The fight stretched longer, and the air around them thickened with heat and pressure. At first it had been light probing strikes, each testing the other, but now the bandit leader's movements sharpened, his fire burning hotter with every swing. His blades carved trails of flame across the clearing, forcing Arden to step quicker, sharper, each motion guided by the steady pulse of his life energy.
"Not bad for a rat that hides in the woods," Arden muttered, mask glinting as he slipped past another cleave. His blade caught the edge of the strike, twisting it aside, before his body blurred and he reappeared at the man's flank.
The bandit leader blocked again, sparks flying, his teeth gritted. There was no more mocking in his eyes, no half-smile. Every movement now carried the weight of someone who knew that one mistake meant his life.
On the sidelines, Nyra's lips tightened as she watched. "That man… he's strong. Stronger than we thought."
