Back to old ways (Open)

[pdiddydelux]

Just reply if you want to join, I'll take anyone really as I haven't really dueled much lately, gotta see if the old sword arm still works xD So yeah just a friendly bout.

Some people believed the mind was mightier than the sword, some believed brute force could bring any army down within the time it took to click your fingers, perhaps the most talented people of all were those could had both to some degree, one of those all rounders was Xu Shu, a man who at a young age had trained in swordsmanship and killed someone and later on learnt the art of war.

He had not been in a duel for some time, it meant it was likely this fight would be more difficult than it might normally have been. He was only a light man, bulk was not his forte, but what he lacked in brute force he made up in agility and speed, making him quite the handful in fights involving swords, a weapon the fast and agile could excel at.

He knew his opponent well, and a sly grin was spread upon Shu's face as he prepared himself for the coming bout. His feet ever so slightly apart, his left closer to his challenger than his right as his body stood placed to the side a little than normal. Xu Shu kept his arms down, his right holding his sword, which rested nicely down the angle of his back leg.

"This shall decide who is the better after all. I hope you do not plan on going easy on me, I would hate to hurt you too bad." It was a brief moment of friendly banta, a bit of fake confidence between the two, which the challenger should know was not the usual Shu.

Xu Shu was ready, however was his challenger?

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[Mr ~Traptz~]

(I'll join you, but I haven't had a proper duel in over close to a year and a half.)

If it ever comes down to do or die...

There are those in this war-torn world who believe a talented mind can defeat any foe. Truth is, Ren had seen the argument be defeated many times. Ren however, had the uncommon ability to use brute force and intelligence in a cohesive union. This talent had a habit of showing itself in singles combat more often than not.

The major difference between Ren and Shu was that Ren had far more duelist experience. Ren was much stockier as well as better equipped for combat. He had hard leather armor covering his shins, back and front of his upper legs, his torso and back, and all on his arms save to slits down the inner edges. On top of that he wears light plate mail covering up most of the leather all over his body. He wore no helmet for this excursion, preferring the ability to watch his enemy over protect his head. A sheath for his sword was strapped to his left.

His drew his sword in a very deliberate motion. He put his left foot just ahead of his right and brought his sword just above his waist holding in his right hand. His left arm floated in front of him. He looked gaze with Shu after the others remark.

"What's with this new found arrogance. I thought i was the big headed one here. No matter though. I won't even try. It won't last long enough for me to need to." He shot a smug grin back at his opponent.

"Come get me, Xu Shu."

[pdiddydelux]

The battle was destined to ensue, yet one thing was yet to be determined; would Xu Shu be the aggressor, or would he play the waiting game and allow his opponent to take the first swing. On one hand he would appear weak if he was not to accept Zhang Ren's wish for the young strategist to attack first, on the other hand he would be playing into the hands of his opponent if he was to engage straight away.

"If you insist, allow me to prove you wrong worthy adversary."

Perhaps it was his newfound cockiness that brought about his final decision, or perhaps Xu Shu had some kind of game plan, but he moved forward. His right arm moved up and finally down in a vertical slash of weak power towards his enemy. No fool would run blindly into the fray of a duel wielding only a sword, it required a steady start, and then an increase in effort later on.

Of course it was weak, for the obvious reason Xu Shu was so out of shape for the fight, he hadn't brought any form into this fight, dueling without doing so for a good few months. It was also weak for the more obvious reason that Zhang Ren might in fact be aggressive from the start and look to capitalise on the vertical slash, in which case the weak power involved in the downwards attack could be reasonably shifted to another point, allowing for a block, or a parry, so long as Xu Shu's reactions were up to scratch.

And so two titans of war fought, it was a case of David vs Goliath, without the slingshots and obvious physical impossibilities. Would it be the brain or the brawn that won?

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[Mr ~Traptz~]

You gotta rise above the best...

It's in moments like this that Ren remembers how much different real combat is. Very rare does an opponent attempt to make well thought out attacks. Perhaps Ren could use that to his advantage. Though Shu was the smarter of the two, Ren was more experience in these situations. Ren readied his body as he watched Shu come forward.

As Xu Shu brought his sword upward Zhang Ren readied his body. Watching his opponents movement told Ren all he needed. Just as the sword began come down, Ren stepped to the side. Grabbing his sword in both hands Ren went forth, his blade leveled horizontal, and riding underneath Shu's stroke. He lunged forward hoping that his blade would hit Shu's stomach.

[pdiddydelux]

Apparantly it was a foolish move as Shu took note of Ren changing his posture to support a counter attack, it was the only hint he needed to know what was coming and decided on trying to avert his otherwise likely doom. As the sword was held upwards, it required an awkward movement of his arms to bring it aimed vertically in the other direction to catch his opponents blade.

It would put Shu again at a disadvantage in terms of his positioning, but he had to make sure Ren's sword didn't catch him so soon, if not at all and this move was the only realistic way he could make sure it didn't. The sword would blocked the slash, but there as an immediate danger afterwards of a counter attack, and so Shu pushed onto his sword, trying to move his opponents away and at the same time took a quick couple of steps back to put some room between the two of them.

"It shows I haven't done this in some time. Does it old friend?" Xu Shu begun to speak again. "It is fortunate that I am quick to remember, you won't find me as easy to pick apart this time. I believe the attacking honour is yours this time around."

With that said and done Xu Shu parted his legs slightly once more, and got into a more appropriate defensive stance. His left leg forwards and his sword held in both hands and in front of his body allowing for quick movements and reactions. It was now all up to Zhang Ren to find a weakness in Shu's defence.

[Mr ~Traptz~]

H2O GO!
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Zhangs sword struck metal instead of his foes stomach. As Shu pushed his sword back Ren backed up as well. He stretched his shoulders a little as he examined his opponent. Maybe Shu was better than Ren had figured.

"My turn huh...?" Zhang took a few steps then began running. He switched hands at the last moment bringing his sword into his left. He struck with a feint at Xu Shu's forward left leg, in a weak slash. Halfway before his blade made it he brought it back up and brought it down to Xu Shu's right shoulder. He used both hands on his blade, using as much force as he could muster. His hope being that even if Shu could manage to somehow deflect his shot it would still hurt him badly.