The courtyard was still echoing with disbelief over what had just happened when Damien rolled his shoulders once, letting the last traces of combat loosen from his muscles. He'd won and he needed to keep it that way.
Fenrir padded over, tail flicking with smug satisfaction, while Luton wobbled excitedly on his head as if asking if it could eat the fallen soldiers.
"No," Damien muttered. "Not this time."
The slime deflated in disappointment.
Haldric approached with a stunned smile, shaking his head.
"I've seen monsters," he said. "I've seen champions. But you—? You're something else entirely, Damien."
"Just needed the exercise," Damien replied casually. It was true. If he really wanted to, he would have dealt with all twelve soldiers easily without breaking a sweat but he'd gone easy on them, trying to find a weakness to their joint fighting style.
