A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 1811: A Scramble for Victory – Part 6

It was a vice grip that Oliver found himself in. Germanicus had let his hammer swing down into a single hand to secure it, but Oliver could very well guess what would follow. And indeed it came, the hammer was allowed to fall to the floor, and a second hand joined the first, and came crushing for the back of Oliver’s neck.

The strength that Germanicus possessed was an incomprehensible thing. Oliver had always made sure that he was as far away from it as possible, but now he was trapped entirely. That was the only real problem that Germanicus had – ensuring that the strength of his attacks was allowed to land. And it was the only area in which Oliver could declare that he bested him firmly, that of speed. As soon as it was a contest of brute force like this, there was surely no one in the kingdom that could equal the man.

Oliver’s hand was trapped, and those fingers around the back of his neck wound themselves ever tighter. His vision blackened, and he had to curse himself for his lack of attention. He ought to have known never to grasp too much too quickly from a strong foe – there was no need to go beyond the wound he’d already inflicted, and see his sword run straight through. He needed to be quick. But he’d been almost sure that he could end the man’s life there and then. There was a strange confidence that declared it to him.