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Description
As Zerrick was thrown across the arena by the mighty ram, it was indescribable. Seto couldn't see the stadium anymore. He couldn't see the people cheering, the announcer, nor the flags on the stadium walls. All the ache, all the pain, it all mixed together and his body fell numb. He had fallen into a dream, yet not a dream. Around him the background seemed to be swirling as though making it's own self out, and the only things clear were his opponent and three big wonderful fluffy sheep. He nearly let out a cry for joy, as his wish had been answered. He wanted to lie on one, just for a little while to rest his eyes, but now, a new voice was screaming in his head. It was preventing him from his desire to fall. His opponent was starting to get up. He was still fighting, and now, there was a reason.

He didn't care anymore if people from Aristole that saw him using his golems.

He didn't care if he became a government slave deemed hero.

He didn't care if this was Tenfana or Ulrien.

And he certainly didn't care if he was physically ready to collapse.

He didn't care anymore, because now he had a reason to get back up. He was fighting for her.

He wasn't sure where the sheep came from, but instinctually, he knew they were his. There wasn't a moment to loose. "Let's turn the table," he said to himself, conducted his finger in Zerricks direction as instruction. The blacksmith had just barely gotten back onto his feet when they came, one after the other, and proceeded to pay back all the damage he had dealt. The sheep butted and slammed. They took him from the front, and they took him from the rear. BAM! BAM! BAM! They took him from all directions, and as much he tried, he could only dodge one to get hit by another.

Although, each sheep was relatively weak on its own, they worked powerfully as a team. Bruising and battering Zerrick with each charge, he was forced onto the ground in no time. To say this took him by surprise was an understatement. These things were dominating the field, and he didn't even have a clue what they were. He propped himself onto his knees, as the strange beasts began to form a triangle around him, he could see their master on top of the big ram one. What to do now? He never expected the teen to make a come back like this. He looked around and caught sight of his sword. It wasn't terribly far away, then above it a little, in the stands, he noticed something more. There was a certain very special group of people cheering for him, shouting for him to get up.

The ram charged, and the others came after. In Seto's strong desire to fight for Ran, he had failed to notice one thing. Zerrick was fighting for somebody too.

TANG! Zerrick stood his ground and the ram's horns fell right into his hands. He clutched down tight, nearly bending them as Seto's eyes widened. Ignoring the pain the cut arm shot, the blacksmith lifted the ram off the ground. With one mighty throw, he tossed the ram and its master into another sheep. CRASH! Seto was sent off his second savior, tumbling and rolling across the ground just like before.

Struggling to his hands and knees, Seto was dazed. He could barely register what happened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his opponent taking care of his third sheep with a swift kick. He winced as it cried and tumbled with ease. Although the ram was starting to recover, Seto knew it wouldn't be for long before checkmate. Through all the numbness, some sensation came back into Seto's body. There was something smooth and stiff under his hand. Looking down, he couldn't make out what it was at first, but it was definitely long. It looked like a double ended comet, yet still, that didn't make sense. Comets weren't stiff were they? He shook his head and concentrated another look. It was a metal bar, the same one that belonged to the banner he knocked down. This was metal he could use. The cogs in his mind tried to turn, but he could only think of the dreadful Tenfana heat bearing down on him harder than ever. He gasped. Curse this heat.

As soon as the ram regained its stance, Zerrick found his sword in the open, ready and waiting to be retaken. He dashed as the ram dashed, and both were fierce to get to their target before the other, but unfortunately for Zerrick, the ram was faster. It drew closer and closer, getting close enough to trip his heels. In the end, it wasn't fast enough. The sword slid out of the ground like butter, and before the ram could slide to a stop, steel sliced its great body in half, right between the head and legs. The two parts clattered helplessly onto the arena floor, and Zerrick was now ready to end this battle. He caught sight of Seto, still hunched over on the ground with his battered coat slipping off a little. It made him swallow. Zerrick didn't want to do this, but the round wouldn't end until only one was left standing. Besides, he had to remember Samu had brought it upon himself, and he did put up a fight in the end. A bit slower than he was at the beginning of the match, he began to walk over.

Seto waited silently. When he felt the footsteps stopped at striking distance, the big man spoke. "This battle has gone on long enough. Will you spare us both by admitting defeat or will I have to deal a final blow?" Zerrick asked, hesitant to raise his sword. Seto smirked, and turned two dead eyes at him.

"Think fast," he said.

