The Shaman did not rush.
That was the first thing that separated it from the Brutes and from the Wraiths before them and from every Abomination Nero had encountered that operated on aggression as its primary tactical instrument. It moved at a consistent pace that covered ground efficiently without acceleration, the orbital bonedust swirling around its form maintaining its pattern regardless of velocity, and it crossed the distance between its emergence point and the outer edge of the formation's right flank with the unhurried certainty of something that had calculated the outcome and found the calculation satisfactory.
Kua stepped forward to meet it.
His blade was already drawn, and the quality of his movement as he advanced was the same controlled economy that had characterized his entire engagement throughout the previous day, each step purposeful, weight distributed correctly, no unnecessary expenditure.
His blade connected with the Shaman's forearm.
