The air between them thickened, the clash of their powers creating a heavy tension as red and black energy ground against each other like two storms vying for dominance in the same sky.
But when Riven noticed the blood seeping from Valeria's abdomen, his demeanor shifted dramatically. His earlier confidence sharpened into something more calculated. Instead of lunging at her like before, he straightened, exhaling slowly.
His blade dipped slightly as his gaze locked onto hers, a curious calm settling over him that felt oddly out of place amid the chaos surrounding them.
The ruined ground cracked beneath their feet, dust floating through the air as if the world paused to witness the confrontation. Then Riven broke the silence, his voice no longer light but colder, deeper, like a blade held against the throat without yet drawing blood.
