The Art of Control
Lyra's breathing steadied as she adjusted her stance. The creature crouched low, coiled like a spring, eyes locked onto her every movement. It wasn't just fast—it was anticipating.
That was fine.
Because she wasn't just fast either.
Move too early, and it adapts. Move too late, and I lose.
She stepped forward—then vanished.
A flicker to the left. A ghostly afterimage to the right. Unpredictable. Her foot barely brushed the ground before she shifted again, weaving between speeds that made tracking impossible.
The creature's head twitched, its body jerking in sharp, unnatural movements. It wasn't attacking—it was struggling to keep up.
Good.
Lyra smirked and stopped.
Just for an instant.
The creature reacted on instinct, lunging toward where she should have been.
She wasn't there.
She was above it.
A sharp burst of energy slammed into its back.
BOOM!
The force rippled through the creature's frame. It staggered, movements stuttering out of sync.
Jaxon didn't waste the opening.
---
The Real Strike
Jaxon lunged.
The creature's eyes flicked toward him, still disoriented but not defenseless. It saw the sword.
A flicker of recognition.
Its body shifted, adjusting to counter the incoming strike.
Jaxon smirked.
Then—
He let go.
The sword slipped from his fingers, twisting midair.
The creature's gaze flicked toward it.
Just for a moment.
Click.
Metal plates twisted around Jaxon's free hand. A faint hum filled the air—before a burst of force propelled him forward.
The creature realized its mistake.
Too late.
CRACK!
Jaxon's fist slammed into its core. The impact wasn't just physical—it carried the full force of his gauntlet, energy dispersing in a violent shockwave.
The creature fractured.
Cracks spread through its form before it shattered into dust.
Silence.
A mechanical chime echoed in the air.
[ Trial Completed. ]
Jaxon exhaled, shaking off the residual energy from his gauntlet.
Lyra landed lightly beside him, arms crossed.
She arched an eyebrow. "You dropped your sword."
Jaxon flexed his fingers, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Did I?"