Elimination

I felt the rush of displaced air skim past my cheek, grazing it ever so slightly. Turning around slowly, I saw the sharpened, deadly points of a shruiken, embedded deeply in the nearby oak tree. Then, my eyes adjusting to the gloom of the forest canopy, I spotted him; a solitary figure shrouded in ninja garb. Standing my ground, I unsheathed my katana, and approached, staying light on my feet and perfectly balanced.

I struck, my katana a blur, but he was just as swift. Elegantly, he brought his deadly blade down in a wide arc. Diverting my lunge to the side, he pressed the advantage, driving his knife deep into my chest. Alerted by his shifting balance, I managed to parry his thrust. Our swords collided, drawing sparks, but I would not relent. I lunged forward driving my blade directly into the ninja’s dark, emotionless heart.

Then, out of the gloom three figures materialised. Swooping down on me, they attacked. The lead figure kicked me hard in the leg. I buckled, falling to the ground in a heap. They laughed a cold, merciless laugh devoid of any sympathy. But it was a ruse, rising up from the cold, dark earth. I struck, punching a black-clad figure, with a devastating right hook to the jaw. Caught unaware, he flailed, throwing his hooded arms out for balance, but to no avail. His head slammed into the thick trunk of an oak tree. He slumped to the ground in a heap, out cold.

Enraged, his friends turned on me, raining blow after blow down on me. Meekly, I stepped to the side, taking advantage of his momentary loss of balance. I grabbed and flipped him over my shoulder. He flew back, impaling himself on his friend’s deadly blade.

Bellowing, I charged at the remaining ninja, but he proved far more elusive. Flipping over my head to land gracefully behind me, he kicked me, striking my face and sending me reeling. Grabbing his arm in a crippling lock, I twisted him around, placing his head on the forest floor. But he would not give up. Head-butting me in the chest, I jerked back letting go of his arm in the process. Time to finish him off, I thought. Warily I approached. Then all of a sudden, I exploded into action, letting loose a devastating roundhouse kick to the side of his head. Buckling under his weight, he dropped to the ground, utterly spent.

I strode off into the deadly embrace of the forest, completely relaxed.