Vale's eyes widened as Callum's form tore through the air toward Nym.
The Shining Knight crossed the distance in a blur, his movement splitting the air itself. Just before reaching her, Callum planted his foot against the stone floor and converted all of his forward momentum into a single, devastating punch, one accelerated even further by the sheer precision of his stance.
The strike came faster than before.
For an instant, Vale was certain Nym would be hit.
But her foresight was not an exaggeration.
Her eyes widened as her body reacted before conscious thought could intervene. She twisted sharply at the waist, Callum's fist screaming past her face close enough to stir her hair. The displaced air cracked like thunder.
Without hesitation, Nym raised her arm and drove a counterpunch toward Callum's exposed side.
Callum smiled.
His body contorted in a way that seemed fundamentally wrong, his spine bending and rotating far beyond what should have been possible. He leaned back toward the floor, his center of gravity shifting unnaturally, and in the same motion he kicked upward. His legs snapped shut around Nym's attacking arm, locking it firmly between them.
Before she could react, Callum hurled himself backward.
For a fraction of a second, Nym was dragged with him, then he released her midair and landed cleanly on his feet, the stone beneath him cracking faintly from the force.
Less than a second had passed.
Nym flew through the air, grit her teeth, and twisted her body. She landed on her feet and slid backward several meters before stopping, immediately snapping back into a ready stance.
By the time she looked up again, Callum was no longer watching her.
His gaze had already shifted.
To Vale.
Vale clenched his fists, nerves flooding his system as Callum began walking toward him. Each step was deliberate, heavy, unhurried, like a predator that already knew its prey had nowhere to run.
Nym stayed where she was.
Not because she didn't want to help, but because Vale hadn't moved to assist her either. They were supposed to act as a team, yet both hesitated, instinctively understanding that rushing in blindly would only make things worse.
Then Callum accelerated.
In an instant, his slow walk turned into a violent surge of motion. He lowered his stance, his grin widening as he closed the distance.
Vale raised his arms defensively, bracing himself.
Callum's fist slammed directly into Vale's guard.
The grin made sense immediately.
Callum hadn't held back.
The impact was catastrophic. Vale was launched through the air like a broken doll, his body smashing into the stone wall with a sickening crack. His vision flared white as the breath was ripped from his lungs.
His heart shuddered violently.
Vale barely managed to remain standing. His legs trembled uncontrollably, pain screaming through his ribs and spine as his breathing became ragged and uneven. He forced his head up, his vision blurred and distorted.
He couldn't see clearly.
But one thing was unmistakable.
Callum was smirking.
Nym glanced toward Vale, her teeth grinding as anger flashed across her face.
"I see," she muttered.
She shifted her stance and rushed Callum again.
The Shining Knight met her head-on.
She dodged his first strike by a hair's breadth, shifted her weight, and unleashed a powerful kick. Callum evaded it effortlessly. The exchange repeated, attack, dodge, counter, over and over, a relentless rhythm of motion where neither seemed to gain ground.
Meanwhile, Korin rushed to Vale's side.
"Hey, Vale," Korin said urgently, extending his massive hand. "I think you should sit this one out."
Vale glanced at him briefly.
Then he straightened.
Forcing his trembling legs to obey, he pushed himself upright.
"No," Vale said sharply.
He stepped forward, each movement deliberate despite the pain.
"I'm not done."
His expression hardened into something fierce, pure, unyielding determination.
Callum noticed.
He chuckled softly.
In that moment, Nym struck again.
"Don't let your guard down now!" she snapped.
Callum dodged her punch effortlessly, seized her arm, and hurled her aside with shocking ease. Nym rolled twice before dropping to one knee, breathing heavily as she steadied herself.
Callum turned fully toward Vale.
Vale met his gaze, eyes narrowing.
"I have no hope against you in a direct fight," Vale said calmly. "And trying to read your movements is pointless if even Nym can't predict them perfectly."
Amusement flickered across Callum's face.
"Oh yeah?" he asked. "Then what will you do?"
