The impact came from the side, too fast to follow with his eyes. Scarlet's blade not only broke through Victor's guard but also pierced the space he thought he had protected. The blow wasn't clean; it was heavy, brutal, and his body simply gave way. The dry sound of his body hitting the ground echoed through the courtyard, carrying with it the sound of his breath failing mid-movement. He tried to turn to absorb the fall, but he was already too slow to execute anything with precision.
Scarlet didn't advance immediately. She stood a few steps ahead, sword still in hand, observing the outcome with a neutral gaze, like someone who already knew exactly where this was going to end. Victor remained on the ground, on his side, his arm trembling slightly as he tried to push himself up. He couldn't. The muscle responded too late, weak, uncoordinated.
