The Tempest Fang ripped through the spear of enemies like it was paper. It shredded the Wind Slicers, turning the entire mass into a cloud of harmless black mist and glittering crystal powder that rained down softly on the white sand like strange, dark snow.
Silence returned to the arena.
Saeko stood in the center, her katana lowered, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths. The emerald light faded from her eyes. The white sand around her was covered in the fine, dark dust of her enemies. Not a single Wind Slicer remained.
Slowly, Alex pushed himself off the wall. He walked across the sand toward her, his boots making no sound. He stopped in front of her.
She looked up at him, her face flushed with effort and victory.
For a long moment, he just looked at her. Then, he nodded. It was a single, firm nod.