Vale smiled.
"I'll fight."
A bluff.
His body was already screaming in protest. That first hit alone had pushed him dangerously close to his limit. He knew he could take maybe two more, three if he was lucky.
But he didn't need to win.
He only needed to land a single hit.
Vale took a deep breath and rushed forward.
When he was barely a meter away, he twisted sharply and launched a kick toward Callum's side.
Callum leapt cleanly over it.
Vale adjusted instantly, slamming his foot down and throwing a punch as Callum descended.
Callum shifted midair and caught Vale's arms with both hands.
For a split second, Vale lifted him off the ground.
Then Callum used Vale's own grip as leverage, driving a brutal kick straight into Vale's face.
Vale staggered backward and collapsed flat onto his back.
He stared up at the ceiling, his vision warped and swimming.
"Shit," he muttered.
As Vale lay there staring at the ceiling, Callum let out a quiet chuckle.
From one of the spears mounted high along the dojo wall, a dark shape detached itself. August burst forward in a sudden flutter of wings, crossing the room in a heartbeat before landing squarely on Callum's chest. The raven tilted its head, fixing its pale, unreadable gaze on its master.
Then it cawed sharply.
Without warning, August launched itself off Callum and swooped down, pecking Vale squarely in the face.
"Ow!"
Vale twitched, reflexively flinching as the sharp beak struck his cheek. He groaned, blinking rapidly, before shifting his gaze toward the raven as it hopped lightly onto the floor beside him.
Slowly, Vale pushed himself upright.
His eyes followed August for a moment, then lifted to Callum.
His expression was complicated: frustration, exhaustion, reluctant respect, all tangled together. He inhaled, opened his mouth, and spoke plainly.
"I give up."
His pale eyes met those of the White Knight.
Callum regarded him for a moment, then smiled warmly.
"Excellent," he said.
Turning his attention toward Nym, Callum's grin widened slightly.
"And you?" he asked, his tone light but clearly expectant. "Will you as well?"
Nym held his gaze for a few seconds longer, then exhaled sharply. Her shoulders relaxed, tension draining from her stance as she lowered her arms.
"I give up as well," she said, disappointment unmistakable in her voice.
She walked over to Vale, stopping beside him after a few seconds. With a small, reassuring smile, she extended her hand.
Vale looked up at her, chuckled softly, and took it. She pulled him to his feet with surprising ease.
"You good?" she asked.
Vale nodded, meeting her eyes briefly.
"Yeah," he said. "I am. Thanks."
His gaze shifted back to Callum.
"Well," Callum said, clapping his hands together lightly, "how about I tell you how you did?"
Vale tilted his head, his expression awkward and uncertain.
Before he could respond, Nym sighed audibly.
"What's there to discuss?" she said, irritation creeping into her voice. "We both got fewer than five attacks off before losing. I know you're the best combatant in the world, but still, we could've done far better. That was just embarrassing."
She stared at Callum, arms crossed.
Callum blinked, then raised an eyebrow.
"Uh… thanks for the praise," he said awkwardly.
Then his expression shifted, growing more serious.
"As for your assessment," he continued, "you're both operating at the level of master combatants."
Vale and Nym both froze.
They stared at him in open confusion.
'How?' Vale thought.
He could clearly recall the fight, three clean attacks at most before being utterly dismantled. By his own standards, it had been a miserable showing.
Nym voiced the question aloud.
"But how?" she demanded. "That doesn't make any sense."
Callum smiled knowingly and turned his gaze to Vale.
"Vale," he said, "would you mind sensing my energy? My essence, however you prefer to describe it."
Vale's eyes widened.
'Are you serious?' he thought.
Still, he closed his eyes and focused.
He reached outward with his senses, attuning himself to Callum's signature.
The moment he felt it, Vale let out a long, weary sigh.
His eyes opened slowly.
"Path Forger," Vale said quietly.
Nym snapped her head toward him, bewilderment written across her face.
"That's right," Callum said, smiling.
"I'm currently operating at the level of a Path Forger."