No more words were exchanged. In the forest now painted red by the raging inferno, smoke spread like a sinister veil, staining everything with an ominous hue. The two boys stood amid the chaos, their eyes locked, their ideals blazing just as fiercely as the flames around them. With everything on the line, they charged at each other, carrying the weight of their convictions, using them as fuel to sharpen their blades.
With a powerful swing, Xander's sword clashed against Damon's dagger in a deafening explosion of steel on steel. The impact echoed through the forest, amplified by the gravity magic that enhanced Xander's blade. But to Xander's surprise, Damon stood unmoved, his stance unbroken.
Damon shifted fluidly to the right, exploiting an opening in Xander's guard, and slashed with his other dagger. The blade cut shallowly across Xander's lower ribs, drawing blood. Xander winced and instinctively pulled back, raising his hand as he activated his spell.