[Cloud had fought a wide variety of enemies; large, skilled, fast, powerful. He'd been put through concrete walls and knocked around four times before he'd even seen a blow.
He could tell that Asch as good, though. And moving as he was -focusing more on precision and strategy than overwhelming power- he knew he was going to lose. His side was aching and his shoulder throbbed with steady pangs. He moves too quickly -or too slow?- on a thrust, misses a step and Asch's sword scores a cut through his shirt and against his side. It feels like a whipcrack over an open wound and he drops to a knee to grab it.]
[Action]
He could tell that Asch as good, though. And moving as he was -focusing more on precision and strategy than overwhelming power- he knew he was going to lose. His side was aching and his shoulder throbbed with steady pangs. He moves too quickly -or too slow?- on a thrust, misses a step and Asch's sword scores a cut through his shirt and against his side. It feels like a whipcrack over an open wound and he drops to a knee to grab it.]