Valeria took a step forward, her gauntleted fists tightening, her stance shifting into a refined yet brutal combat form—one that spoke of experience, discipline, and absolute confidence.
Asher, still holding onto his ring blade, narrowed his eyes as he watched her stance solidify.
No weapon.
She wasn't going to use her sword.
He could feel it in the way she stood—she intended to fight him barehanded.
Asher's ring blade disintegrated.
A battle of fists, then.
He let out a breath, exhaling dark green embers as he decided to play it fair.
And just like that—
She vanished.
A blur of black steel and shadow—she closed the distance between them in a single instant.
BAM!
Asher barely managed to raise his arms to block as her fist slammed against his forearm, the impact sending a shockwave through the air, his boots skidding backward across the ruins' stone floor.
Her speed was insane.
But Asher retaliated just as fast.
