The night air carried the scent of damp earth and crushed stone as Shirley stood across from Lumian, rolling her shoulders. Her muscles still ached from the previous tests, but exhaustion barely registered.
The thrill of power, the rush of speed, the sheer force she could exert—it was intoxicating. She had never felt so alive.
And yet, she wasn't satisfied.
Lumian was untouchable. No matter how hard she hit, no matter how fast she moved, he barely seemed to acknowledge her efforts. He moved like a shadow, his presence looming over her, unreadable and endless.
She clenched her fists.
"Alright," Lumian finally said, cracking his neck. "You've tested it against rocks and trees. Now test it against me."
Shirley blinked. "What?"
Lumian tilted his head, golden eyes gleaming. "Hit me."
Shirley narrowed her eyes. "You serious?"
He smirked. "Dead serious."