Judith sensed it the moment their blades first clashed, her opponent lacked true battle experience. It was subtle, but to a seasoned killer like her, it was unmistakable. In that instant, Judith was certain: this fight would be short.
She would crush the girl, then move on to slaughter the remaining soldiers without delay.
Yet reality refused to obey expectation.
No matter how many tactics she employed, no matter how unpredictably she shifted her assault, the human girl adapted, swiftly and unnervingly.
The moment Judith altered her rhythm, introducing a new pattern of attack, her opponent stumbled… but only once. By the next strike, she had already recalibrated, responding with a precision that defied logic, as if she were peering a heartbeat into the future.
Judith couldn't comprehend this kind of talent. She didn't want to believe it, no, she dared not believe it.
