The pressure hit Liora first.
---
Not physically.
Not directly.
---
But—
internally.
---
Her senses twisted.
Her perception delayed.
Her instincts—
misaligned.
---
Every movement she made felt—
half a second too late.
---
That was enough.
---
Because in battle—
half a second was death.
---
She stepped forward anyway.
---
Because she always did.
---
Her blade moved—
precise.
Controlled.
Perfect.
---
And missed.
---
Not because she misjudged.
---
Because the target—
wasn't where it should be.
---
"Kael," she said sharply.
---
"I know," he replied.
---
Good.
---
Because if he didn't—
they would die here.
---
The Null entity moved.
---
Not fast.
---
Not slow.
---
Just—
inevitable.
---
Liora adjusted.
---
Stopped reacting.
---
Started predicting.
---
The same way she had against the second assassin.
---
But this—
was different.
---
Because this wasn't movement.
---
This was—
distortion.
---
Elara's voice came softly.
---
"Don't chase it."
---
Liora didn't respond.
---
But she listened.
---
Because that was the difference between them.
---
She learned.
---
Even from someone she didn't trust.
---
She slowed.
---
Centered.
---
And then—
cut.
---
Not where the entity was.
---
But where it would—
have to be.
---
The blade connected.
---
Not cleanly.
---
But enough.
---
The entity flickered.
---
For the first time—
it reacted.
---
Kael saw it.
---
Good.
---
Because now—
they could fight it.
---
Not win.
---
Not yet.
---
But fight.
---
And that—
was enough.