They didn't rush.
Not anymore.
The distance between them closed slowly, both watching, both waiting.
Rhyx moved first.
A small step.
A faint shift in his shoulder.
Vael reacted instantly.
His hand shot forward, straight and sharp.
Rhyx slipped it.
Clean.
No wasted motion.
His counter came right after, a tight hook aimed for Vael's ribs.
Vael turned into it, taking the edge off the hit, then answered with a short elbow toward Rhyx's jaw.
Rhyx blocked.
Barely.
The force still snapped his head back.
He reset immediately.
So did Vael.
Again.
They clashed.
Strike. Block. Counter.
Faster now.
Tighter.
Every exchange sharper than the last.
Rhyx ducked low and drove forward, aiming for Vael's center again.
Vael adjusted his stance and met him with a knee.
Rhyx caught it.
This time, he didn't force through.
He stepped off line.
Changed angle.
And drove a straight punch into Vael's side.
Clean.
Vael's body shifted.
Small.
But real.
Rhyx saw it.
His eyes narrowed.
He followed with another strike to the same spot.
Vael blocked.
Rhyx expected it.
He feinted high—
Then went low.
His fist slammed into Vael's ribs again.
Same place.
Same pressure.
Vael stepped back.
One step.
Rhyx pushed forward.
Vael planted his foot and fired a straight punch down the center.
Rhyx leaned into it.
Took the hit.
And kept moving.
His hand shot out and grabbed Vael's wrist mid-strike.
Tight.
This time, Vael didn't break free immediately.
Rhyx pulled.
Short.
Sharp.
Then drove his head forward.
The impact cracked loud between them.
Vael's head snapped back.
Rhyx didn't let go.
He shifted his grip and twisted Vael's arm, forcing his posture off balance for the first time.
Just enough.
Rhyx stepped in close.
No space.
No room to escape.
His fist tightened.
"You're starting to feel it," Rhyx said.
Vael's eyes locked onto him.
Cold.
Unmoving.
But the line on his cheek had widened.
And his balance—
Wasn't perfect.
Rhyx drove his fist forward.
Full force.
Vael moved at the last second.
Not fast enough to avoid it.
But enough to change it.
The punch slammed into his shoulder instead of his chest.
The impact still sent him back.
Two steps this time.
Clear.
Visible.
Rhyx stopped.
Watching.
Measuring.
His grin came back.
Slow.
"Yeah," he said. "You're slipping."
Vael straightened.
Slowly.
Perfecting his stance again.
Silence sat between them for a second.
Then he spoke.
"Not yet."
He stepped forward.
Faster than before.
His fist came sharp and direct.
Rhyx raised his guard—
And felt the difference.
He blocked it.
But the force drove through him anyway.
His arms shook.
Vael followed instantly.
Second strike.
Third.
Each one heavier than before.
More committed.
Less reserved.
Rhyx's grin widened again.
Even while getting pushed back.
"Good," he muttered.
"This is what I wanted."
They crashed together again.
Harder than before.
And now—
Neither one was holding anything back.