Astonishment to sorrow in a fourth breath.
"Do you think I will lose to you while that person is watching this now?" he says, leaving me confused.
He pulls his leg back and creates distance. He shifts into another stance, using his other leg. He aims for my face. I guard my heart—I know he will change his line of attack. This time, I decide for myself, not by my sight.
But—SKLASH—my face, just barely. I cannot evade it. Too fast. From my face to my heart, Loki strikes hard. I block with all I have, pulling and releasing his leg away from my chest.
"This is my stage. This is my proof," he says again.
SWISH—so fast and so powerful. I am thrown backward. Loki hangs in the air. There is no time left. My body burns, heat rising from within.
"I will end this," he says, his knee poised right in front of my face.
WUSH—I dodge sharply to the side, just as fast as his strike.
"Huh?" he mutters. Loki hangs in the air; I am beneath him.
I clench my fist. SPLASH—I drive it into his face with blinding speed and crushing force.
He is thrown back and staggers, but he does not fall. He struggles to steady himself as he lands on the ground.
I push myself further, matching his speed—then sharpening my power to meet it.
He bends forward, sweat pouring down his body. I am not the only one drenched now.
"As I told you before, bastard," I say between ragged breaths, touching my chin and the underside of my nose where fresh blood runs over the dried stains. "Extreme speed does not make extreme power. I wield both—so do not pretend you do not envy it." I spit the blood from my mouth.
"Is that so? You have startled and amazed me more than once," he says, his face flat, fear sealed away. "Enough surprises. This only convinces me this will not end the way I want."
I take the stance he used.
"I saw it in your face first—and I should end this with honor." I surge forward and strike from the air. He blocks.
SCLASH—A brittle defense against power that now surpasses his, paired with speed I have matched. It breaks through. My blow crashes into his ribs, the impact cracking through as it lands clean.
His face shows the faintest hint of pain, yet behind that blankness, fear whispers. "Terrifying," he murmurs.
The heart is the end of this fight. BLASH—I drive my strike into his abdomen to rob him of the strength to guard. He is hurled into the air, but—
"What?" I mutter. Blood pours from me as I press the attack.
His expression remains flat.
The heart—this ends it. FLASH—I strike full and twist him into the ground. He is thrown down, lands on his feet, and stands upright.
"HUH?!" I gasp, unable to believe my blow has no effect.
"That's it? Finished?" he says.