The change did not come in a way they could easily notice at first. Nothing around them suddenly shifted, and there was no clear sign that something had become more difficult. But after a few exchanges, Aurelion understood what had changed. It was not the strength of the construct or the space itself. It was the lack of space to recover. That difference made everything more dangerous.
Aurelion felt it before anyone else said it. The construct in front of him did not slow down between movements anymore. It moved from one action to the next without pause, as if it had already decided what it would do before finishing the current motion. There was no moment where they could reset or adjust easily.
He stepped forward and met it carefully, keeping his movements controlled. The clash felt different right away. It was not heavier, but it was constant. The construct stayed close, keeping pressure without giving him any distance to breathe or rethink his next move.
