The first duel began.
Aspen and Ajay stood face to face, the air between them felt heavy. The crowd hushed as the Third Elder raised his hand, standing between them. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Then his hand dropped.
"Begin!"
Both fighters burst forward like untamed bulls, their boots pounding against the earth. In perfect sync, Aspen threw his left axe and Ajay did the same. It was like watching two reflections move in unison. They both swung almost at the same time, Aspen's axe whistled through the air and Ajay mirrored him instantly. Both blades met mid-strike with a sharp, ringing clang! The force rippled through their arms. But Aspen's axe were forged from cold iron, biting into Ajay's axe.
Ajay's eyes narrowed as Aspen swung his fist, he quickly tilted his neck, dodging Aspens punch as his fist cut through air and in that same instant, Ajay countered with a swift punch, that landed onto Aspen's face. The impact snapped Aspen's head backward. As Aspen jerked his head straight again, Ajay stepped in and drove the front of his foot upward, slamming into Aspen's chin with brutal precision. The blow sent Aspen staggering backward, dirt scattering beneath his heels. The crowd erupted as Aspen stumbled, struggling to steady himself.
Aspen wiped the blood from his lip and raised his axes again. He stopped for a brief moment, his chest heaving as he drew in deep, steadying breaths. Sweat trailed down his temple, but his eyes never left Ajay. Then, with a fierce roar, he charged again. Ajay met his momentum head-on. Their axes collided once more with a thunderous clang! — sparks scattering from the impact. This time, the blades locked together, Aspen's axe wedging tightly into Ajay's. Without hesitation, Aspen let go of his weapon and seized Ajay's wrist with the hand he was holding his axe and yanked hard, Ajay was caught off guard and lost his balance. Before Ajay could react, Aspen swung his fist slamming into his face. Ajay lost his grip as both axes clattered to the ground still attached together. But Aspen wasn't done. Still holding Ajay's wrist, he yanked again, drawing him closer for another strike, but Ajay too was a experienced hunter, he rushed in slamming his head against Aspen's. The impact echoed through the arena as both men stumbled backward, dazed, their weapons lying on the ground.
Now they both stood unarmed, their breathing hard, their eyes locked.
They were like two raging bulls, neither willing to yield.
Both roared and charged forward, shoulders lowered and pushed forward, the ground trembling beneath their steps. When they collided, the impact boomed through the arena — as raw power meet raw power. The force sent both staggering back a few steps, dust swirling around their feet.
Their left hands shot out instinctively, searching for something to grab, to maintain their balance — and by fate or sheer coincidence, they grabbed each other's arms. Muscles tensed, both pulled at the same time their torso jerking upwards, both swung their fists with full force.
BAM!
Their punches landed simultaneously, both staggered backward again, hitting their heads with their palms as they felt dizzy.
The crowd erupted into cheers. As they both fought evenly, refusing to back down even an inch. Aspen drew a long breath, chest heaving, while Ajay charged straight at him. Aspen reacted a heartbeat late but still pushed forward, their distance closing in an instant. Ajay planted his left foot and swung his right fist with full force. Aspen being a heartbeat late couldn't slow down in time and if he dodged, he would lose balance- so he mirrored the move, slamming his foot down and swung his own fist forward.
Fist met fist.
The impact cracked through the arena. Their faces twisted in pain, yet neither let out a sound. Ajay moved first, sweeping his leg beneath Aspen's feet. Aspen's balance broke, and he crashed onto the ground. Before he could recover, Ajay was already on him, siting on his chest and threw a punch, but Aspen reacted in the same breath — his knees shot up, slamming into Ajay's back. The blow knocked Ajay off balance, and as he fell forward his hands shot out to steady himself, Aspen's fist snapped upward, hitting his jaw. Ajay rolled sideways, hitting the ground with a grunt, while Aspen pulled himself up, blood trickling from the corner of his lip, his eyes blazing with fire. Aspen had taken more hits than Ajay, yet he refused to back down as his spirit burned hotter than ever. Before Ajay could even rise, Aspen charged forward, fist drawn back for another blow. Ajay saw him coming — and instead of standing, he reacted while being in the same position. His hand shot out, grabbing Aspen's wrist mid-swing, and with a sharp pull, he yanked Aspen downward.