Off went the coat, and into Zerrick's face. He stumbled backwards as the darkness engulfed him. He tried to pull it off, but Seto was already there. Like a flash, something large and metallic bounded him. When the footsteps past, he could only find himself pathetically shaking the clothing off his head to find what had happened. Seto had lured him in, hook, line, and sinker, and now he was facing a giant ring limiting his every arm movement. A closer look at it and he realized it was one of the banner poles. The boy had finally managed something clever.

Not far away, Seto was taking in a humongous breath of relief a few feet away. Wow, that was so much better. Why didn't he think of taking his coat off earlier? He looked back at his catch, one big bulky blacksmith struggling to free himself. Once again, he had gotten the upper hand, but Zerrick was much stronger than he estimated. The ring was beginning to stretch, and he needed to pursue this quickly. With his sheep back into action, Seto began to call them forth.

One sheep. The first, jumped onto Zerrick's back, and he stumbled forward. Still, he stared up, unrelenting.

Two sheep. The second one got on, right next to the first, and despite Zerrick's determination, his knees began to buckle.

Then the third sheep came, and Seto found a dreadful absence. His great ram was gone, a casualty resting on the arena floor. Zerrick broke free.

The sheep were thrown off like cotton and each cried as they hit the ground once again. The bondage was the next thing to go. It clattered just as feebly next to them, and Zerrick's arms were free once again. He took the sword still in hand and held it with both to point it right at Seto, sending him backing up in worry. Despite having been liberated from his hot coat, there was no changing the fact that he was weak from the battle. He wouldn't be able to handle one more blow.

Plip! Seto noticed a small darkened speckle of soil before him. He looked up from it to realize an interesting sight. Zerrick 's mouth was open, sweat was trickling from his brow, and his left arm had turned red with blood. He was just as beat as Seto was. Maybe, it was worth one more shot.

"I have to admit you have been a more skilled opponent than I thought you would be, Samu," Zerrick said between gasps of breath with a broken smile, "and I never imagined you would put up such a fight in your condition. Now, however, I'm sad to say I'm going to have to end this. I'll ask you again. Will you spare yourself the final blow?"

The weaponless boy stood there, staring at his opponent like a long dead ghost. Seto's stance didn't waver, nor did it shudder at the sword pointed at him. His eyes were glazed over.

"Charge me," Seto said.

The blacksmith lowered his head in defeat. "Alright, if you insist…"

Description
As Zerrick was thrown across the arena by the mighty ram, it was indescribable. Seto couldn't see the stadium anymore. He couldn't see the people cheering, the announcer, nor the flags on the stadium walls. All the ache, all the pain, it all mixed together and his body fell numb. He had fallen into a dream, yet not a dream. Around him the background seemed to be swirling as though making it's own self out, and the only things clear were his opponent and three big wonderful fluffy sheep. He nearly let out a cry for joy, as his wish had been answered. He wanted to lie on one, just for a little while to rest his eyes, but now, a new voice was screaming in his head. It was preventing him from his desire to fall. His opponent was starting to get up. He was still fighting, and now, there was a reason.

He didn't care anymore if people from Aristole that saw him using his golems.

He didn't care if he became a government slave deemed hero.

He didn't care if this was Tenfana or Ulrien.

And he certainly didn't care if he was physically ready to collapse.

He didn't care anymore, because now he had a reason to get back up. He was fighting for her.

He wasn't sure where the sheep came from, but instinctually, he knew they were his. There wasn't a moment to loose. "Let's turn the table," he said to himself, conducted his finger in Zerricks direction as instruction. The blacksmith had just barely gotten back onto his feet when they came, one after the other, and proceeded to pay back all the damage he had dealt. The sheep butted and slammed. They took him from the front, and they took him from the rear. BAM! BAM! BAM! They took him from all directions, and as much he tried, he could only dodge one to get hit by another.

Although, each sheep was relatively weak on its own, they worked powerfully as a team. Bruising and battering Zerrick with each charge, he was forced onto the ground in no time. To say this took him by surprise was an understatement. These things were dominating the field, and he didn't even have a clue what they were. He propped himself onto his knees, as the strange beasts began to form a triangle around him, he could see their master on top of the big ram one. What to do now? He never expected the teen to make a come back like this. He looked around and caught sight of his sword. It wasn't terribly far away, then above it a little, in the stands, he noticed something more. There was a certain very special group of people cheering for him, shouting for him to get up.

The ram charged, and the others came after. In Seto's strong desire to fight for Ran, he had failed to notice one thing. Zerrick was fighting for somebody too.

