together, embracing tightly. He saw himself and Lee laughing together. He saw Roxanne kneeling in front of him saying something he couldn’t understand. And he saw himself and Dio, back to back, surrounded by soldiers.

And then finally saw the five of them, shoulder to shoulder, in armor surrounded by dead and staring down something cloaked in darkness. Something that put a shiver down his spine but for some reason he had the confidence to face it.

He gasped coming back to reality and stared at Dio who was equally confused. He rubbed his eyes quickly and stared at Alec. And for the first time since Alec had seen him again he looked relax. Calm even.

They dashed at each other meeting in the middle their swords clashing in a flurry of blades between the two of them. No more tricks or out smarting one another. They just fought on pure swordplay back and forth. Even the crowd had stopped making noise watching them in silence. Alec blocked wrong and winced taking a step backwards. Dio stepped forward pressing his advantage and raising his sword with both hands around it.

And then he winced, grinding his teeth together in pain. Alec glanced at his shoulder and then his face and acted. All that training, all that effort, and every fight up to now led up to this. He moved as fast as he could gripping the sword with both hands and swung at him. Dio tried to block and a metal clang echoed in the arena.

Alec stood his sword in the air positioned over Dio. Dio stood, his hands down and heard his sword spin through the air before clanking against the ground. Chest heaving Dio looked at Alec and Alec looked back at him, neither of them able to process what just happened.

“That’s it! That’s the match! The tournament is over! The winner against all the odds and the new wearer of the War God’s armor is Alec!” And the crowd went insane.