Lucas let out a short breath.
"Still running?" he muttered, glancing briefly at the time counter.
He tightened his grip.
Without waiting for any signal, Lucas stepped forward.
This time—more aggressive.
TRANK—!
The Hoe swung up from below, its angle tighter than before. Silvara raised her sword with minimal movement, blocking without any visible difficulty. The clash of metal rang dryly.
Lucas immediately followed with a second strike.
The rhythm picked up. No hesitation. No pause to think.
Yet—
Silvara was still standing in the exact same spot.
She hadn't even taken a single step back.
Her sword moved briefly, efficiently. Every one of Lucas's swings was stopped as if it were mere formality.
"Still too slow," Silvara said flatly.
Lucas let out a low groan. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," she replied without expression. "Your speed has improved, but it's still not enough to apply pressure."
Lucas pulled his Hoe back, his shoulders rising and falling.
