Timothy's instincts flared as danger approached from behind.
Reacting purely on reflex, he crossed his arms to shield his face and neck, bracing for impact.
But instead of a physical strike, a sharp clap rang out.
The sound reverberated through his skull, rattling his ears with such force that his brain recoiled from the sheer shock.
It wasn't a pain in the conventional sense, but it was agonizing nonetheless.
Before he could recover, another attack came, a kick aimed at his side.
He barely dodged, slipping away by a hair's breadth and staggering, his balance thrown into disarray.
Even with his head still ringing and his eyes squeezed shut, he continued to evade, albeit sloppily.
Vanessa's eyes widened slightly.
'He's still standing?' she thought
She had expected that single attack to send him flying off the platform.
Yet, despite the disorienting pain, Timothy remained on his feet and was quickly regaining his composure.
