Marcus gritted his teeth and took a stance, his sword glowing with internal energy. "Don't underestimate me!"
Eiden yawned. "It won't matter."
The referee gave the signal.
The battle began.
Marcus dashed forward, his sword slashing in a blur of light. His movements were clean and precise—clearly the techniques of a well-trained martial artist. He knows he wanted to win quickly, as once Eiden gets the time, the whole arena turns to flames with nowhere to run and evade.
His only option was to strike first, strike fast, and not give Eiden a chance to retaliate.
His sword flashed, his footwork crisp as he closed the distance in an instant. With a powerful step, he launched a high-speed slash toward Eiden's side—fast, precise, and full of internal energy.
But—
FWOOSH!
A wave of scorching heat exploded outward.
Before Marcus' blade could even come close, Eiden vanished in a burst of flames—only to reappear right behind him.