After Ino spoke, Dion's unfocused eyes finally focused on Bryan, who was now upon him with the gladius raised high to kill.
In that brief moment, Dion caught a glimpse of his brother's eyes. They were cold, hollow, and most disturbingly, completely devoid of any recognition.
It finally became clear that the person in front of him was no longer the little brother he knew, but rather someone he couldn't recognize.
By the time Bryan brought down his sword, Dion reflexively rolled to the side, avoiding the blade while simultaneously grabbing a fistful of sand which he desperately threw into Bryan's eyes.
Bryan stumbled back a few steps, his hand reaching up to claw at his face. This momentary distraction allowed Dion to fully regain his bearings and quickly scramble a few meters away to grab his spear, which had fallen after the first blow he received.
