Fractured Curse; GoldenEye Origins

Chapter #6

Preston grunts when his sword collides with the soldier's. Three other people stand in a line with him facing other soldiers, and in the same position as Preston and his opponent. The young man has messy brown hair and orangish-brown eyes, with about an average build. The other men in his line are all taller with stronger frames. Everyone in the room is surprised that he's made it this far.
     The forth city General had just lost his second in the last battle with another city. It is dangerous for him to be without a second, and so he decided to hold a competition for the honor. Nearly every soldier in the city signed up for the challenge. The first battle was a last-man-standing type of event. You had to make the other competitors tap out or fall unconscious to win. The General hand picked the top ten from that event. Mostly for his own amusement, the General put the ten through written tests. A second has to be smart as well as strong. Five competitors passed all the exams. That leads to the endurance event: each of the five spar with another soldier. The General calls out numbers that correspond to a battle move that the competitors have to block. After an hour and a half, only one has dropped out. The General even swapped out his soldiers so they wouldn't slow their attacks. The last four seem very stubborn. One more has to be eliminated before the event is over.
     "43", the General shouts. The soldiers swipe their swords low. Each of the competitors block the blow. Preston grunts with the effort. He's panting heavily and covered in sweat. It's everything he can do just to remain standing. The other competitors are in similar, if not worse, situations. The General watches closely, trying to think of a fair way to make one of them crack. A smile creeps onto his face.
     "At ease", the General calls. Soldiers and competitors alike straighten up and sheath their swords. Preston can't help but be relieved. His sword arm is almost completely numb. The relief is soon swept away by dread when the General walks over which lengths of rope. Without a word, he starts tying the sword arms of the competitors behind their backs. All their balance is thrown off. The competitors are left using their weak arm to hold the swords. Some can't even hold it correctly. Preston nervously shifts on his feet. At least he has a little bit of experience with his offhand.
     "18, 29, 37", the General shouts in rapid recession. Metal coliding with metal once again fills the room, but this time it's followed by a skidding sound. A sword slides across the room and rests at the General's feet. All eyes slowly turn towards the owner. Multiple soldiers quickly seize him and escort them out of the room. Just like that, the third event is over.
    "You three, up here", the general commands. The soldiers step back, and the competitors line up in front of the General.
     "Names and rank", he says next. Rank is referring to their role and position in a battalion of soldiers.
     "Barneys, second lines swordsman", the first answers. Barney is a tall man wearing a purple hoodie, his brown hair streaked with green. With one eye covered by an eyepatch, Barney is most known for his joking manner. The swordsman also has a more serious and ruthless side.
     "Matt, first line Tank", the one standing on the middle says. He's the tallest, with brown hair and eyes. Matt looks intimidating, but has a protective nature. He had been a soldier for only two years before the second competition.
      "Preston, back defense swordsman", the last answers. Preston can't help keep a smile off his face at having made it this far. He only has two more competitors to beat in order to become the second.
     "Congratulations soldiers. You have passed the third event. I expect the three of you to be back here tomorrow morning. Dismissed".