Page 186 of His Hell Girl

"At least four hundred pounds. More with the armor," Marcello mutters an answer, his eyes fixed on the fight, his expression showing the same type of wonder I'm feeling.

"It's the angle that baffles me," Adrian comments, "that was one hell of a throw."

"I told you he can do this," I repeat, my confidence now stronger than before.

He can do it.

Just as the man tries to scramble up, Vlad quickly jumps up, managing to snatch one of the battle axes from the giant.

"Now they're a little more evenly matched," Bianca says, her eyes glued to the middle of the arena.

This time, it's Vlad who tackles his opponent, barging into him with his axe raised. The other man parries the blow, trying to land one of his own on Vlad's body.

Their movements are in sync as one hits and the other deflects, axe hitting on axe. Still, I can see that the other man is trying to get Vlad closer to him, so he can get crushed by his armor.

But as they continue to duel, it's pretty clear that their skills are on a similar level in that area.

"You can do it," I whisper a prayer to help him win.

42

SISI

The battle continues with Vlad keeping a comfortable distance, but still striking at him with his axe. Yet one wrong move and the giant's axe passes right by Vlad's arm, the blade skirting the skin just close enough to scratch him and draw blood.

My heart in my throat, I can't help it as I stand up, my hands held together in a prayer.

A cruel smile appears on Vlad's face as his fingers brush against the blood on his shoulder and he brings it to his lips.

The giant cocks his head as if he's trying to understand what he's doing. And right in that moment Vlad strikes.

He's so fast it's almost unreal as he swings the axe right at the base of the man's neck. But instead of trying to breach the armor, he does something else. He lodges the blade right where the helmet meets the chest armor, and wiggling it around, he applies enough force to lift the helmet up a little.

He retreats, removing the blade and twirling in a blinding move that even his opponent has a hard time following.

Switching hands, he places the axe in his left hand, distracting the man with his right as he repeats the blow. Thistime, the momentum serves to help him send the helmet flying in the air.

The man releases a battle cry, his eyes wide and crazed as he simply charges Vlad.

I watch Vlad's expression's attentively, and I notice the way his lips curl up, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

He's enjoying this.

The man is on him just as Vlad throws the axe aside, the force propelling it somewhere in the bleachers. Then, using his hand, he spreads his open palms on the giant's shoulders even as the spikes seek to burn holes through his skin.

A gasp escapes me at the sight.

But he knows what he's doing.

Hands on his shoulders, he lifts himself in the air. One moment he's doing a handstand on the man's shoulders, the spikes entering his hands, blood slowly pouring out of the wounds, the next he's behind him, doing a spin in the air and landing back to back with the man.

But this time, he manages to grab the giant's neck in the space between his armpit and his elbow, putting pressure right at the unprotected area of the neck.

Their heights are similar, but as Vlad increases the pressure on the man's neck, he starts bending backwards, following Vlad's movements.

I note the slight curl of the corner of his mouth, the way he starts slowly walking, dragging the giant's body with him.

It's all a game.

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