CLANG!
Ruel's blade grazed past Ethan's shoulder. The pressure alone cut the air. Ethan blocked, but the force sent him sliding back several meters. His boots carved deep lines into the stone.
Gasps came from the crowd.
"So fast…"
"He blocked it…"
Ruel looked at Ethan with surprise flickering in his eyes before fading.
"That was a solid defense, but it will not happen again," Ruel said calmly.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
Darkness spread under his feet. His shadow deepened. He stepped and vanished into it. He reappeared beside Ruel, his hand glowing faintly with golden light.
Ruel reacted instantly. Mystic energy burst from his body. The energy slammed into Ethan and shattered the cloak of darkness, but Ethan still pushed forward.
Their attacks collided.
BOOM!
A shockwave blasted outward. Stone tiles shattered. Dust filled the air. Kane and the imperial knights released their auras at once and held the shockwave in place.
People covered their faces.
"That's two moves…"