Crack!
Aspen's chin smashed into Ajay's rising head. The jolt sent stars flashing across Aspen's vision, and he staggered backwards — but Ajay didn't let go his hand. He held Aspen firmly, his eyes gleaming.
"You like headbutts, right?" Ajay growled, pulling him in again.
Thud! Their skulls collided, the sound dull and brutal echoed through the arena.
Aspen stumbled, half-dazed — then grinned showing his bloody teeth.
"Yes I do" he muttered, his voice rough .
Before Ajay could react, Aspen twisted his hand and grabbed Ajay's arm pulling at the same time, and slammed his head onto his.
Bam! Both reeled backward, their heads spinning, but they both kept standing, neither willing to fall first as if, if they fell they will lose the match.
The crowd erupted in cheers — no weapons, just raw force clashing head-on.
Aspen have had enough.
He wiped the blood from his lip and walked toward Ajay, slow and deliberate. When he reached him, he grabbed Ajay by his tunic and pulled him close. Ajay, who had seen Aspen's fights before, understood the challenge instantly. He was just as proud as Aspen, and maybe even more stubborn then him — so he didn't back down. Instead, he seized Aspen's tunic too, locking eyes with him.
Aspen threw the first punch, his fist crashing into Ajay's cheek. A twisted grin spread across his bloodied face. Ajay responded with his own punch — just as hard and a grin appeared on his face too.
Then the madness began.
They hit each other again and again, each strike louder, heavier, more desperate than the last. Blood ran from their lips, but the smile stayed, their eyes began to swell shut — but the smile stayed.
The crowd erupted into cheers as madness meet madness, force meet force.
Aspen's knuckles cracked against Ajay's face hitting anywhere he could but Ajay was a seasoned hunter, his fists pounded into the same spot on Aspen's nose, again and again, relentless and precise and soon Aspen's punches started slowing down, his aim faltering, while Ajay's blows grew heavier, sharper. Finally, Aspen's grip loosened, his arms dropped. Ajay too stopped his fist mid swing and loosened his grip, Aspen swayed for a moment, then collapsed on his knees, the crowd roared as the battle came to its brutal end. Ajay knew there was no more reason to fight. He wiped the blood from his mouth and turned to retrieve his axe, intending to make Aspen surrender properly.
On the ground, Aspen could barely feel his limbs. I want to sleep… everything feels so heavy, let me sleep for a moment he thought as his vision blurred. His body began to sink, his muscles giving in — but then, faintly, a voice echoed in his mind.
"I will never lose again, I will lose?? Lose? me?"
His eyes fluttered open. Though swollen and barely able to see, he forced them wide open. Through the haze, he saw Ajay placing a foot on Aspen's fallen axe, pulling his own weapon free. Aspen's breath quickened. His own axe was out of reach so he quickly searched for his other axe, and by luck, his axe glinted some distance away from him, as if calling him. He grit his teeth, forced his trembling legs to move, and lunged toward it. Ajay noticed it too. He rushed forward, raising his axe to strike first. But Aspen reached his weapon a second earlier. With a roar, he swung.
Clang!
Their axes collided — but Ajay's axe shattered. As the broken bits flew towards him, he shielded his face with his free hand, his one knee slamming into the ground. Aspen's weapon was forged from cold iron so it was stronger naturally. Now Ajay was left holding only the broken handle. Aspen lifted his axe high, bringing it down in a vertical strike. Ajay held the wooden handle with his both hands, ready to block the incoming strike— but the handle split cleanly in two and the blade slid past, grazing his chest. A thin red line appeared on his chest, although the cut was shallow but the cut was very big.
Ajay hissed through his teeth, but didn't let out a sound. Before he could react again, Aspen stepped forward, pressing the cold edge of his axe against Ajay's throat.
"Surrender," Aspen said, his voice steady.
For a moment, Ajay just stared at him frozen — his chest rising, pride flickering in his eyes — then slowly, silently, he raised his hands in surrender.