Klaus felt a sharp stab of pain in his left knee as he momentarily lost his balance.
Mikael sensed the opportunity to deliver the final blow and deftly stepped forward.
The crowd fell silent, unable to believe what they were seeing. It seemed that the unlikely hero of the New York team was about to be defeated by his formidable opponent.
Klaus gasped, feeling the pain in his knee and the fatigue in every fiber of his body. However, when Michael was less than two meters away from Klaus, a distant voice echoed, drawing the attention of everyone nearby:
"Klaus, don't give up! You can win!"
It was the voice of his girlfriend, Ashley, who was watching the duel with a tightened heart. Her cry echoed until it reached Klaus' ears, and it gave him strength he didn't even know he had. With renewed determination, he stood up quickly, ignoring the pain in his leg, and blocked Mikael's blow in time.
"You're not going to take me down that easily!" said Klaus breathlessly.
Mikael smiled defiantly, liking Klaus's resilience. "I think you've put on enough of a show, don't you?" he teased.
Klaus looked at Mikael with a flame of determination in his eyes and a wide grin appeared on his face, chilling and surprising Klaus, whose smile disappeared on the spot.
"You haven't completely defeated me yet." he said, his voice a little breathless.
Without waiting any longer, Klaus propelled himself forward, surprising Mikael with a sudden, swift attack.
ραΠdαsΝοvεl.cοm The audience watched all this with wide eyes, witnessing yet another twist.
For his part, Klaus knew he needed a strategy to beat Mikael, who was more experienced and physically fit at this point. He could no longer just rely on his skills acquired in Rise Online, but rather opt for a more cunning and unpredictable fighting style.
As he thought about it, Klaus deftly sidestepped a sharp blow from Mikael, spinning around him and lifting some dirt off the ground.
Mikael found himself momentarily taken aback by Klaus' aggressiveness. For him, the combination of Klaus' quick attacks and dodging ability left him momentarily at a disadvantage. However, Mikael was a formidable opponent and he soon regained his composure, counterattacking.
The two fencers looked incredible on the battlefield, their swords clashing so often that this seemed to be more of a choreographed battle than a real, messy fight. Their ability to read movement was spectacular. Klaus showed his versatility, switching between direct attacks and evasive moves, making himself unpredictable for Mikael.
With each blow avoided or blocked, Klaus' confidence grew. He knew he could not afford to stand still and wait for an opportunity. Every moment was crucial to finding a way to win and his mind was focused on finding the perfect loophole.
Mikael was not willing to lose the battle either, as it would be humiliating. He intensified his attacks, trying to tire Klaus even more and force him to make mistakes.
Thus, the duel went on for a few seconds, with the crowd breathing in sync with the swordsmen's movements.
Every effort was visible on both competitors' faces, but neither was willing to give in.
Klaus knew he was reaching his limit, but he refused to give up. He concentrated on his breathing, trying to maintain control over his body and mind. His determination was stronger than ever, fueled not only by the desire to win, but also by the will to honor his team's effort and prove his worth.
Mikael noticed Klaus' perseverance and recognized his opponent's strength. He admired the courage and passion Klaus displayed, even in the face of such a formidable challenge.
The two fencers stood back for a moment and prepared for another exchange of blows, which it was obvious would be the last when their eyes met.
The audience held their breath, knowing that the next move could decide the fate of the best sword fight they had ever seen in their entire lives.
When Klaus and Mikael finally launched themselves at each other, their swords met with overwhelming force. Both swordsmen showed both their skills and their strength in a final exchange of blows, each desperately seeking victory. However, Mikael's experience and dexterity began to prevail. He was able to read Klaus' movements accurately, and in a split-second moment, he delivered a precise wrist twist that wrapped around Klaus' sword and disarmed him, sending their swords flying into each other. Then Mikael pointed his sword at Klaus' chest.
Gasping in exhaustion, Klaus stood in shock. He had given it his all, but in the end, Mikael proved superior.
The audience was silent, knowing that the battle had come to its conclusion, but not believing it.
Mikael lowered his sword, looking at Klaus with respect and admiration. "You are a formidable opponent." he said, reaching out to shake Klaus' hand and stop him from falling to his knees as well.
Klaus accepted Mikael's hand and offered a tired smile. He was disappointed not to have won, but he was proud of his performance. He had proved to himself and others what he was capable of, even if he was not a professional fencer.
The crowd finally broke the silence with a round of applause and cheers when they saw the two shaking hands. They recognized Klaus' heroic effort and the fact that he had been the last one standing against the North Dakota team.
Klaus was applauded until the moment he returned to the hallway through which he entered the field and when the doors closed, he still heard the muffled sounds of clapping.
Riley, the leader of the New York team, approached Klaus and greeted him with a proud smile. "You surprised us, Klaus. You fought for our honor and you succeeded. I'm sorry I didn't help more." he said gratefully and wistfully.
Klaus looked around, seeing his teammates with a look of respect and admiration, and then was kneaded by a tight joint grip from them.
...
Edited by: DrHitsuji
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