They moved again almost at the same time, the brief space between them collapsing under renewed intent. Noel came first with pure sword pressure, no spell layered into it, only clean movement and a sequence of tight cuts meant to drive Roberto's guard higher and steal the center back through force and rhythm alone. Revenant Fang struck low, rose sharply, then turned in his hand as Noel stepped in with his shoulder behind the next swing. Roberto met him without hurry, parrying with that same infuriating economy of movement, turning one blow aside with his blade, catching Noel's wrist for half a breath with his forearm, then forcing their bodies close enough that the clash became less about distance and more about leverage.
"I've been trapped in the cycle for too long," Roberto said, his voice calm enough to feel wrong in the middle of that exchange.
