"Don't break too easily Elara," he whisperes as we circle each other like animals. "I've been looking forward to this."
"I'll try," I say, putting on my best 'scared' face.
Instructor Vaughn taps his tablet. "Begin."
Jaxen lunges. It's a straight jab to the face, fast, but predictable. I remember the number 1 rule: Always protect the face. I raise my arms in a standard, clumsy guard.
It's a feint.
Jaxen drops low, his fist burying itself in my solar plexus. The solar plexus is a complex, radiating network of nerves located in the pit of the abdomen behind the stomach. It's a highly effective way of one shotting someone by knocking the wind out of an opponent. Unlike the ribs, there is no bone directly protecting it, making it a soft spot that is difficult to condition against. This definitely confirms Jaxen Vane is skilled.
The air leaves my lungs in a violent rush. I stagger back, gasping, my vision blurring for a second.
1 minute 37 seconds.
He comes at me again. A kick to the thigh, a hook to the shoulder. It looks like he does kickboxing. I parry them, but I make sure my parries are heavy, like I was struggling to keep up.
1 minute 10 seconds
I can easily intercept his moves and swiftly end him but I have to endure all of this. For my long term goal.
I take another hit to the shoulder. I let my feet stumble on the fake grass. My breathing is loud, heavy. This is good.
56 seconds
"Fight back!" he hisses, throwing a fury of punches.
I land a 'lucky' punch on his cheek, just enough to show I have spirit but not enough to leave a big bruise.
50 seconds
I take a couple of more hits, to the knee, to the chest, to the elbows. Almost all of my body parts are disabled. It hurts.
10 seconds
I run towards jaxen, my fist clenching. My aim is perfect. My target, his face.
6 seconds.
I throw my fist at him but it doesn't reach his face. My vision is aiming at the sky. My hair flicks back. My head is yanked back. The weight of my body shifts backwards. I'm falling. Deliberately, I've slipped mid punch. I've tripped over my own shadow. If I didn't, then the punch might have landed on him. I can't afford that. This also backups my 'personality' and 'skill'. Elara Ward is clumsy, fragile, weak.
3 seconds.
2 seconds.
1 seconds.
THUD!
I feel a sense of Déjà vu.
This sensation of falling seems to be common for me. So is staring at ceilings. It's been so long since I've seen a real blue sky.
"Match over! Jaxen wins. Elara, passable."
Instructor Vaughn taps his tablet.
Jaxen wavers over me whilst crouching.
He waves his hand in front of my face.
"Hellooooooo? You there?"
He starts making 'funny' faces at me, an example is using his fingers to open his mouth and stick his toungue out.
Oh yeah I almost forgot. It's time for me to get up now. If I don't then I will be late on my schedule.
I crawl to my feet, acting as if my legs are shaking, and re enter the circle.
Sana pats my shoulders and re-assures me that I did my best.
"Third match: Ito and Hutchison," Vaugh barks.
I look beside me where Sana is. She is trying to look confident by narrowing her eyes but her whole body is shaking.
Alice Hutchison is rank Class: B. This is a level above Sana's Class: C rank. I can see why she's nervous. She probably thinks she doesn't stand a chance because she lacks physical strength. But actually, she has the advantage.
Hutchison greatest weakness is, she can't bear the thought of hurting someone, especially a weak one. The only reason she's Class: B and not Class: C is because of her ability: Prehensile Hair. It allows her to use one's hair to grasp and manipulate objects. This makes up for her lack of physical strength as she can use her hair and wield many weapons easily.
They step into the arena, circling each other. Sana tries to hide her trembles by hardening her expression and squeezing her body.
"Heh, you stand no chance against me. I'm better, smarter, more sophisticated than you." Alice says arrogantly with her poker face. She probably thinks she can win if she mentally breaks Sana. Unfortunately for her, this irritates Ito. There's nothing more Ito hates than unfriendly people. Usually she just plays it off or thinks it's her fault. But. Somethings off with her. She's slightly more confident right now. Her tremblings have stopped. Maybe because, it's a fight. Does she know Hutchison's weakness? Is this revenge? Did they have bad history in the past?
"We'll see about that." Sana Ito says calmly.
"Begin!" Vaughn barks loudly.
"After I knock you out!"
Sana lunges towards Alice. What is this murderous intent? She's a blur of blue as she performs a 360* tornado kick? She can do that? Even I am shocked. Who knew someone as gentle as Sana could display this much speed and power. Her form is perfect. She has the potential to be rank Class: A. She usually doesn't display this much force, or anger. What did Hutchinson do to her?
She's not aiming for temple, she's not aiming for the nose, and she's not aiming for the jaw. She's aiming for the throat. While all three are considered dangerous, the throat is the most immediately life threatening due to its structural vulnerability.
Asphyxiation. (Caused by severe oxygen deprivation, also known as hypoxia, and carbon dioxide buildup).
A direct hit could collapse the trachea or fracture the hyoid bone, leading to a blocked airway.
Vascular Trauma.
Impact to the carotid sinus fan cause a sudden drop in blood pressure or heart rate. This potentially causing immediate unconsciousness or cardiac arrest.
Arterial damage.
It can cause a carotid artery dissection, leading to a stroke.
Milliseconds left until Hutchison is wiped out.
Suddenly, a bright red glow emerges. Alice's hair extends, wrapping around Sana like a ribbon, strangling her.
Alice huffs from near death. Since she is there I'm guessing she felt a more intense murderous aura aimed at her.
Instructor Vaughn presses a button on his tablet.
"AAAAAAEEEEEEGH"
She shrieks as pain echoes throughout her body.
"I told you this is a no ability fight. There is no cheating in the assessment." He sighs, his fingers holding his forehead.
The rest of the other battles are a blur of violence and data. I watch the other fights, my eyes keep on drifting to the fake trees on the wall. I wonder what it feels like to see a real sun.