Chapter 72: Darrow: Full-Metal Panoply

Summary

• The scene is a pre-duel setup where Darrow and Volsung Fá are being armed by their attendants for a ceremonial fight.
• Fá is armored in very thick, spike-studded armor and equipped with a massive weapon called a warsaw, signifying a difficult fight ahead for Darrow.
• Cassius advises Darrow not to attempt airborne attacks or slashing, due to Fá's armor and the likelihood of Fá turning such tactics to his advantage.
• Fá's warsaw is particularly dangerous, capable of catching Darrow's weapon and drawing him into the spikes.
• A group of Obsidian jarls, possibly Gorgons, are present and likely not favorably disposed towards Skarde, who sides with Darrow.
• Fá taunts Darrow about his understanding of strength and power.
• Both fighters are ritually painted with leviathan blood for the duel.
• Darrow chooses to dual-wield using his Bad Lass and Pyrphoros weapons, aiming to keep Fá at a distance.
• Before the fight, Darrow offers Fá a chance to confess his allegiance to Atlas au Raa and his crimes, though Fá remains confident and dismissive.
• The duel begins under a dome-shaped shield to keep the fighters grounded, with a thunderous atmosphere created by the observers.
• Fá moves first with surprising speed and brutality, using his gravBoots to launch attacks, but Darrow manages to avoid direct hits by relying on his combat training.
• Darrow's counterattacks do not penetrate Fá's armor, reflecting the challenge of breaching his defense.
• As Fá pushes Darrow towards the dome's edge, Darrow resists the urge to use his boots to escape and attempts to thrust for a kill shot.
• Darrow's attacks slightly penetrate Fá's armor, but not deeply enough to be effective, and he himself is wounded by one of Fá's poisoned spikes.
• Fá reveals that Darrow has been poisoned by the spike, gloating about his impending death and the fight being mere theatrics at this point.