Velthar growled, his claws tracing arcs through the air, sending sparks with each missed strike. Zykran, more methodical, varied his attacks, combining rapid blows with flashes of dark energy. Each movement revealed a little more of their style, priorities, and weaknesses.
Ryo pivoted slightly, leaving a calculated opening. Velthar leapt, thinking he had finally found a weak point. The blow grazed Ryo, but the King of Ashen stabilized with perfect ease, the Blade of the Orb capturing a fraction of the energy to analyze it.
> Ryo (thinking): "Perfect… their reflexes are good, but their synchronization leaves much to be desired."
Zykran then attacked with a flurry of shadow projectiles, aiming for Ryo's side. The King barely leaned, evading just enough so the threat seemed real but did not touch him.
Gabriel, attuned to every pulse, analyzed the raw power and combat patterns:
> Gabriel (thinking): "They are fast, coordinated, but each attack is predictable if you know how to read the tension in their movements."
Velthar roared, frustrated at not being able to pierce the guard. He struck again and again, the earth cracking under the impacts, but Ryo remained calm, each dodge precise, each move measured.
> Ryo (thinking): "Very well… now, let's see how long they can maintain their rhythm before tiring."
Zykran feinted to the left and then struck from above, a fast and complex technique combining speed and dark energy. Ryo adjusted just his position, letting the blade slice the air, creating a gust that pushed Zykran back several meters without the force of the strike reaching him.
Velthar and Zykran exchanged a quick glance, a mix of anger and astonishment. They barely understood that they were facing an opponent far more calculating and powerful than themselves.
> Velthar (gritting his teeth): "This human… he…"
Zykran: "Impossible… he's not even using his full power!"
But Ryo didn't flinch. His golden eyes remained focused on every movement, analyzing, calculating. Every strike from the Demon Kings now served as a lesson, revealing the nature of their strength and their limits.
> Ryo (thinking): "Very well… I now have all the necessary information. When the time comes, the storm will be perfect."
The silent duel continued, ashes swirling around them, the wind carrying echoes of past destruction and contained power. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the inevitable explosion, the moment when Ryo would decide that observation was enough and the true battle could finally begin.