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The samurai named Auron ran one hand through his short gray-flecked hair, casting one doubtful eye over his new opponent. He really had been expecting something of greater quality in the second to last fight of the entire tournament - a legendary swordsman perhaps? Or maybe even a powerful mage. But it seemed that instead he was presented with the prospect of fighting some blonde buffoon who didn’t even know how to enter an arena without almost killing himself.

Auron sighed as Joker’s face collided with the concrete of the arena floor, and shifted his feet a little, shuffling impatiently.

“This had better not be a joke!” he snapped, looking towards the announcer, who simply shrugged, peering at the short stack of cards held in his hands. It seemed he knew no other alternative, so he simply brought the microphone to his lips once more. Auron rolled his eyes. Wasn't anyone going to explain what this mentalist was doing in the arena?

“Ladies and gentleman… I am proud to present the semi-final battle…” He stopped, pausing for effect yet again. The swordsman shrugged, hoping that the announcer would hurry up with the necessities which seemed to be an annoying prefix to any of these tournament battles.

“Auron versus Joker!” he exclaimed finally. The response from the crowd was spectacular. Plenty of the spectators were cheering wildly, even if they had remained in silence during earlier battles. Combat enthusiasts sat perched on the edges of their seats as if trying to learn something from Auron's movements in this battle. If they were able to pay attention, they certainly wouldn't be disappointed.

The battle commenced without delay, as Auron slipped into his usual ready pose (which in turn was mimicked by a good number of the fans who wore the plastic face masks), his eyes piercing Joker’s. Suddenly, his hands began to glow a strange luminescent orange color, which illuminated both his palms and the blade he was carrying with its eerie magical flame. Punching the air, glittering dust fell over the warrior, as a peculiar translucent glyph appeared in the air in front of Auron, the glowing energy from his hands leaking into this extraordinary display, which seemed to resemble some sort of clock, with the hands ticking forwards at great speed, accompanied by a very fast, repetitive noise which greatly resembled the tick of a clock.

After one full rotation of the hands on this strange glyph (an action which took little more than a second), Auron regained his stance, yet this time his movements were peculiar. Those who cared to pay enough attention would notice that his speed had increased twofold. Every action made by him seemed to be executed with swift, jerky – almost unnatural – speeds. The entire crowd began murmuring with anticipation and wonder, some cheering with excitement. It was apparent that many spectators and admirers were now quite fond of Auron’s various peculiar magics.

Having cast this most extraordinary of spells, the warrior monk of Bevelle began the offensive. Sprinting at double-pace towards Joker, his weapon held at his side, grinding along the ground. A small fracture in the tiles followed the path of the massive weapon.

“This ends now!” he bellowed, as he appeared directly in front of Joker in but a blink of an eye. Still at this increased pace, Auron swung his sword diagonally, watching the Murasame as it effortlessly sliced through air with frightening pace, in an arc which would threaten to sever Joker in two if it were not stopped or avoided by whatever means. The newly hastened warrior was precise in his assault, ensuring that if no action were taken by the blonde haired madman that was his opponent would result in his almost immediate death.

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