Leon tightened his grip. Ravahn's presence pressed on him like a weight—every instinct screamed to defend, to wait.
But waiting against someone who owned the moment meant losing.
He stepped first.
Not with speed, but with intent. Each movement carried an almost lazy rhythm, pulling Ravahn's focus toward the false beats. Then, just as Ravahn adjusted to intercept, Leon shattered his own pattern—compressing three steps into one heartbeat and cutting across the Sovereign's flank.
Ravahn caught it, steel flashing. Sparks burst between them.
But Leon didn't retreat. He chained another attack into the rebound, forcing Ravahn to block at an angle that bent his perfect form.
For a fraction of a second, Leon felt it—Ravahn's control slipping.
He activated Timeline Drift, not to dodge, but to flood that tiny gap, amplifying the disruption. The air shimmered. Ravahn's eyes sharpened, realizing what Leon had done.
Too late.
