and ducked under a kick, using their momentum against them. A sharp elbow to the solar plexus of the first guard, a quick pivot to sweep the legs of the second—they went down with gasps, momentarily stunned.
But the third guard, taller and more deliberate, didn't rush. He stood amidst the debris of the temple floor, holding a weapon that seemed almost insultingly plain: a thin, unadorned Kyroi staff made of dark, petrified wood.
The remaining guard, a lean figure, moved with unnerving calm. His Kyroi staff was simple, but his ability was anything but that.
Kai launched a blitz of quick, snapping strikes. He was fast, precise, and aimed for the guard's center of gravity—but every single counter failed. He'd throw a lightning-fast jab only for it to fall short by a centimeter, or unleash a low kick that Jett would effortlessly step over as if the attack had been moving in slow motion.
"Why is nothing connecting? "
Kai thought, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He was dodging Jett's sweeping arcs easily; he could see the intent, the path, the opening. Yet, when he went to exploit it, his own timing seemed to betray him. It wasn't that Jett was faster; it was as if a tiny, unseen Temporal Slip occurred, subtly delaying Kai's point of impact, letting Jett casually parry or evade. The Kyroi staff was simple, but its hidden ability was deadly, rendering Kai's best skills moot.
Jett saw Kai's frustration, the growing panic behind his eyes. He stopped dodging and closed the distance, the Kyroi staff dropping into a defensive low block. This was the opening. Jett shifted his weight, rotating his hips to gather power for a devastating thrust—a move that would end the fight.
The staff tip was zeroing in, a blur aimed at Kai's sternum. Kai braced, knowing he couldn't dodge this close.
Before the attack could land...
The lethal thrust from the Kyroi staff was still closing on his chest, a hair's breadth from impact.
In that final, desperate instant, Kai stopped bracing and leaned