Arlon didn't hesitate. He pressed his advantage, stepping forward, his sword raised—
But then, something stopped him.
A realization.
As he looked down at her, bleeding, weakened, forced into a defensive stance—he felt something shift.
The gap between them wasn't the same anymore.
That overwhelming pressure from before—the sheer weight of her presence—wasn't as suffocating. It was still there, but it no longer felt impossible to overcome.
We're at the same level now.
The thought hit him like a shockwave.
Before, he had been so far beneath her that he couldn't even see her level.
But now, after forcing her to take actual damage—after bringing her down to a weakened state—he could feel it.
They were equals now.
Arlon exhaled sharply, tightening his grip on his sword.
This fight had just become winnable.
---
Arlon's breath was steady, but his heart pounded like a war drum.
