Thinking otherwise would, more often than not, get you killed.
Nuna and the assassin exchanged a flurry of blows, sparks flying in between collisions where their weapons met.
The entire exchange was fast-paced and difficult to follow; they were both obviously using decent movement techniques.
Kyle leaned forward, reminding himself, 'If I remember correctly, Nuna's technique is called profound blossom steps.'
In its most basic form, basic mastery, the technique could only enhance the user's speed, agility, reflexes, and cognitive functions, like how she was utilising it right now.
Between each step, the air ripples quietly, like disturbed waters in a moonlit pond; senses heighten, nerves sharpen, and the world seems to slow.
The technique doesn't just move the body, it harmonizes mind and form, allowing perception to outpace reality.
Nuna, who was at the adept mastery stage of the technique, could utilise a higher form of movement.
When the cultivator initiates the Phantom Blossom Steps, their body seems to fragment into a fleeting spray of luminous petals, each as light as the soft caress of spring blossoms carried on a whispering breeze.
These petals streak forward in a silent flurry, blurring into a shimmering arc that briefly hides the user from mortal sight.
In the blink of an eye, the petals reconverge with natural fluidity, and the cultivator reappears at the new position, embodying both stealth and grace.
It had been a nightmare for Kyle, having to deal with it when they trained together. It was truly as the name suggested, profound.
Kyle had asked where she found such a technique; there were no records of it in the Ravenshade family archives.
Supposedly, according to her, she had manifested the scroll one time; it was with her, always had been.
A simple, mysterious explanation.
It made Kyle think that it had something to do with her bloodline or something along those lines.
But Nuna was an orphan, so it was all a mystery at the moment.
Just as Kyle thought about it, the exchange of flurries ended, and they both darted backwards to make some distance, their feet sliding on the ground, raising the dust before coming to a halt.
Nuna got up, her body recoiling from a bow position, turning her scythe a few times in her palm, making a woosh! sound as the blade split the air.
As soon as she got back into position, she immediately moved again, coating her blade with Qi, this time manifesting the second stage of her movement technique.
"[Profound blossom steps: Bloom!]"
Boom!
Her body erupted into a burst of cherry blossom petals, shattering the ground below her. Fragments of stone and soil splintered in all directions.
Woosh!
The assassin's eyes widened as Nuna reappeared behind him, her silhouette emerging like a phantom blossom in motion.
With a whisper of wind, her blade sliced across his back, making a shallow cut, drawing blood.
'Close!' Kyle nudged his body forward instinctively in excitement, almost falling off the tree branch.
The assassin had twisted just in time to prevent any lethal damage, dark blood blossoming across fabric on his back.
Surprised, he staggered forward, pain threading through his spine. He leapt back into space, distancing himself from Nuna.
But she did not intend to give him a moment of respite.
She pressed forward without breaking her rhythm. No pause. Just another silent step, but faster.
Her opponent stayed vigilant this time around, expecting her.
They clashed again. Sparks shivered where metal met metal. He lunged; she evaded with the fluid grace. Each parry, each strike, was cleaner, sharper.
Nuna had gained a considerable buff to her movement speed with the activation of the technique.
If before the fight was barely even, now it was blaringly obvious who held the upper hand.
Nuna read him, faster now, anticipating his feints, his rhythm. Her scythe arced in elegant crescents; he reacted, but always a heartbeat too late.
'She is starting to dominate the fight, gradually.' Kyle noted, smiling lightly. He let out a breath he never knew he was holding.
Nuna landed a strong blow, which the assassin managed to only partially block. He bore the brunt of the force; his arm was blasted back, leaving a wide opening for Nuna to exploit.
'A wide opening!'
This was it, her chance to finish him off. He could not recover from this; he would not be able to block the attack in time, and she was right upon him.
The assassin's face twisted in surprise, but then, just as Nuna's blade brimmed with Qi, ready to deliver the final strike, something changed...
Boom!
A sudden explosion of force tore through the clearing from the assassin. A pulse of energy rippled out of him.
The air crackled, and pressure surged, and Nuna, who was caught unawares, was hurled backward like a fallen petal in a storm.
She was blasted back like a ragged doll, carried along by the shockwave.
Kyle, who was watching, almost felt his heart drop, but he didn't waste a second; his instincts kicked in.
He launched himself into motion as fast as he could, following Nuna's line of trajectory. He positioned himself behind her.
In a heartbeat, he collided with her torso, absorbing the blast before she could hit the tree trunk.
Bam!
They collided with the tree. Wood splintered with a sickening crack, and the wind was knocked out of him.
"Ooooof!"
They tumbled together, dust and debris swirling.
"Kyle!!!" Nuna recovered quickly. She held onto him, her arms trembling.
After a moment that stretched like a held breath, Kyle, pale and gasping, forced himself vertical.
His vision swam, but he locked eyes with Nuna, whose face was etched with relief and worry.
She held onto him tighter, her voice brittle and eyes bright, trembling.
'He's hurt because I was careless.' The thought hurt her more than anything. She could have done better.
She could have done more to end her opponent quickly.
She could have prevented this.
The guilt threatened to overwhelm her.
"Kyle—are you...?"
"Don't worry, I'm alright, just a little winded," he responded quickly to ease the worries written on her face.
He managed a groan and a shaky nod; pain radiated through his ribs. She pressed a hand to his chest, her breath trembling, gaze warm and fierce.
"Thank the spirits you're alright," she whispered.
She helped him to his feet.