He reappeared behind the staff user, leg sweeping out in a fast kick.
But the staff youth reacted quickly. His serpent spirit hardened around his arm, turning it into a shield. The kick hit stone-like scales and bounced back.
The unarmed youth slid a step, not losing balance.
"Hard," he muttered.
The staff user grinned. "Try breaking it."
He swung his staff in a long, heavy arc. Each swing created a gust of wind, the serpent spirit reinforcing the strikes.
The unarmed youth didn't block.
He slipped past every hit—bending, ducking, twisting like smoke. His panther spirit sharpened his movements, making him almost impossible to catch.
The staff youth grew annoyed.
"Stand still!"
He slammed the end of his staff into the ground. Stone energy rippled outward, disrupting the floor tiles.
The unarmed youth jumped, avoiding the shockwave.
But the staff youth was ready—sending the serpent spirit forward like a whip.
It snapped toward him.
Fast.
