The four squires that had been defeated in the previous round watched the two squires that would be fighting in the second round. They did so with a mixture of rage and hope. They raged at not being able to continue and hoped that the one that had defeated them would be the one to win. That way, they were at least defeated by the tournament winner.

  The two winning squires of the first round that weren't fighting watched the other two winners go towards the tilt yard from the stands. The two viewers were hoping to catch some weakness that would give them an edge against the victor of this match. Though this was hard for them, as the constant rage that was a part of their existence made it hard to focus and so take in the details they needed.

  The two squires fighting were Red Thrust and Red Wall. The two took their positions on opposing sides of the tilt yard. Some might have pointed out this was a match to decide which of the two deserved the word "red" in their name. Though sadly none made such an observation, as none present thought of such things. So the interesting observation went unmade by those there as the two squires stretched and flexed.

  The two taking a moment to be sure the previous round hadn't done too much damage and that they could still fight at full strength. The two of them could fight at full strength, and so at an unheard and unseen signal that the two squires both knew had been given, the two squires charged each other.

  Red Thrust came forward; his left legs bunched together, forming a spear for him to thrust. While his right and back legs held him and carried him forward at a rapid pace. On the other side, Red Wall was holding his shield of twigs and grass with his right leg ready to take on the thrusting legs of Red Thrust. The rest of his arachnid legs carried him forward.

  So it was in the middle of the tilt yard that spear met shield, the clashing creating a gong-like sound that resounded all around for a fair distance. The two arachnid squires of rage found themselves knocked off their course from the force of this first clash of arms. Though both were able to steady themselves and make it to the opposing side of the tilt yard.

  The two turned around and charged again, taking no time to think on this first clash but besides what they had gleaned quickly. As the two's anger had been roused, each believing they should have won this first engagement and so angry as well as eager to win the next clash, both of them charged at full force. They met again in the middle of the field, though both were more prepared than before.

  Red Wall tried to put his shield into position to direct the force of the spear away from him. While Red Thrust tried to focus in on what he believes to be the weakest point of Red Wall's shield. The clash echoed a fair distance once more, though this time neither was knocked off their course. They both turned around again and charged once more at each other. So it went on and on, both of them determined to defeat the other.

  Though Red Wall found himself at a disadvantage in the constant clash as the joust continued. As Red Thrust changed his tactics as the battle went on. He would alternate how he thrust his legs as spears. In one clash he thrust his legs formed together to form a singular spear. Other times he would separate the legs to fit smaller spears. This way he could attack at multiple points along the Red Wall shield.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  This shifting of focus on his shield caused Red Wall to be on the back foot. As he couldn't use his usual counter methods, as all his focus was on defending with his shield and trying to minimize the damage done to it with the constant strikes. This deadlock between the two ended as the Red Wall shield had had enough and shattered on the twentieth assault by Red Thrust. The echo of his shield shattering echoed across the tilt yard.

  Just as before with his own earlier opponent, Red Wall was eager to continue the fight. Despite having lost his shield, Red Razor Armory put an end to this. "Red Thrust is the winner; now return to the stands." Red Razor Armory said, giving his verdict and sending both squires back to the stands, though one was once again a victor while the other was now one of the defeated.

  So with the first match over, the next two entered the tilt yard to begin the final match of the second round. Bloody Cutter entered the tilt yard, and Razor Leg entered on the other. One is a spider squire of rage, the other a centipede squire of rage. The two made their final preparations, practicing their moves while trying to figure out the best way to use their techniques to defeat their opponent.

  Razor Leg found himself wondering how he was going to redirect the large red claw that Bloody Cutter used. The practice and planning ended abruptly, as it had with previous matches. At that unheard signal, both stopped making preparations and charged at each other across the tilt yard. The two made rapid progress eating up the distance in no time in their rush to get within range of each other.

  Bloody Cutter swung his large claw blade at Razor Leg, trying to build up a bit of force as he tried to take out his legs from where he could get at them from above the spiked wall between them. Lucky for Razor Leg, he was able to redirect the strike above him with a quick swing at the thrusting claw blade. The two's clash rang for a brief moment, and then both were on opposite sides of the tilt yard once more.

  The two quickly turned around and charged once more at each other. The two now charged with a measure of the other. So it was that each of the two tried to use this knowledge to press for an advantage but found none. So it was that the RSI clashed again and again. Bloody Cutter is trying to get his thrusting claw into position to take out his opponent's legs, while Razor Leg redirects the searching claw blade away with his razor legs.

  Razor Leg began to get a full measure of how the claw blade worked and so used this knowledge to lay a trap for Bloody Cutter. So it was on the seventh clash that the bloody Cutter felt joy as he found his claw blade grabbing around one of his opponent's legs. Though just before Bloody Cutter could take the leg, it twisted. The keg twisted to the side while in Bloody Cutter's grip.

  This sudden change of direction by the leg took the claw blade with it, causing bloody Cutter to not only lose his hold but also throw off his balance, causing him to flip end over end as his own momentum carried him forward uncontrolled. Bloody Cutter's claw broke as he ended up slamming it repeatedly into the ground in his uncontrolled roll forward.

  The match was over, as Bloody Cutter's main weapon was now effectively broken in half. As one part was still attached while the other lay on the ground. This did not deter bloody Cutter, as he was more than willing to keep going. He was stopped by Red Razor Armory, who spoke once more. His voice echoed across the field with a hint of rage that was a part of his being.

  "The winner of this match is Razor Leg. So Bloody Cutter returns to the stands. You have fought well, but the match is concluded." Red Razor Armory said, and so it was obeyed. Bloody Cutter went to the stands to watch what happened next as Red Thrust came down. So it was that the two finalists faced each other across the tilt yard.

  The two gazed at each other as all others there were focused on the two. So it would be in this final match, the only match of the third round, that it would be decided who would be the first knight of their kind. History was about to be made, and only the gods knew what the rising to knighthood would mean for them in the end.