The two gladiators stared at one another as the crowd cheered. Cucumba lowered his ban saber to the side, holding it with both hands, pointing back while stepping into a bow and arrow stance. Hwoarang put his out front, held with one hand at center, his back hand pulled back to chamber at his waist. Hwo slid into a back stance. Hwoarang sprung into action, propelling himself with the force in an arc that carried him near the top of the cage at it's apex. He spun his dual sided saber to confuse the green devil, but as he looked down all he saw were the pinpoints of green, focused on him. Cucumba tensed in preparation. Even the everpresent arena din diminished slightly.
The sabers collided, sending sparks outside of the cage, Hwoarang continued to move forward, and quickly spun to attack the pickled one's rear. Cucumba swung his blade over his head to protect his back and blocked the incoming blow. The younger competitior swung the other end around, attempting to sieze the advantage of a double ended weapon. Cucumba jumped up, performing a split in mid air, allowing the blade to pass underneath. Hwo spun quickly, generating more momentum and speed, striking at Cucumba's mid section. Cuc brought his saber down to counter, deflecting the blow, then slid his saber down the shaft of Hwoarang's, nearly severing the challengers hand. Hwo dropped that end of the saber, but quickly spun it around with the other hand, nearly decapitating Cucumba as the admin ducked out of the way. Cucumba launched a low side kick to the challengers leg, which Hwoarang barely dodged. The green devil continued his assault with his ban saber as he attacked with his kicks. Hwoarang was on the full defensive now, attempting to weild the ungainly weapon and protect his legs. The crowd continued to chant, "Two men enter, one man leaves!"
Finally Cucumba saw the opening he was looking for. Hwoarang stepped straight back, putting his center of gravity behind his base. Cucumba was quick to capitalize, knocking the less experienced fighter down with his shoulder. Hwoarang pulled his saber up in defense, but the green machine not only expected it, he was hoping for it.
The mighty admin slashed the ban saber through the hilt of the dual ended monstrosity that Hwoarang used, killing the blade at one end. The crowd roared in approval.
Hwoarang looked at his saber in disgust, then stared up at the ancient horror. "That was cheap, afraid to face me at my best?"
The admin retorted, "Hardly, afraid that my best was too much for your best? Your doing fine, don't dissapoint them now." Cucumba raised his hands in triumph. The crowd roared in responce. A chant of "Pickle him, Pickle him" could be heard loud and clear.
Hwoarang's face flushed with anger and he charged in, overcoming the pickled one's defenses with a series of strikes. First he attacked with powerfull overhand strike, driving the admin into a defensive posture. Cucumba blocked it, but was amazed at the strength of the blow. He quickly chambered the saber for a stabbing motion, which Cucumba prepared to block. Instead of stabbing, Hwoarang backspun, attacking the side with a slicing motion. Cucumba blocked it but was forced to walk straight back, commiting to the same mistake that gave him the momentum to begin with. Cucumba charged forward with everything he had, swinging diagonally up as Hwoarang swung diagonally down. They stepped past eachother, sabers humming, each at the end of a blow.
Cucumba's jacket began to smoke, and the leather fell open, a large hole had been cut in his duster. His shirt was burned as was the rib beneath. "Grrr . . . nice shot Hworang."
"Thank you . . . "
"But you should check your . . ."
The remaining half of Hwoarangs blade fell off as Cucumba spoke.
". . . saber."
Hwoarang looked down at the broken light saber and tossed it away in disgust.