For once, Kaldov agreed with the announcer: he’d been hanging on the edge just seconds ago, and he’d given Vauruk a weighty wailing. They both weren’t far from blacking out. Furtively he guarded the bloody and tender wounds of his abdomen. Furrowing his brows, he focused, finding that fuzzy look in Vauruk’s eyes, the unsubtle way in which he held his stomach. It was clear: Vauruk was hurt, and he could make use of that. Surely, though, Vauruk was also plotting his downfall: that scrutinizing scowl he wore sold him on it. He couldn’t let Vauruk concoct a better plan. Inhaling a mighty breath, Kaldov galloped forward. He angled his body sideward, narrowing himself, blocking with his right arm and protecting his wound with his left. Vauruk tensed and adjusted, not having the time nor composure to fly away. “A broken stalemate: Golalud’s fast approaching. A hand flies--right over Vauruk’s head! What a dodge! And the response: a swinging right hook, just grazing Golalud’s side. Vauruk pursues: a straight, a straight--oh, both barely blocked! He knows what he’s doing; you can see it: aiming to hit Golalud right where it hurts. And, oh--there goes another! A blistering right straight!” But Kaldov saw it coming. He sucked in a breath and tucked his arms in swaying his hips and twisting to the right. The fist met air just beside him. Kaldov reared back his right arm and spun on his right foot. He whirled in a wide arc--! “*Oh!* A narrow dodge, and the wild lob’s landed. Vauruk’s stumbling! But, look: he’s still on his feet, guard raised high. No, no, he’s not done with Golalud yet!” And Kaldov wasn’t done with Vauruk either. ----- **Author's Note**: This is a page from a comic that [Vauruk](https://inkblot.art/profile/Vauruk) and I did for ArtFight 2023. It stars our boys, Kaldov Golalud (by me) and Vauruk the Formidable (by [Vauruk](https://inkblot.art/profile/Vauruk)). We intend to upload the pages of this series cooperatively, alongside the accompanying writing, over the next few days. The content will include violence and mild gore, and pages containing the latter will be tagged as such when warranted. Thanks for following along, and I hope you enjoy this! [|< First](https://inkblotapp.page.link/L5N6TCGxgqLkePyM6) | [<< Prev](https://inkblotapp.page.link/c9z5FkKKiHJSMZeB9) | Page 11 | [>> Next](https://inkblotapp.page.link/oLy84vSnWaMCAuneA)