With each exchange she created faster combinations: upward cut, thrust, reverse backhand, and feint into spinning heel-slash.
Kai responded by shifting one step, two steps, or sometimes not at all; he simply raised Emberstorm and parried with lazy precision, like a senior drilling footwork for a junior disciple.
"Stop… playing… around!" The girl hissed, ankle digging into the earth. Her violet ponytail whipped behind her as she vaulted off a stone and slashed at Kai's ribs.
Clang!
Emberstorm flicked sideways. The impact reverberated up her arm, numbing her wrist. What frustrated her even more was Kai's expression was calm, bored, and mildly amused.
Kai yawned aloud. "Did you even use your full strength all this time?"
A vein bulged on the girl's forehead. "You—"
Before she could finish, Kai deflected another attack and whispered, "Too slow," right into her ear, having stepped through her guard without her noticing.
