Verin didn't wait for further ceremony. With a shout of rage, he launched himself forward, blade extended, wind energy swirling around him in a visible aura. "Serene Wind: Piercing Gale!"
The hooded figure didn't move.
"Dodge, you fool," Levenhart muttered.
But at the last possible moment, as Verin's blade seemed certain to strike true, the figure simply... wasn't there anymore. No dramatic movement, no obvious evasion. It was just an empty space where a person had been.
Verin's momentum carried him forward, his blade cutting through nothing but mist.
"Sloppy," came the voice from behind him. "You always did telegraph your moves."
Verin whirled, swinging his blade in a wide arc. "Serene Wind: Dancing Tempest!"
A whirlwind formed around his sword, expanding outward to cover the entire platform. The technique was impressive. It was designed to hit an opponent regardless of where they might hide or dodge.
