"An interesting idea. Perhaps we can discuss this more, later... for now, we shall enjoy the show, and our bet."<br/><br/>The crowd falls quiet, as Kat strides forward, to begin the formal part of the duel. "I, Katrina Susan Dawnstrider, do hereby challenge you, Duncan Harold Southwind, to a duel, for the title of Grandmaster of the Desert Wind combat style, and the right to wield the Desert Wind. I make this challenge before these witnesses today, and, should I fail, will serve under you for a year and a day. Do you accept?" "I do. Draw your weapon; we will fight after twenty seconds." They bow, slightly, to each other, then both draw a single blade; she, her finely crafted Keen Flaming scimitar, he, the Desert Wind. After a few moments, they charge one another, blades trading in rapid succession, though a skilled observer can tell that they're both fighting defensively, feeling the other out for weaknesses in their style.<br/><br/>The exchange of blades is flashy, involving leaps and rolls, dancing across the field, as they get a deeper understanding of one another. Thanks to his wisdom spell, however, Kat seems to have him figured out, first, and truly opens the match shifting into a forward, aggressive stance, and slipping in under his defenses with a blow that carries enough force behind it to leave a mark in the pillar, ten feet away. For her opponent, it results in him sailing back nearly ten feet, his chainmail shuddering under the blow. She looks quite pleased; the blow alone might've turned the tide of battle in her favor. He, on the other hand, merely looks irritated. "Stone Dragon... I was not expecting such a style, from one as limber-looking as yourself. But, we all have tricks up our sleeves, don't we?" He holds his sword out in front of him, calling out, "First release; Set alight, Desert Wind!" As he speaks, his blade bursts into flame, and he seems to be surrounded by an aura of fire. As he finishes, he leans forward, slamming the blade into the floor, a twisting line of fire rising from the hilt, and lashing out toward her; she narrowly avoids the worst of it. Moving into a more defensive stance, she takes advantage of the momentary pause of him drawing back into his stance, to return her own rush of flame, washing his entire half of the room in a sweep of fire, reminiscent of a mighty dragon's breath. Several members of the audience are caught by the attack, although no harm comes to them.<br/><br/>The battle closes to melee, immediately after, the two trading fierce, fiery blows, for nearly a minute, and it seems they're on relatively equal footing, and she seems to keep her lead, throughout the fight. A second application of the Stone Dragon maneuver, which, this time, he deflects with his weapon, sends him tumbling back, regardless. "This has been a good game, so far, but I will not surrender the title so easily." He straightens, then swaps the Desert Wind to his offhand, point down, as he draws his second sword. "Final release; Scour the earth itself, Desert Wind." As he finishes, he lets go of the sword, which immediately takes to the air, floating beside him, his second blade coating itself in what seems to be molten lava. Kat swallows nervously, and steadies herself, taking a moment to recover her focus, while she waits for him to make the next move.<br/><br/>Twin lines of fire streak out from the same starting point, as the animated blade and the champion both charge Katrina, who ducks the blade, but comes up just in time to catch a solid hit from his attack. A few more exchanges, but it's clear she's at the disadvantage, here; with two opponents now, instead of one, she's finding it harder to avoid the attacks, and the difference between them rapidly narrows. She manages to score several hits on him, but for every one she lands, he gets two. As the endgame approaches, both are looking hurt, although both are low on power, having used nearly all of their maneuvers, during the course of the fight. At this rate, she's going to lose, by sheer attrition, and he knows it.<br/><br/>The final move of the battle seems to happen in slow motion. Confident in his win, and wanting to seal it, he focuses his last maneuver through the dancing blade, intending to distract her by attacking from the front, leaving her open to the finishing blow from behind. As the Desert Wind comes down, however, a devilish grin crosses her face, and she ignores his feint, dropping her own sword, as she twists to grab the Desert Wind from the air, and uses its power and momentum to drive the attack into him. His eyes widen, as she uses the unique counter attack, a half-instant before his own sword drives through him. She holds it there for a moment, then draws it back out, his unconscious body slumping to the floor. "My sword," she says, quietly, sheathing the Desert Wind, and picking up her old blade, as a memento of her past.<br/><br/>The crowd erupts into cheers at the dramatic fight, and even the sultan gets in on it. "Incredible! I never would have suspected she had such a trick left!"