Vol 1 Ch 4

"My apologies Prince Loki. But I will end this before the fight even begins." Fandral said, as he began to wave his rapier around doing a variety of Thrusts. Winking at a few of the ladies. "Can't keep the ladies waiting."

"That is certainly true Fandral." Loki said, one hand holding a scabbard and the other prepared to draw the blade and attack in a single motion. He had killed many mongols and bandits using this same technique. "You shall not keep the ladies waiting."

Loki remembered every detail that he could about Fandral that he could. Like every Asgardian, he had superhuman strength and durability. What set him apart was his superhuman agility and speed. Fandral had the potential to be one of the most quickest warrior on Asgard. His rapier played to his strength, dishing out multiple strikes and retreating quickly.

Loki would need to be decisive in the first move.

Both of them waiting for the signal to be given for the duel to start. Loki would need to wait till a moment Fandral would not be able to retreat to launch his strike as it would leave him open afterwards.

"Begin." Odin called out.

Fandral and Loki both moved at the same time. Everyone in the stand could only see a quick flash of light. Both had moved and remained standing past each other. Loki calmly sheathed his Katana. He had 3 slashes across his chest, Fandral fell to his knees, his head fell off. A confused look upon it. He was transported outside the ring. He began to look around in confusion. Not understanding what has happened. There was complete silence around the arena. Loki sighed in relief. He broke no rules, he just used chakra to augment his body.

"Next." Loki called out. Looking around the stand. Daring anyone to step forward.

"Brother, getting a little bit rusty, aren't you. Maybe spending so much time with the ladies has dulled your speed." Volstagg said jovially.

Fandral made to speak but he could not. Like a fish, he opened his mouth once more but in the end, he remained quite. There was nothing he could say that would convince anyone.

He said the only words that he could. "Volstagg, be careful." That was the only thing he could say to Volstagg. He could just give words of caution to him.

Volstagg may be the only person that Loki liked among the warrior three. He had a hearty appetite and enjoyed overindulging himself on wine. He was the only one who had never looked down on Loki and had always answered Loki with a smile. Loki prepared himself, this was not gonna be an easy fight.

Where Fandral specialized in speed, Volstagg specialized in strength and endurance. He may one day easily become one of the largest Asgardian in the future. He held up a two handed axe easily a head taller then himself. His large size should not be considered as an indication of a slow speed. Volstagg was surprisingly spry and nimble on his feet.

Volstagg entered the ring. "My apologies Loki, I wish to go back to eating." He said with a smile.

Loki smiled as well in amusement. "Volstagg, someday you are gonna eat the Asgard realm into bankruptcy. Besides, mortals have something called a diet. You should try it, you could lose a few pounds."

"My apologies Loki, eating is one of the loves that I have in my life." He had replied.

The fight was about to begin.

"Begin", Odin shouted.

Loki got into the moon stance. Holding his Katana up pointing it up to upwards right. A style which focused only on disruptions to make sure that any enemy would not be able to use their strength to the fullest. A stance focused on bringing brutes down.

Volstagg looked with confusion, he had never seen such a sword style or stance before. He had been taught by Tyr like many of the Asgardian warrior and he had never seen such a style. Either Loki had made it himself or had discovered it from a book. Either of those cases would make him a prodigy.

Volstagg approached Loki and swung his large axe. Loki sidestepped the axe. Volstagg began to increase the speed of his swings and Loki began to look for opportunities to counterattack through the flurry of blows. Sidestepping and occasionally lightly deflecting the blows such that he would partially change the trajectory of the axe with a light tap with his Katana.

So they began to play a waiting game with each other. The first one of them that makes a mistan and gives the opponent an opening would be the first to lose.

There Volstagg had thrust his axe, thinking he would not be able to dodge to the left or right. This was the opportunity loki was looking for, he jumped onto the axe as it thrust. Using that a springboard, Loki launched himself forward and connect with his knee into Volstagg's face. Seeing him disoriented, Loki began his counter offensive. Launching a combination of kicks and sword strike. When Volstagg attempted to strike with his axe, Loki moved forward and launched kicks to his head to disorient him and land a few strikes.

Slowly slashed began to appear on Volstagg which drained his strength. Loki was not able to give deep wounds, but the slash marks appearing started to tire Volstagg out. Seeing him sufficently tired, Loki performed a whirling strike, spinning to gather momentum and finally leaving deep wounds on his Torso. Volstagg finally collapsed and was transported outside the ring.

Loki, a victor for the second time.

Loki gave a sharp strike of his Katana and the blood on it splattered onto the ground. He then once more sheathed his katana.

"Two down and two more to go." Loki bellowed. "Prove me wrong, show me that you warriors can defeat me. Show me, that not just anyone can pick up a sword and learn it. Prove to me that you warriors are not only killers."

Hogunn stepped forward. Hogunn was a Vanir but don't mistake him for weak for such a reason. He was one of the strongest and hardiest warriors. He dual-wielded maces in his hands. He was a terror to behold in any battle. A permanent grim look on his face. A naturally pessimistic fellow who always assumed the worse and moved in accordance with that. Loki's words would not be able to unbalance him without crossing a few lines. Besides, there was no need for words. It was time for action.

Hogunn passed a thoughtful looking Fandral and a Volstagg who looked as if he just got an epiphany.

Hogunn the grim stepped into the ring.

Odin was looking in surprise at Loki. Loki naturally hated violence, instead preferring to use his intelligence and diplomatic skills to solve problems. Looking at Loki now, he wondered how much had he been pushed to master his skills. He had been speaking with Tyr but he clained to not be aware of such a swordsmanship style. He recognized the sword. A katana, one of the weapons used by the Midgardians. Did Loki learn this from watching mortal? Odin began to wonder.

Odin raised his hand when he realized that both competitors had reached the arena.

"Begin." Odin said. Odin let his hands fall.

Hogunn's mace transitioned into a flail with an extendable chain half a meter long. Hogunn began to spin it, building some momentum. Loki realised that his katana would break if he let the mace impact with it. Loki got into the stone stance, the first one he had ever learned. Spinning both of his maces, Hogunn stepped towards him. Hogunn attacked and the chain extended and the spiked part of the flail headed towards Loki. Loki stepped away and so the process continued. Loki was continiously being pushed back until he got an idea to create an opening.

He stepped into the swing of the now transformed flail, he used his sheathe to stop the moment of the chain. The swinging action of the flail caused it to wrap around the sheathe. Hogunn deciseviely let go of that flail. Turning the one remaining flail back into a mace. He held it by both hands and swung at Loki.

A trade Loki realized. Loki also decisively thrust his katana forward, piercing through Hogunn's neck while the mace impacted him on his left side and throwing him away. Loki got up holding his bloody side, he may have broken a few ribs. Hogunn fell, the strike proving to be too fatal. He woke up outside the arena.

"Disappointing", Loki had said.

Loki sides and wounds healed up. It was time for the final challenge. For Loki's fight against Sif. He picked up the sheathe and used his clothes to wipe the katana and resheathe it as well.

The arena was completely silent. Loki had stepped forward, "Are you not entertained." He called out. "Lady Sif, it's your turn." He said, his entire body burning with anticipation.