43 That Hurt You More Than Me (2/2)

A gasp could be heard through the entire arena as Aker put his s.h.i.+eld forward and darted towards the Fire Ape. Aker believed that the Fire Ape being at basically the lowest level of the human Source Core couldn't extend his flame out and attack with it. Source Core magic fighters could also use the elements on their body and weapons but they couldn't extend out the attack through the atmosphere. This being his first attack in his first fight with a magic beast he didn't want to risk it and led with his s.h.i.+eld just in case the Fire Ape could launch a fire attack at Aker from a distance.

As Aker closed the distance it must have enraged the Fire Ape that Aker had trampled on his dignity by attacking as the Fire Ape took its ma.s.sive closed hands and beat them against its chest as it screamed to the heavens. The roar of this Fire Ape was deafening as the sound of it echoed through the approaching Aker.

With sword in hand Aker was aiming for the Fire Apes left knee where a gap existed between the armor. If he could cut across its knee, he could heavily injure it limiting its movability. This move would serve two purposes, first Aker could injure the beast which in and of itself was noteworthy but secondly and more importantly he could slow it down which played perfectly into Aker's strength.

As Aker approached his eyes locked in on the left knee, he could see the Fire Ape posturing and preparing to attack Aker as he approached. Aker seeing the posture of the Fire Ape change decided to follow the line of the Fire Apes new posture and his eyes caught something completely unexpected.... both arms of the Fire Ape were swinging down as if though to break the earth. Aker looking at his speed and the speed of the Fire Ape realized he had not accounted for one major difference between the Kulga and the Fire Ape....The Fire Ape's arms were ridiculous long, like stupid laughable long.

'It's not going to work; I can't reach his knees right now. If I go straight at it now, I'll be killed!' Akers intuition was telling him that despite his advantage in speed it wouldn't allow him to get into attacking distance of the Fire Ape just like that.

As the arms of the Fire Ape continued swinging down Aker realized that he wasn't going to be able to get away cleanly as he didn't have enough time to stop and back away, he was already committed.

'I don't know what to do, I can't go back.' Aker thought to himself as he watched the already ma.s.sive fist become larger in his eyes. As he took another step towards certain death Aker had a sudden epiphany.

'Why would I want to go back? Isn't my enemy right there in front of me? I already decided I was going to attack him, should I back away just because he has a bigger fist than me? No!'

Aker had come to a realization. If he decides to move forward, he shouldn't allow anything to stop his movement. He wouldn't just attack without reason and thought, that's not what he was thinking. It was just that once his reason and thought led him to attack he shouldn't allow anything or anyone stop him.

With this thought in mind and the idea that he was going to be pummeled Aker slid a couple of steps to his left and tilted his body to the side while moving his sword over his shoulder and parallel along his whole arm. At this point Aker had the sword pressed against the full length of his arm and was leaning away from the Fire Ape trying to minimize the impact.

As the Fire Ape's arm finished cras.h.i.+ng down it grazed against Aker and knocked him to the ground where he tumbled and rolled a few times while at the same time the Fire Apes arm exploded out blood as it ran across Akers sword.

Aker stumbled back to his feet and once again took a stance bending his knees slightly and digging his back foot into the ground holding his sword up in an attack position.

As the crowd watched Aker tumbling on the ground and the blood exploding in the air they were silent however upon seeing not only Aker stand back on his feet but take a stance indicating that he was going to attack they erupted in cheers.

Aker who started laughing taunted the Fire Ape ”That hurt you more than me didn't it?” as a cloud of dust and rock flew behind him, he pressed forward.

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