Adrastos vs. Rufi

The earth-rumbling screams of the spectators outside in the stands could be heard through the thick, wooden doors where Adrastos Thanatos, the blue magician that wore black and had long, silver hair and piercing cold silver eyes, was preparing himself for his third Coliseum match. However, the spectators' excitement only made Adrastos more nervous as he tried to calm down and prepare his mind for the upcoming fight. The crowd outside was ablaze today, more so than he had ever heard them before in his last two matches. Their love for Coliseum battles seeped through the doors like a plague that could not be stopped no matter what barrier would be put into place. Of course, it was understandable considering the person he would be fighting today was well-known and well-favored amongst the Coliseum regulars. His opponent was named Rufi. From the mere rumors that had slithered into Adrastos' curious ears, he learned that Rufi was considered to be a Coliseum Veteran with not only a handful of wins to his name, but years of experience as well. This meant he was old, but not someone to be taken lightly. Like the previous opponents he had fought, Silver Fox and Giana Antonius, it was an undeniable truth that he would be a far more difficult obstacle to overcome. Adrastos had no plan of attack, no plan of defense, he would just have to hit the old man hard with every spell he had learned. The doors opened and a dull light fluttered in from the outside. The roar of the audience jammed his thoughts and almost stopped his fast-pacing heart as it sent vibrations through the ground and into his body to shake his very core. Adrastos stepped forward, into the opening, onto the lightly cloudy covered battlegrounds, to face the person that would most likely be his downfall in the Coliseum.

The stands were over-filled with people from around the world. Not a seat was empty, and even the stairs were taken bu people who had to stand just to witness the fight. The arena itself was enormous, able to fit more than just the spectators watching. How could that be? Was his fear altering his perception? He didn't know, he couldn't understand, but right now, the only thing that even mattered was the old man that stood at the other end of the arena. Adrastos stared with wide eyes as he looked at Rufi. He did not look like your typical old man with a hunched back who was unable to defend himself. Oh, hell no. He stood straight, his spine a board, and had muscles from training all his life, from fighting all his life. He had white hair, much like the the color Adrastos had, but his came with age. The left side of his head was shaven and on his face, he proudly displayed a full, scruffy beard and mustache. The only clothing he wore was a white dingy loincloth. His body was covered in dozens of battle scars, ones that he received from within this very place no doubt. In his left hand, Rufi held a crude sword. It didn't look like it could cut through much, but given his last two fights, Adrastos had long since learned to not assume based on physical appearance. In his right hand, the old man carried a wooden shield. Damn, the mage thought.

"Well, well, look what we have here," Rufi cackled. "A magician! Looks like they had nothing better to throw at me than fresh meat!" The crowd roared their approval. "As you have probably already heard, I have Rufi, a Coliseum Veteran! If you hadn't noticed, I will be your opponent." He smiled, showing off his rotting teeth. "So, what is your name? That way I may put it on your gravestone when I kill you." Adrastos swallowed and tried to muster any ounce of courage he could. "My name," he responded, "is Adrastos Thanatos! I am a magician that had traveled here, to Reim, from Magnostadt!" He stepped forward. "And it will not be you who wins this match!" He planted his staff, Lux Animae Mortem, against the dirt covered ground. "I will be the one who wins, not you!" The old veteran laughed. "Confident, aren't you? Or is that just arrogant boasting? The time for talk is over. Prepare yourself, Adrastos, or you will be be pushing up daisies sooner than you think."

Rufi began his advance. It was a slow walk that transformed into a slow jog, then a 7 m/s run, until finally reaching a 10 m/s sprint. Adrastos didn't dare to move. If he tried any sort of advance, it would only hasten his demise. When Rufi was ten meters away, he leaped forward, a feral  expression, one sparked by the adrenaline of battle, gleamed in his ancient eyes, as he brought down his blade to use his Forward Cleave. Adrastos didn't have the reaction time to dodge. All he could do was either try to move and lessen the chance of him inflicting damage to a major body part or attempt to use his borg. The borg was the better option. Adrastos put his borg up which shattered after impact instantly as Rufi's sword connected with it. The sword's attack, having connected with the mage's borg, was cancelled out, dealing no damage toward the mage. Adrastos heard himself half scream and half laugh, whether it was out of fear or just a way to mock the old man after his attack had failed, Adrastos didn't know. He casted Aqua Fluctus immediately, but the experienced fighter responded with Sliding Board. Rufi had somehow anticipated Adrastos' attack, much to his surprise, and slid the wave of water off of his shield and parried, causing the spell to go elsewhere. With not a second to waste, Rufi twisted his body to deliver two strikes with his sword, the first had slashed across his chest while the other slashed into his upper right forearm. Adrastos casted another spell, Aqua Bulla, but the old man evaded the spheres of water easily.
Adrastos was at a loss on what to do during Rufi's assault with his sword. Three blows were landed, two to the right leg and another to the chest. "Give it up. You won't win against me in a hundred years!" Adrastos' teeth clenched down as he used one of his newer spells, Glacialis Lamnia, to create a sword made of ice. He directed the frozen blade at Rufi, but alas, he used Steadfast Hold, which allowed him to strike the constructed ice katana with his wooden shield a safe distance away.

Now would be a good time as any to strike while deflecting an attack, he thought, but first, I need another distraction, just in case. Adrastos, not wanting to waste a second, casted the Glacies Spica spell. Rufi, being preoccupied with deflecting the ice sword, was hit and momentarily stunned by the trauma. Immediately afterwards, the blue mage casted three spells, Congelo Cado, which froze two of his limbs, Aqua Cyclonas, which blocked him any escape that was possible as soon as they closed in for the hit, and then Adrustum Aura, which caused severe frostbite halfway through the muscle.

The audience gasped and jumped to their feet to see the outcome. When the spells dissipated, Rifu could be seen laying in the dirt, face down, with his shield and sword out of his hands, defeated. The crowd stared in amazement, completely stunned by how the match had ended. Their precious Coliseum Veteran had been defeated by a complete novice. The silence dragged on for centuries until finally, the crowd cheered at Adrastos' victory. Now, he had three wins to his name, and he planned to keep rising, no matter the challenge.