Taleth's eyes turned red.
Heat rolled off him and the air wavered.
Thin lines of burning energy crawled along his arms like glowing veins.
"You ruined everything!" he roared.
His voice sounded warped, with something ancient under it. "Do you know how hard I worked to get that earring?!"
He dashed forward.
Ben did not raise his guard.
He simply stepped to the side.
Taleth's fist smashed into the wall behind Ben.
Stone exploded into shards and dust.
Steam rose from the impact point.
Taleth did not slow down.
He spun and swept his leg in a low arc.
Ben jumped, his body lifting just out of reach.
Taleth followed with a palm strike coated in red fire, aiming straight for Ben's chest.
Ben leaned back.
The burning palm passed an inch from his ribs.
Taleth screamed and attacked again.
A dagger appeared in one hand, flame roared in the other.
He slashed and hammered at Ben in wild fury.
Ben slipped between every strike like smoke.
Not a single blow landed.
