Andres didn't rush.
That was the first difference between instinct and control.
The attacker in front of him moved again—faster this time, testing his reaction rather than committing fully. It wasn't a killing strike. It was pressure.
Observation disguised as aggression.
"…They're evaluating," Andres concluded.
His body shifted slightly, just enough to avoid the incoming blow. Motion Acceleration activated at a minimal level—controlled, precise. He wasn't trying to overpower them.
He was trying to understand them.
Behind him, Kael clashed with the second opponent, metal ringing sharply in the enclosed space. The sound echoed, sharp but contained. Even that felt intentional.
This entire situation had been arranged.
The third man still hadn't moved.
Watching.
That one was the problem.
"…If I escalate, they escalate," Andres thought.
"…If I stay controlled, they reveal more."
The next strike came low.
Andres adjusted his stance, letting his body respond naturally through his growing martial comprehension. He didn't counter.
He redirected.
Minimal effort. Maximum efficiency.
The attacker paused for a brief moment.
Just enough.
"…You're not inexperienced," the man said quietly.
Andres didn't answer.
Because the less he said—
The more they would reveal.
And right now—
Information was more valuable than victory.