"Tch—finally."
Astron exhaled, his stance shifting lower, more defensive.
But Julia wasn't slowing down.
With every step forward, her attacks came harder, sharper, heavier.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
He was still matching her pace.
But no longer blocking everything.
Her blade was cutting through.
And at this rate?
She was going to bring him down.
Julia's strikes didn't stop.
Her blade carved through the air, relentless, forcing Astron further back. Step by step, her blue eyes tracked his every movement, reading his reactions, adjusting—tightening the noose.
And then—
She sensed it.
The wall.
Her smirk widened.
"That's it, huh?" she exhaled, slowing her swings just slightly, enough to speak. "End of the line, Astron. You've got nowhere left to go."
Astron didn't answer.
Didn't even blink.
Julia tilted her head. "You might as well surrender. Your plan failed."
Still, he remained silent.
And then—
His hand twitched.
Something flashed.
Julia's instincts flared. Danger.
