a Warm-up

Still rising, Tracey spotted more 'guards', spread around and standing about the surprisingly wide arena, at least another ten, but all were far enough away to be no threat at that moment, and there was no waiting 'challenger' either, yet.

The platform clanked to a stop, and she figured she needed to get off it, otherwise it too could become a trap, so she slowly got back to her feet and stepped off, onto solid stone, but the moment her left foot touched the ground again she felt another strong stabbing sensation shoot up her leg.

This is... bad...!

"Here stands the Great Bloodless Hero!"

A booming announcer called out, and the crowd erupted again.

Tracey could feel her lower leg start to push against her white boot, as her leg swelled underneath from the heavier hit than she had expected.

Her very bones seemed to ache as she tested it again, softly lifting her left foot a fraction off the hard surface, then almost reluctantly putting some weight back down on it.

I... uh... This could be a serious problem... I might have actually cracked... eh-!

Tracey went to stand a little more normally, but regretted it, as more pain sprang up her limb.

A small, lone figure, in a separated stand, stood above the dull-red hanging banners, showing the Imperial crest in a lighter grey, and the crowd quickly grew quiet when he raised his arms high.

"The fair Hero has agreed to a exhibition match... a rare chance to see her skill!"

The large audience gave another cheer.

"So let's all see what our Hero can do!"

The tiny figure said over the simmering crowd, which again rallied when the other occupants of the arena began moving, all converging on Tracey at once.

She drew her sword and waited for them to arrive, not willing to step anywhere unless she really needed to.

Ten on one huh...?

Thankfully they didn't time their run at her well enough, as the first couple that closed in carried long spears and light shields, so these two moved better with the lighter gear.

In the same motion, a slight twist of her body, it was enough to batter the first spear end easily away, while narrowly dodging the other.

While one continued to get closer, the other stepped back and prepared another jab at Tracey, who quickly snatched the retreating long weapon tightly with one hand, just below the dangerous bit. The previous holder lost his grip and it slid away from his hands, as Tracey pulled it away strongly, and then past her - toward the other closing opponent, who hadn't stopped.

The spear crunched into the thin armour, covering this other's shoulder, with enough force to finally drive him back and shard through into his body, sending him groaning to the ground.

The one with only the small round shield smartly backed away, and Tracey had two less to deal with.

Three sword holding men approached her next, while one readied his boarder shield before him, the others swiped with their blades, with their better timing, Tracey needed to move.

Yikes - that hurts...!

A side step, using predominantly her uninjured leg still brought pain, but she again dodged a slashing sword, while parrying another and evaded the shoving shield.

Then they got in each other's way, as the would be batterer blocked the missing one, so Tracey could pick them off one at a time again, swiping up at the nearest with an upward thrust, she flicked his blade high and hard, so he too lost his offensive weapon.

The shield using one shifted, to cover his exposed flank, but even after he turned his defences toward the smaller woman, her next blow sent him back, as she smacked the held protection like a bat hitting a ball, his unstable stance buckled beneath him and he clattered back onto his rear. He quickly scrambled back, dropping his sword to better clutch his slightly dinted shield, as he shimmied further away along the ground with his heels.

The last armed one stepped up, and attempted to thrust his blade at Tracey's body, but her reflexes kicked in as her blade clanged against his, knocking it downward harmlessly, before twirling around to swipe at the hesitating other, who'd lost his weapon behind him, before bringing her thin sword back to stop yet another attack.

The disarmed men retreated, while the now slowly advancing comrades hesitated a little more, leaving the teen with a one on one for the moment.

Her determined attacker attempted to use both shield and sword, throwing his metal barrier towards Tracey, while simultaneously using his sword, but Tracey planted her good leg, bracing against his shield and hitting his sword enough to miss her completely.

His over-extended wrist copped a heavy wack from her blade's flat-side, splitting his leather protection, making a muffled crack sound underneath, that made him drop his sword and yell in pain, but Tracey merely pushed him away, making him fall to his back and loose the air in his lungs to make more noise.

The crowd's noise grew again, seeing the Hero swiftly defeat half the opponents in seconds.

The much more wary opponents positioned back around her, those who could anyway, as only six on their feet surrounded her now, as the capable spear attacker had retrieved one of the fallen swords, but didn't want to come near her again.

My leg still aches... so as long as I don't move about too much... I can do this...!

A helmeted one, with matching thick body armour lumbered up next, wielding an equally heavy looking axe, that the moment it got within range, he wildly swung horizontally at Tracey's head. Not blocking the wild swing, a simple duck was good enough to dodge it, and since he needed to step forward or lose his balance, Tracey simply found a weakness and exploited it.

Her hilt dug into the gap between his front and back plates as he took another step alongside her, then one more small step after that, he toppled forward and crashed heavily onto the wood behind her and stayed there.

Another with a bigger sword that required both hands, tried a similar move, and the same outcome occurred; without moving a step Tracey collected his helmeted head with her blade and sent him hurtling down to the stones beside his companion.

The others held their ground away from her.

The crowd got even louder.

Then something else shifted, as a large door below the Emperors private box had opened, and another combatant had arrived.

A darker presence appeared, brimming with confidence, with calmness in their stride.

But it was also familiar too.

It's him...

"Hello Tracey..."