The moment those words left Klaus' lips, both Aaaninja and Lucian vanished from where they stood in less than the span of a single blink, their figures dissolving like mirages, and they appeared at each other's former positions, their backs facing one another as they stood in absolute silence for a moment, then, in the next instant, a heavy clang rang out as though even the speed of sound itself had proven slower than their movements.
They didn't turn toward each other immediately, their bodies still remaining relaxed, their muscles not tensed, their entire demeanor composed and unnervingly calm, their swords still sheathed as though nothing of significance had occurred.
It seemed as though that singular exchange had revealed something to either one of them, a silent acknowledgment of the other's level, a wordless recognition that could only be understood by warriors standing at the very peak.
