Arachne didn't wait. She blurred again, closing the distance instantly, but this time she didn't commit to a single, powerful strike. Instead, she flowed around him, a whirlwind of dark limbs and flashing chitin.
Her two primary arms feinted high while her smaller, shoulder-mounted limbs stabbed low, aiming for his legs and joints.
The speed was dizzying.
Fin reacted purely on instinct, his staff becoming an extension of his will. He blocked, parried, twisted, barely keeping the razor-sharp points from finding purchase. Sparks flew as chitin scraped against the metal staff.
Each block sent jarring force up his arms, but he held his ground, his feet planted, his focus absolute.
"Faster than you thought, human?" Her voice was a low hiss, seeming to come from multiple directions at once as she circled him. "Your clumsy stick can't keep up."
He didn't reply, conserving breath, tracking her movements.
