Leon vs The Grand Knight

The next day arrived. With a newspaper headline that read 'The Villain pulled the Upset', talking about Leon defeating Raize in decisive fashion. He saw these all over the coliseum as he slinked around keeping a low profile.

The next round of the Tournament began, now down to 16 competitors, things were getting more charged. Leon spectated once again for the day as he watched Groups A and B fight once again.

This round was where weapons fighting began, and first up was the mysterious person only known as Justice. The black knight completely overwhelmed their opposition and walked out without really any celebration either.

"That person is very peculiar. I might want to talk to one of their opponents and see if they have any information."

The other Group A match was closer contended, maybe the issue was many don't really fight without a weapon? The crowd was more into it before the winner finally came out on top.

Soon after was Group B's turn, with Maeva being the first to go in her match. Again, wasn't close, Maeva's reverse grip style and pacing were too much for her opponent to even contend with.

"I can feel it. We're on a collision course as we speak."

Next up and the last match of the day was Ravlynn's. Her blade looked like something close to a scimitar. After her match began she attacked with a hyper aggressive tenacity, her opponent was backed into the wall before long, until a perfect strike broke her opponent's sword. Forcing the match to come to a close. The Group B round was set, Maeva versus Ravlynn.

-

The following day came fast, as Leon was back in the competitor's room ready and waiting. Just like in the first round, Group C underperformed again, it was really looking like Justice might steamroll straight to the finals at this rate.

The first Group D match pitted Oni against a much smaller competitor. His massive axe turned things sour in a hurry, eventually a half hearted block made the opponent's blade snap. Winning him the match.

"Great. Now I have to fight the guy in front of me today, Oni next, and then either Maeva or Ravlynn?! If I do get to the finals it'll be in the form of a corpse."

Leon made an audible sigh as he had a sturdier and thicker broadsword at his hip, made for the Tournament. As he walked out from the tunnel, the word villain was all he could hear. Soon after, a mix of booing made itself apparent as well.

"Jeez, I get it, you guys hate me."

As Perceval made his way out, cheers exploded out of the crowd. He came out in full heavy armor with a sword that looked as big as his just over six foot frame, he looked like a dark hero with his black hair and beard, along with his darker colored sunken eyes.

Leon drew his blade out, looking the knight in the eye.

"Hmm. You have intensity. I like it."

"Oh? No snide words to antagonize me with?"

"No one in their right mind would stick up for Earth humans here, but to belittle you after beating Raize is foolish on my part."

The announcer's voice cut through the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's the final matchup in the second round of the Tournament! Leon Atkins versus the Grand Knight Perceval! Let the match….begin!"

Leon moved to his right with haste, with a spin to gain torque he made the big swing of this larger, sturdier blade. However Perceval's massive sword blocked and completely absorbed the impact without budging an inch.

He quickly moved away to regroup, as Perceval wasn't going to give him the chance. While not fast, his bursts of movement were tactical in getting within range to swipe at Leon. But again, Leon's armor gives him freedom of movement to stay just out of range.

"Shit, one clean hit and I'm going to get broken in half. My blade can't take one either, it'll snap and I'll be forced to forfeit."

Leon moved himself back towards the middle of the arena again not wanting to get pinned into a wall where Perceval had the advantage.

"Why do you carry such a massive sword? Are you trying to overcompensate?" Leon said mockingly, seeing if taunting him wouldn't give him the edge.

"Hmm? I choose to wield a blade this large, what of it?" He questioned.

"I'm saying I heard your wife is notoriously unsatisfied with you."

Apparently he did have a wife, he was getting frustrated with Leon. As he took deep breaths to stay calm.

The reaction only made Leon even more aggressive in his approach.

"Oh, that must've struck a nerve. You're getting red in the face, and you certainly aren't blushing. Must hurt to have your wife find satisfaction in other ways, especially being such a powerful manly man knight."

Leon smirked as Perceval marked it as the last straw, he was less precise in his movements as he charged at him. Every swing was wild, missing each time as the audience booed again. The Grand Knight was making a complete fool out of himself in front of everyone.

"Damn, they must've never heard the art of taunting here. At least amongst the refined ones. Everyone trash talks even before a fight at home, and even during it too. I never would've imagined this could be my edge."

Serena was up in a booth with her arms crossed watching the display before her. "He would do this to get ahead again. But I can't deny how well it's working."

Leon found a hole and punished Perceval. Crashing his blade into his side, hitting a few of his ribs in the process. An advantage of the broadsword, it can damage without needing to cut because of it's make.

Leon spun with plenty of torque and smashed his lower back, denting the armor on impact. Perceval fell to a knee, the point of the strike hit the small of his back making him writhe in pain.

The Earth human took a few steps away, waiting to see if he'd be able to recover. He didn't want to get disqualified for potential deadly force or being unsportsmanlike.

Perceval's armor creaked as he got back up, using his sword to do so as he gripped it.

The knight gritted his teeth as he swung at Leon again, showing the ail he felt in every move he made, growing more desperate. Leon backed himself near the wall, watching closely of the pattern he was striking in.

He telegraphed the last strike and moved, making his blade trap itself in the wall, leaving him completely open as he attempted to pry it out. Leon Spartan kicked him, making him backpedal and lose grip of his blade, before comboing it with a jumping knee strike that hit flush, before taking a big swing hitting his chest plate, denting it in the process.

The knight proved his toughness. He didn't fall on his back. In fact, despite the powerful blows he took, he walked straight to Leon like a zombie. Normally this would likely be a finish, but similarly to his last match, they wouldn't end it until the person was down for the count.

Leon pushed Perceval firmly, finally getting him to his back, where he laid breathing heavily.

Again, the audience booed Leon and chanted the word villain as a dig at him.

The announcer did his job and called out the winner.

"Your winner is Leon Atkins!"

He seemed to do it with haste so he didn't make it more prolonged than needed.

Leon walked back to his tunnel as the medical staff was a bit faster in getting Perceval out. He took a deep breath as he headed back.

However, the time to relax was short. Both Katrina and Serena were on the other side to greet him.

"I'm sorry to drop in on you like this after another great victory Leon, but this is urgent."

Serena said initially, letting her daughter take over afterwards.

"You need to win tomorrow. We talked with Maeva about this as well. Oni and Ravlynn are looking to take the Guardian position and blade for the resurgence of Xavera. I can't express how much it pains me to tell you to advance, but in this case you have to."

Leon felt backed into a corner with so much being said to him after barely calming himself again. In spite of this, his response was calm.

"That's not an issue. I have faith Maeva will win handily. As for myself, I can handle a muscle head like Oni."

He walked past both of them to sit himself down.

"Still, be very weary. We have no idea what all they're capable of."

"I know Serena. I'm not about to let a group of cultists get what they want."

Katrina marched to him, looking him in the eyes.

"Don't play games. This isn't the time for that, none of your taunting or playing the villain to the audience. Just...fight like your life is in danger."

"You're not one who talks like this very often. Look, I promise I'll take this more seriously. Not that I haven't but my actions helped quell my nerves some."

Leon responded honestly, as Serena walked over and patted Katrina's shoulder. "See? You worry far too much daughter. Leon isn't going to lose focus now. He's not that kind of person. Now let's leave him to rest, he has to fight tomorrow, as the number of contenders shrinks."

The mother and daughter pair left the room, leaving Leon to his own thoughts.

"It's my Group's final tomorrow. Oni, I wonder just how powerful he is when he goes all out. He and Ravlynn are two entirely different breeds. He's much more quiet and level headed than his friend, girlfriend….whatever they are. I just hope that I can wield Silva well enough to push me through the rest of the way."