TANG! Zerrick stood his ground and the ram's horns fell right into his hands. He clutched down tight, nearly bending them as Seto's eyes widened. Ignoring the pain the cut arm shot, the blacksmith lifted the ram off the ground. With one mighty throw, he tossed the ram and its master into another sheep. CRASH! Seto was sent off his second savior, tumbling and rolling across the ground just like before.

Struggling to his hands and knees, Seto was dazed. He could barely register what happened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his opponent taking care of his third sheep with a swift kick. He winced as it cried and tumbled with ease. Although the ram was starting to recover, Seto knew it wouldn't be for long before checkmate. Through all the numbness, some sensation came back into Seto's body. There was something smooth and stiff under his hand. Looking down, he couldn't make out what it was at first, but it was definitely long. It looked like a double ended comet, yet still, that didn't make sense. Comets weren't stiff were they? He shook his head and concentrated another look. It was a metal bar, the same one that belonged to the banner he knocked down. This was metal he could use. The cogs in his mind tried to turn, but he could only think of the dreadful Tenfana heat bearing down on him harder than ever. He gasped. Curse this heat.

As soon as the ram regained its stance, Zerrick found his sword in the open, ready and waiting to be retaken. He dashed as the ram dashed, and both were fierce to get to their target before the other, but unfortunately for Zerrick, the ram was faster. It drew closer and closer, getting close enough to trip his heels. In the end, it wasn't fast enough. The sword slid out of the ground like butter, and before the ram could slide to a stop, steel sliced its great body in half, right between the head and legs. The two parts clattered helplessly onto the arena floor, and Zerrick was now ready to end this battle. He caught sight of Seto, still hunched over on the ground with his battered coat slipping off a little. It made him swallow. Zerrick didn't want to do this, but the round wouldn't end until only one was left standing. Besides, he had to remember Samu had brought it upon himself, and he did put up a fight in the end. A bit slower than he was at the beginning of the match, he began to walk over.

Seto waited silently. When he felt the footsteps stopped at striking distance, the big man spoke. "This battle has gone on long enough. Will you spare us both by admitting defeat or will I have to deal a final blow?" Zerrick asked, hesitant to raise his sword. Seto smirked, and turned two dead eyes at him.

"Think fast," he said.

Off went the coat, and into Zerrick's face. He stumbled backwards as the darkness engulfed him. He tried to pull it off, but Seto was already there. Like a flash, something large and metallic bounded him. When the footsteps past, he could only find himself pathetically shaking the clothing off his head to find what had happened. Seto had lured him in, hook, line, and sinker, and now he was facing a giant ring limiting his every arm movement. A closer look at it and he realized it was one of the banner poles. The boy had finally managed something clever.

Not far away, Seto was taking in a humongous breath of relief a few feet away. Wow, that was so much better. Why didn't he think of taking his coat off earlier? He looked back at his catch, one big bulky blacksmith struggling to free himself. Once again, he had gotten the upper hand, but Zerrick was much stronger than he estimated. The ring was beginning to stretch, and he needed to pursue this quickly. With his sheep back into action, Seto began to call them forth.

One sheep. The first, jumped onto Zerrick's back, and he stumbled forward. Still, he stared up, unrelenting.

Two sheep. The second one got on, right next to the first, and despite Zerrick's determination, his knees began to buckle.

Then the third sheep came, and Seto found a dreadful absence. His great ram was gone, a casualty resting on the arena floor. Zerrick broke free.

The sheep were thrown off like cotton and each cried as they hit the ground once again. The bondage was the next thing to go. It clattered just as feebly next to them, and Zerrick's arms were free once again. He took the sword still in hand and held it with both to point it right at Seto, sending him backing up in worry. Despite having been liberated from his hot coat, there was no changing the fact that he was weak from the battle. He wouldn't be able to handle one more blow.

Plip! Seto noticed a small darkened speckle of soil before him. He looked up from it to realize an interesting sight. Zerrick 's mouth was open, sweat was trickling from his brow, and his left arm had turned red with blood. He was just as beat as Seto was. Maybe, it was worth one more shot.

"I have to admit you have been a more skilled opponent than I thought you would be, Samu," Zerrick said between gasps of breath with a broken smile, "and I never imagined you would put up such a fight in your condition. Now, however, I'm sad to say I'm going to have to end this. I'll ask you again. Will you spare yourself the final blow?"

The weaponless boy stood there, staring at his opponent like a long dead ghost. Seto's stance didn't waver, nor did it shudder at the sword pointed at him. His eyes were glazed over.

"Charge me," Seto said.

The blacksmith lowered his head in defeat. "Alright, if you insist…"