Squad Sanguis

Chapter 4: The First Test

The murmur among the participants grew louder as Antonio's words sank in. Oki felt a knot tighten in his stomach. A fistfight. With only one arm, he was at a significant disadvantage. He glanced at Maya, who returned his look with a mixture of concern and determination.

Antonio continued, "The fights will be held in this field. You will be called in pairs. Listen for your name and step forward when called, Remember, this is about survival, not fairness. Anything goes, as long as it doesn't break the rules. Use the surroundings to your advantage if you must."

The group fell silent, the weight of the challenge pressing down on them. Antonio began reading the names, each one resonating like a death knell. Oki's mind raced, trying to formulate a strategy despite his missing limb.

The crowd exchanged anxious glances, the weight of the first trial's rule sinking in. Oki's mind raced, weighing the various combatants in his mind and silently assessing their strengths and weaknesses.

With that, Antonio motioned for the first pair of participants to step forward into the open area. The tension in the air thickened as both players sized each other up, waiting for the signal to begin. The rest of the crowd held their breath, each anticipating the outcome of this first encounter. Without further ado, Antonio's commanding voice shouted out, "Begin!"

As the signal was given, without further delay, the two participants launched themselves at each other, their fists flying as they traded blows, each trying to find an opening in the other's defense.

the first blow landed with a sickening thud, echoing across the field like a thunderclap. The first participant unleashed a barrage of precise punches, each blow connecting with deadly accuracy. But the other fighter was not to be underestimated. He stumbled momentarily under the onslaught but quickly regained his footing and retaliated with a ferocity that matched the first fighter's. The two fighters traded blow for blow, their movements fluid and calculated in their fury. The impact of each strike thundered across the open field, leaving the spectators watching in awe.

'I can't lose this fight,' John thought, his mind racing. 'If I let him win, I'll lose everything i've gained so far.'

As John's determination took hold, his punches became more powerful and his movements more precise. He seemed to fight with a newfound sense of urgency, like a beast backed into a corner. His opponent sensed the change in John's energy and began to falter, unable to keep up with the onslaught.  Tom found himself falling back on his father's training. The moves he had learned as a child became second nature to him, and as he fought, memories of his father's harsh coaching flooded his mind. He channeled his anger and frustration into his punches, landing hit after hit on his opponent with a relentless fury.

Just when John thought he had gained the upper hand, his opponent unleashed a devastating surprise attack that caught him off guard. The unexpected move left John reeling, and the blow knocked him off balance. Unable to recover, he was unable to defend himself against the subsequent barrage, and the fight quickly turned in his opponent's favor. As the fight progressed, the intensity increased, and the blows became more vicious. The participants now fought with a new desperation, each strike harder and more ferocious than the last. Pain and adrenaline coursed through their veins as they traded punishing blows, the sounds of flesh meeting flesh echoing across the open field. Blood dripped from split knuckles, and sweat mixed with dirt to create a grimy, crimson paste.

The audience was drawn in, mesmerized by the fierce struggle for survival playing out before them. Antonio's gaze was locked on the fighters, his expression one of disinterest, but his mind was sharply assessing the potential of each combatant. 

John shook his head, trying to clear the dizziness. 'I can't lose focus now,' he reminded himself. His vision sharpened, zeroing in on his opponent's movements. He noticed a slight hesitation in Tom's attacks, a fleeting vulnerability.