With a swift kick, Aristellus launched himself off the horse, his body twisting in midair. Before his feet could even touch the ground, his arm flicked out, sending a dagger hurtling straight toward Leos. The muscular man's eyes narrowed, his reflexes sharp. In one swift motion, he raised the broad width of his axe, deflecting the dagger with a heavy clang. The blade ricocheted off, spinning wildly before embedding itself into the dirt beside him.
The moment Aristellus landed, he was already moving—quick, agile, almost impossible to track. His speed was staggering, his form becoming a blur as he darted across the battlefield like a shadow. Leos stood his ground, a fortress of muscle and steel. He didn't need to chase the boy; Aristellus was coming to him. Circling, probing, trying to find a weakness, but Leos felt like an immovable wall. His axe and fists moved with deliberate power, parrying each slash and feint, waiting patiently for the moment Aristellus would make a mistake.