The fight dragged on longer than any of them expected.
Every move they tried was met with equal speed. Every attack, every dodge, turned into a game of inches. Arden's mind kept working even as his body moved on instinct. He wasn't panicking, he never did. But the pressure was real.
"We're chipping away at it," Zephyra said, panting beside him. "Barely."
"Not enough," Arden muttered. "We need to shift the rhythm."
The Zephyrmane blurred again, and Nyra screamed as it clipped her shoulder, sparks flying. Arden turned sharply, slid in front of her, and forced it back with a pulse of energy.
His breath was heavy now. Even with everything they'd thrown, the beast wasn't slowing.
Then, an idea clicked. Not one he'd usually risk this deep into a fight, but there wasn't room for hesitation.
He focused inward, selecting three life signatures that had already synced with him through repeated use. His body responded, familiar with the pattern of each.
