The fight was over almost as soon as it began.
"Is that all you've got?!" Kyle yelled, his booming laugh echoing through the trees as he smoothly sidestepped a wind blade.
He completely ignored his heavy sword's edge, instead slamming the flat of the massive blade directly against an earth-mage's chest, sending the boy flying into the brush.
I didn't waste time on theatrics. And slipped inside the guard of a dual-wielding scout, parried his frantic strike, and twisted my wrist to send his blades clattering into the dirt.
A quick sweep of my leg dropped him hard onto his back. I pressed the tip of my sword to his collarbone.
"Stay down," I told him calmly.
He swallowed hard and nodded. That was two members of the other party dealt with in less than thirty seconds.
From the mud puddle behind us, Adrian finally scrambled to his feet. He looked absolutely deranged.
His uniform was completely caked in thick, foul-smelling sludge, and leaves were stuck in his hair.
