The soldier's sword flashed toward Yumi's neck—
Yumi twisted at the last second, the blade slicing through fur instead of flesh. Blood sprayed, but she didn't slow down.
She bit down.
Her jaws snapped shut around the soldier's armored arm.
CRUNCH.
The armor cracked.
The soldier's eyes widened slightly.
She drove her knee upward, slamming it into Yumi's jaw with devastating force.
Yumi was thrown back, skidding across the arena, but she rolled instantly and leapt again, blood dripping from her mouth, eyes blazing with fury.
Kael clenched his fists.
(…She's matching her) he thought. "Head-on."
The two figures collided again in the center of the arena—beast against warrior—raw instinct clashing with ancient discipline.
Neither yielded.
Neither retreated.
The second armored soldier still stood motionless at the edge of the arena, silent and watching.
And Kael—
He forced himself to stand fully, blood dripping from his chin as he reached for his sword.
