She darted behind him in a blur, pressing the tip of Arthivian against the back of his neck. "Checkmate."
Mors exhaled sharply, but instead of conceding, he smirked. "You forgot one thing."
His free hand shot up, fingers tracing a glowing sigil in the air. A pulse of golden energy surged through his body, breaking Athena's spell instantly.
In a flash, he spun, knocking Arthivian away with the flat of his blade. Before she could react, he brought Elsienflora down, stopping mere inches from her shoulder.
Athena's breath hitched.
He grinned. "Checkmate."
She scoffed but couldn't hide the impressed glint in her eyes. "Fine. You win this round."
They stepped apart, both breathing heavily but exhilarated. The training ground was littered with scorch marks, cracks in the earth, and lingering traces of their unleashed power.
The air buzzed with magic, the scent of divine energy and raw electricity mingling in the space between them.
But they weren't done.
