Arthur’s lips curved as he read through the interface.
Yeah... this is it.
But he didn’t have ti to go through it properly like he normally would.
As Lyra had already moved, settling into a stance while he stepped in, he refocused.
"Stay sharp," he called, his voice steady. "Sa plan. Watch for openings."
"Got it!" Nox answered, already circling.
Althea didn’t speak, but her mana flickered again.
Arthur moved faster this ti.
No hesitation.
As his foot stepped forward, he was already in front of Lyra, his fist coming in..
THUD!
She blocked it cleanly.
But this ti..
Arthur felt the contact.
As his arm connected, the layer around it shifted on its own, hard where it needed to be, soft where it could give.
The impact didn’t push him back as much.
Instead... It spread.
And a small part of it pushed back into her.
Lyra’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Redirected?"
Arthur grinned.
"Sothing like that."
He didn’t stop.
Another strike.
Then another.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Fast and relentless.
Lyra matched him, her movents still smoother, cleaner. Every block was precise, every counter asured.
She didn’t rush or panic.
But she felt it.
Each hit carried sothing new.. a shift, a pressure that didn’t just stop at contact.
As Arthur slipped to the side, barely avoiding a counter punch..
"Close."
The air cracked beside his face.
SWOOSH.
He felt it graze him.
Intent Skin reacted instantly, the layer softening at the edge before tightening again.
The damage dulled.
Not completely gone, but it had reduced.
Arthur exhaled sharply.
"Okay... this effect is really useful."
Lyra didn’t give him ti to breathe.
As she stepped in, her knee ca up..
Arthur reacted late once again.
THUD!
It hit his side.
He felt the heavy force it carried as it connected.
But..
The layer caught it.
Shifted.
Absorbed.
His body slid back a step, but he didn’t lose balance.
Instead..
He pushed forward again.
Lyra paused for half a second.
"...You’re adjusting the mana layer mid-hit."
Arthur shrugged lightly.
"Learning to."
Far from them, Torren leaned forward.
"...He’s taking hits better now."
Selene’s eyes followed every exchange.
"And giving them back."
Ryn stayed quiet, but his gaze sharpened.
That layer... it’s changing.
He watched closely.
Each ti Arthur got hit, the mana shifted.
Each ti he struck, it answered smoothly.
He’s not just using it... he’s learning it in real ti.
Within the marked zone, Nox dashed in again.
"Hey! Over here!"
As she aid straight for Lyra’s hand, Lyra turned with a simple motion..
Tap.
But this ti, Nox twisted, barely slipping past.
"Ha!"
Still..
She couldn’t reach the core
Arthur used that mont.
As he stepped in again, closing the distance.. too close as his hand ca forward.
Not a punch.
A push.
But his intent followed it.
Manifest Intent flowed through his arm, through the layer..
BOOM.
The force released on contact.
It wasn’t explosive or heavy. Instead it pressed against the commander’s mana layer.
Trying to disrupt.
Lyra felt it.
Her mana layer t it and held..but shifted slightly.
Just a bit.
She stepped back half a step.
Their eyes t again.
"...You’re testing your different skills now?."
Arthur nodded.
"Feels natural."
She smirked.
"That’s dangerous."
Arthur let out a soft laugh.
"For you or ?"
She didn’t bother with an answer as she attacked.
Faster this ti.
Arthur reacted.. barely.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
The hits ca in quick succession.
His body moved, dodging so, blocking others, and each ti..
The layer shifted.
Hardened.
Softened.
Redirected.
He felt it working.
It wasn’t perfect. But if felt alive.
"Keep going!" he called out.
Althea responded instantly.
As a buff landed... speed this ti and Nox shot in again, even faster.
"Try stopping now!"
Lyra moved again, but now she had to split her focus more.
Arthur didn’t let up as he pressed harder and faster.
Each movent tighter than the last.
As dust began to rise around them and their feet scraped the ground.
SHH.. THUD!
BOOM!
SWOOSH!
The pace climbed.
Quick. Heavy. Relentless.
The air felt thicker.
Even the onlookers leaned in.
Selene narrowed her eyes.
"He’s pushing her more now."
Torren shook his head slightly.
"Still not enough."
Ryn spoke this ti.
"...Not yet."
His eyes never left Arthur.
"But he’s getting there."
Back in the fight, Arthur felt it too.
The gap was still there.
Still wide.
Every ti he gained ground, Lyra adjusted.
Every ti he pressured, she absorbed it.
Calm and composed.
Even now.
Even after being pushed back twice.
Arthur exhaled.
She’s still holding back.
But that didn’t frustrate him.
It excited him as he stepped in again, closer this ti, he let the layer flow more.
Not just defense.
Not just reinforcent.
But connection.
His intent moved his mana through his body, through his arm, through the contact..
He struck again.
THUD!
Lyra blocked.
But she felt the difference.
A small push.
A pressure that tried to slip through her control.
Her brows lowered slightly.
"...Interesting."
Arthur smiled.
"I’m just getting started."
She let out a soft laugh.
"You better be."
Then...
She pushed back.
Harder. Faster.
And Arthur felt it imdiately.
The difference.
The pressure increased.
The pace jumped once more.
As he adjusted his stance and steadied his breathing, Intent Skin tightened around him.. stronger, more focused.
Behind him, Nox slowed slightly.
"...She’s speeding up."
Althea nodded.
"...Stay sharp."
Arthur didn’t look back.
His eyes stayed on Lyra.
Locked.
Focused.
"Now we’re talking."
Lyra stepped forward.
"Show ."
Arthur moved... and the fight rose again.
He didn’t slow down.
If anything, he got sharper.
His breathing stayed steady, but his movents changed... less waste, less hesitation. Every step had purpose now, every strike carried sothing behind it.
He kept the pressure on Lyra.
Not wild or reckless.
Just... constant.
A punch.
A kick.
Again.
THUD. SWOOSH. THUD.
Lyra blocked them all.
Clean. Calm.
Like she had already figured him out.
And slowly.. she had.
Arthur could feel it.
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