The next match was soon ready to take place. The woman placed within the ring shakily held a training dagger, her nerves pulled taught. Normally, having some type of weapon against an unarmed foe would give her the confidence needed to win. But if that foe were about twice, maybe even three times her size while all she had was the equivalent of a twig in her hands...well, her odds couldn't get lower. The red troll maintains a low stance, his knees bent and his expression serene. The dirt under his feet sinks slightly, leaving an imprint on the very fields he walks.
Some of the other human trainees silently pray in their hearts, so as not to catch the eye of their devilish instructor and his twisted mustache. "Start!" A mighty gust blows through the area as the troll launches itself straight towards his opponent. In a panic, the female combatant rolls as the mighty fist slams into the ground where she once stood. A startled gasp leaves her as she looks at the debris that was left behind. The troll, not letting her reorientate herself, then attempts a kick. It sails over her head however as the trainee ducks beneath the large foot. Taking her, chance, she plunges the wooden dagger into the side of the foot in an attempt to deal damage.
To her dismay, the dagger doesn't even draw the tiniest drop of blood, leaving only a white scratch mark. The troll giggled at the ticklish sensation by his foot, but nonetheless brings his foot down hard. The female combatant finds that the ground is further from her than she last recalled, as she is launched into the sky. The troll snatches her out of the air, his iron like grasp binding her in place. "You fought well, but i'm gonna have to end this." He began to take large steps towards the edge of the ring, both fighters knowing that should one of them get out, it counts as a loss.
Was that it? to lose just because of being placed out like a bouquet? The woman tilts her head as she remembers what she is fighting for. For WHO she was doing all of this work for. All that training, pain and bargaining, just for it to end here? 'Like HELL it will!' She struggles with all her might as the troll was reaching the edge. Finally, her arm with the dagger sprung free.
Running out of time, she doesn't hesitate, stabbing the dagger once more. "What is she doing? doesn't she know the dagger does no damage to the troll?" "Maybe its an act of desperation? I know I would try one last time to win with all I got if I was here." "Heh! she'll only make a fool of herself." The murmurs of the doubting trainees fill the area as they watch. Yet soon they are shocked as they hear a howl of pain from the troll. The woman finds herself in a free fall as the troll drops her to inspect his hand. Beneath his index finger, was the handle of the wooden dagger![1]
Now falling, The female combatant flips mid air to face the troll. Taking a deep breath, she hurls the remaining half of the dagger towards the troll's face. The splintered piece of wood rockets upward with surprising force and accuracy, reaching its target-the nostril. Seeing the danger, the troll leans backwards, avoiding having splinters in the same place his boogers would reside. His troubles weren't over however as he had leaned to far back, now unbalanced and teetering dangerously close to the edge.
She saw her chance right then and there. Though exhausted, having to run around and brace an impact to the ground, she gathered what little strength she had left, willing it into her limbs to make the final move. The first step. The second. The third soon after. Each felt as if the weight of the world was bearing down on her. But she endured. She had to. Not just for herself, but for everything that she cares for. And with a final yell...she pushed on the trolls leg. The red, colossal being teetered as gravity did its job. His arms flapped in desperation to stay balanced, the force throwing even more dust into the area. But it did not last long. First it was his head. Then the torso. And finally the legs followed soon after, crashing back down as the giant troll fell. And with it, his once assured victory.
The area was deathly quite at first. And then the crowd went wild. The humans were cheering, jumping for joy even, as the female combatant-no- the female WARRIOR inspired hope in those that were once unsure of themselves. The trolls didn't take it seriously either, as it wasn't them that was felled by the lady no taller than their kneecaps. Same couldn't be side for the fallen troll however, as he was quickly swarmed by the rest of his clansman and made fun of. Gabe could feel that she was going places, as she had a grit and fire that he only saw in those that made it big in his old world. And the goblin? He was staring at the sky, zoning out entirely thinking about his first possible show.
The instructor watched on, letting them have their moment. He knew when motivation was needed, as it'll make them try harder. And besides, there is plenty of time to break their bad habits. The fights soon moved on quickly as the trolls weeded themselves and others out since they were the vast majority.
With the tournament soon drawing to an end, their were only four fighters left: A troll, a kobold, a goblin... and a tree
[1] Fun fact: our extremities(aka fingers and toes) have more nerve endings, making them more sensitive to touch, temperature and- you guessed it- pain