CHAPTER 6
"THE DUEL"

PREVIOUSLY:
Rex Compaq-Summit, a mercenary, appeared in Lizard City, offering help in the fight against Cruel.

"You are, no doubt, a swordsman?" asked Rex hopping down from the cart to confront Lizy.

"Me?!" questioned the rather startled Lizy.

"Yes, you," Rex answered. "I challenge you to a match!"

"Oh, go on, Lizy!" said Sandy, "It might be fun!"

"But, I don’t know how to use a sword!" Lizy retorted.

"It wouldn't be right for the Guardian of Lizard Valley himself to turn down a challenged, Lizy," Slingshot noted.

"Right!" Chubby agreed, "I bet you've learned at least a little something from all your blacksmithing."

"Sir!" one of the mice whispered to Rex, "The crowd doesn't look too excited. What if they don’t hire us?"

"Then we'll have to get on our knees and beg," answered Rex quietly, "We're already out of money, and I can't afford to go after Cruel without some sort of financial help! I don't plan on letting Cruel get away from me again!"

"Rex!" called Lizy after some more conversation with his friends. Rex turned around to face him. Lizy continued, "I accept your challenge!"

"Very well," nodded Rex with a smirk. He tossed his cloak aside, and revealing a saber by his side. At once, the three mice got to work, etching a large circle with chalk on the brick street around him.

"The goal is to knock your opponent outside of the circle," Rex explained, "By moving outside of the circle, whether by my force or your own resolve, will give the victory to me. Let's begin."

Lizy drew his own sword and stepped forward into the circle.

"Go, Lizy!" cheered Sandy as the crowd began to get excited.

Lizy advanced with a simple, poorly executed slash, which Rex dodged with little effort. Then Lizy charged again, but Rex simply jumped aside, while poor Lizy tripped over his own two feet.

"I suggest you watch where you're going!" commented Rex, highly surprised by his opponent’s skill - Or lack there of, rather.

Lizy, meanwhile, rubbed his sore snout, and got back up onto his feet.

"Lizy!" called Slingshot from the crowd, "Try going on the defense, and look for his weaknesses!"

"And stay alert!" added Chubby, "You ought to at least wait a few minutes before you loose."

"Don't listen to Chubby!" snapped Sandy, annoyed by Chubby’s usual sense of humor. "You can do it, Lizy!"

Lizy nodded, and headed their advice.

"Now, then... Lizy is it?" Rex began, "Let’s see how you really fare against me." Rex launched forward with a flurry of very simple techniques. Lizy didn't hold his ground very well, but he wasn't doing very so bad for a complete beginner.

"That's the way!" Sandy cheered him on, backed by the crowd.

"Lizy may actually do pretty good," commented Slingshot, "What do you think, Chubby?"

"Those were very basic attacks," replied Chubby, deep in thought, which was unusual for him. "But I can tell he's not a beginner - He's pulling them off too well for that. I think he's just holding back."

"Not a bad assessment," said Rex, overhearing the conversation, and stopping for a moment, "But now it's time for you to really see my skill - the true skill of Rex Compaq-Summit!"

NEXT TIME: "Game, Set, Match"
The duel is concluded.