Turning time back a little, focusing on the other pair of human and alien evolved warrior engaged in a deadly battle.
Rodney's situation had degenerated quickly after the alien had started fighting him for real. He had kept himself alive through a mixture of skillful planning, perfectly executed strategies, and straight-up miraculous, reality-bending spells.
Nevertheless, the effort had left Rodney wounded, exhausted beyond reason, and not a step closer to defeating his opponent than he was several exchanges ago.
Rodney's utmost tidy military uniform had turned into a mess of torn rags. Something had eaten away a piece of the clothes covering his waist, exposing his abs and leaving a shallow, horizontal cut on them.
The entirety of the right leg of Rodney's trousers had also disappeared, the shoe included. Finger-sized holes even littered it, releasing blood that didn't show signs of stopping flowing.
