Cruzer's body tensed, instincts flaring as the space around him warped—not from the void, but from Vael's intent. The older Void Warden was moving again, faster than thought, faster than presence itself, a blur of abyssal energy that barely registered before his dagger was already slashing toward Cruzer's throat.
Cruzer reacted on instinct, his Abyssal Shardblade rising to intercept the attack, void-forged steel clashing against the dagger with a violent burst of energy that sent jagged distortions through the air. Sparks of raw void essence scattered between them, twisting into spirals before dissolving into the abyss, the sheer force of their exchange shaking the entire chamber.
But Vael wasn't finished.
The moment their weapons met, he twisted, using the force of the clash to redirect his strike into a spinning kick aimed at Cruzer's ribs.
Cruzer barely phased out in time.
