They were both considerably roughed up, Itekan had blood, on his face dripping like a fountain while Escalor's clothes had two hole on the places where Itekan's attacks had struck.
They launched at each other. Itekan pulled back last minute, he twisted, raising his feet up in the air, he swung down heavily aiming for Escalor's back, Escalor was slammed face down, Itekan leaped up, jumping away just then Escalor held his foot, throwing a barrage of punches at Itekan. The two broke up, and immediately hit at each other again. The two threw punches at each other, and with every punch Itekan seemed to slowly get the upper hand.
Bang!!
Pow!!
Escalor was surprised he didn't understand how it seemed he was losing, when the fight started he obviously had a better chance of winning, but that guy, with every punch seemed to get stronger and faster, it was almost as if he had a near endless stamina.
Itekan dodged a punch set from Escalor, quickly landing a succession of blows, each landing faster than the last. Escalor staggered as he fell under the influence of the attack.
He was spent, he had not anticipated this, he felt like he was fighting an immovable wall.
Binturu smirked as he watched the fight.
***
On the second floor, Aitken watched sighed, it seemed he instead of just dueling was using his opponent as a form of training, this was bound to be troublesome in the long run, but he wasn't too bothered, where's the fun if it's too easy. Aitken thought as he watched.
" Just as planned, it seems I need new pawns" he muttered as he watched Escalor staggered backwards falling to the ground.
***
Watching from the shadows the old man who had intervened before the fight begun, laughed gently at the turn of the tides.
" Impressive" he muttered.
***
Itekan walked down on Escalor who baked away, his entire face was filled with blood, his eyes were swollen shit and he could feel his bones crack.
" You win!" He gasped try to breath, his head hung low.
" I want you out of the school by noon tomorrow" Itekan said, Escalor looking at Itekan felt like he was staring into an empty void.
As Itekan stepped off the duelling grounds everyone in his was moved out.
Itoyea was shocked beyond reason, he had already resigned himself with the fact that Itekan would lose, he could barely believe how the tides had turned. This was also the first time he'd seen Itekan fight that way, he almost always used his shadow abilities, so he had not expected that he could fight properly without them.
Itekan was exhausted beyond reasoning, he had fought till his limit today but he knew he had to stand strong till he left the traing grounds or else. But even then as he moved he felt his leg buckle he knew he was going down when he stopped, by his side was Binturu with his hand around Itekan's neck, he grabbed into the inner wears holding him up, from behind it looked like he was congratulating him.
" Come on, don't fall now" Binturu whispered as to him,
" Thanks " Itekan muttered as the two continued out of the hall, Itoyea was by Itekan's other side in seconds, he made a few jokes about the fight as they walked out laughing. Everyone watching inside knew then not to mess with him.
***
The news of the duel circulated before the day ended proper and by the next day nearly everyone had heard about it, at least a version of it, some said, he was the embodiment of a hero and has stepped up to stop the bullying of one of their fellow candidates, some versions said he was a villain who chased away several potential heros from Four Stars. It didn't matter the version being told, one thing was constant throughout each, he was strong and not to be messed with however the result of this conclusion was not although good or bad.
Because Itekan had now succeeded in putting a massive target on his back, a free for all to all, several people now wanted a go at him. In a place like Four Stars, one thing was necessary, relivance, with Itekan showing his duelling prowess and with the inconsistencies of the rumors, had proven to be relevant, others now latched until the idea that if they could defeat him, they as well would become relevant.
Itekan was unaware with the changes doing on with the mentality of the candidates but it wasn't lost to the like of Binturu who had pieces together the fact that they had been manipulated. The only thing he still wondered, who had planned this, and how did he know Itekan would step up to fight Escalor, and how did he know he'd win.
Well it really didn't matter if he won or not, the effect would have been more or less the same, even if slightly less impactful it would have still amounted to the same thing.
He had just publicly associated himself with Itekan, it was clear from now he couldn't just back out and he wasn't even sure he wanted to, his several millennial worth of war experience made it clear to him that someone was planning something, and Binturu intended to figure it out.