Nutcracker's sword had an unusual design. Its blade was long and slender, clearly ill-suited to cutting. A straight thrust was its best means of attack.
But in swordsmanship, a straight thrust covered the narrowest area. Whether chopping downward or sweeping sideways, other strikes covered far more ground. This kind of swordplay was suited to precise attacks.
Against an enemy who moved at extreme speed, such attacks were unlikely to work.
Golden Flash easily dodged Nutcracker's opening thrust.
Nutcracker stepped forward with a move commonly used in fencing and unleashed several more thrusts in quick succession.
Though these rapid thrusts lacked force, a hit from any one of them could still run someone straight through.
Golden Flash was not wearing the thick protective gear used in fencing matches.
Even so, Nutcracker's sword could not pierce his body.
Because it could not touch him at all.
Only when Golden Flash displayed his full speed before the audience did people understand why this handsome man bore that name.
Golden Flash suddenly vanished from the enormous electronic screen suspended above the Competition Venue, leaving only a blur of golden light where he had stood.
That golden blur traced a faint arc through the air and appeared behind Nutcracker.
Vought International had prepared thoroughly for the finals, but something deeply embarrassing for the organizers still happened during the match.
The Competition Venue had a full hundred thousand seats, so spectators in the middle and back rows could not make out the action on the Competition Ring. They relied on the high-definition screens mounted above it. Most spectators in the back watched the match through those huge screens, as was common at other major sporting events.
That placed heavy demands on both the recording equipment and the live broadcast director.
The high-definition cameras Vought International had