The pressure changed the moment he decided to advance.
There was no clear warning. No exaggerated gesture. Just a step… and everything became heavier. The air seemed to lock for a second, as if the field itself recognized that that phase of the fight had ended.
And another had begun.
The body reacted before thought. I adjusted my stance, planted my feet firmly on the ground, and held my breath for a moment to stabilize my focus.
Scarlett stayed by my side, closer than before. Rai'kanna stepped forward halfway, ready to intercept. Lyannis stopped smiling. Liriel and Elara focused their energy. Vespera watched, attentive to any change.
He didn't run.
But he appeared in front of us.
Too fast to be followed precisely.
The impact came directly.
Rai'kanna managed to block, but the clash was different from everything until then. It wasn't just strength. It was weight. An absurd weight, as if the strike carried more than just physical impact.
The ground gave way beneath her.
"This… is something else," she said, forcing the block.
"Fall back!" I said.
But it was too late.
He changed the angle mid-motion, completely breaking her defense. Rai'kanna was pushed back, sliding several meters before managing to stop.
Scarlett advanced at the same instant, trying to take advantage of the opening.
But there was no opening.
He was already prepared.
The counterattack came clean. Direct. Precise.
Scarlett managed to dodge by a narrow margin, but was still grazed, being thrown to the side.
"Absurd speed," said Lyannis, appearing to cover.
She attacked without hesitation, but the result was the same. The general didn't just dodge—he anticipated the movement before it fully happened.
"He's faster," said Liriel.
"Not just that," Elara replied. "He's more aggressive."
Vespera remained calm. "He stopped testing."
That was clear.
His behavior had changed completely.
No more visible analysis.
No more space.
Now it was constant pressure.
I advanced again, trying to adjust the rhythm. I couldn't fully retreat—that would only give him more control.
The first clash was direct.
This time, I managed to follow the movement better. My blade met his, and for a brief instant there was balance.
But only for an instant.
The force increased.
Without warning.
Without transition.
As if he simply decided how much weight to put into each strike.
My arms gave slightly.
"I can't hold like this," I thought.
Scarlett returned to my side, even while still recovering.
"He raised the level," she said.
"I know."
Rai'kanna came back soon after, without hesitation.
"Now this is getting interesting."
"Focus," said Vespera.
Lyannis appeared again from the flank, trying to break the rhythm.
Liriel cast support to limit his space.
Elara adjusted the group's perception.
For a few seconds…
We managed to hold.
But not advance.
And that said everything.
The general wasn't being pressured.
He was the one applying pressure.
Every movement of ours was answered with greater intensity. Every attempt to adapt was quickly surpassed.
"They're not working," said Liriel.
"Not the way we're doing it," Elara replied.
I stepped back.
Breathing heavier.
It wasn't normal fatigue.
It was accumulated wear.
The pressure of the field, combined with his strength, was draining everything little by little.
"If this continues…," I thought.
Scarlett noticed.
"You're reaching your limit."
"Not yet."
But I was close.
Rai'kanna charged with everything, trying to break the rhythm through sheer force.
The impact was strong.
But this time…
She couldn't even sustain it.
She was directly repelled, thrown back violently.
The sound of her hitting the ground echoed across the field.
Lyannis stopped smiling completely.
"This isn't right."
"It is," said Vespera. "We're just not at the level."
That was the truth.
And it was becoming clearer and clearer.
The general advanced again.
Direct.
No deviation.
No tricks.
The blade came in a straight line.
I blocked.
And felt it.
The impact passed through the defense.
It didn't break it.
But it went through.
My body was pushed back, feet dragging across the ground.
Scarlett tried to intervene.
He dodged her as if he already knew exactly where she would be.
A lateral strike came next.
I couldn't block it fully.
The impact hit from the side, strong enough to knock the air out of me for a moment.
"Takumi!" I heard Liriel's voice in the distance.
I forced my body to stay standing.
But the difference was evident.
"It's not enough," I thought.
Rai'kanna returned, even injured.
Lyannis joined in.
Scarlett repositioned.
All trying to maintain the rhythm.
But it was no longer balance.
It was resistance.
And it was failing.
The general stopped for a second.
Observed.
And advanced again.
Faster.
Heavier.
More direct.
There was no more room for error.
I tried to adjust.
Change the pattern.
Force something different.
But it didn't matter.
He was already ahead.
The strike came.
Direct.
No opening.
No chance.
I blocked at the limit.
But it wasn't enough.
The defense broke.
The impact went through.
My body couldn't withstand it.
My vision lost focus for a moment.
The ground came fast.
The sound disappeared for a second.
And then returned.
Distant.
Confused.
"Takumi!"
"Fall back!"
"Now!"
The voices blended together.
I tried to get up.
But my body didn't respond like before.
The strength… wasn't there.
I looked ahead.
He was still standing.
Intact.
Not even looking affected.
"So this is it," I thought.
Scarlett appeared in front, blocking.
Rai'kanna pulled me by the arm.
Lyannis covered the side.
Liriel and Elara reinforced the retreat.
Vespera coordinated.
"Fall back!" she said.
And this time…
I didn't argue.
My body moved with them.
Step by step.
Out of range.
Out of the pressure.
Out of the fight.
The general didn't pursue.
He didn't need to.
He had already won.
We stopped at a safe distance.
Heavy breathing.
Worn bodies.
Silence.
I looked at the field.
He was still there.
Standing.
Watching.
As if nothing had happened.
"…We lost," I thought.
There was no other word.
It wasn't a draw.
It wasn't an exchange.
It was defeat.
Clear.
Direct.
No room for interpretation.
Scarlett stood by my side, saying nothing.
Rai'kanna breathed heavily, irritated.
Lyannis was serious.
Liriel silent.
Elara focused.
Vespera calm, but firm.
No one argued.
Because everyone understood.
That…
Wasn't even close to enough.
I looked away.
Took a deep breath.
And accepted it.
Because in that moment…
It became clear.
If I faced him like that again…
The result would be the same.
Or worse.