Even as Amare drew closer to him in her sleep, dozing comfortably on his chest, he couldn't help but fall into thought about her battle with the Dragon Emperor.
"You've grown stronger," he whispered to her softly. "You had a chance to win if you had maintained your cool."
Unfortunately, she had psychological weaknesses, and Rui was one of them. Perhaps it was because of what Rui had meant to her in her life and what she had gone through for and because of him, but even with Enlightenment of Self, the Dragon Emperor was able to use her emotions against her and spring a trap that would have killed her on the spot.
He approved of her strategy and tactics prior, of course. She had done a splendid job dealing with the Dragon Emperor's extraordinary physical power and his invulnerability and the trap that she had sprung on him made Rui proud.
