Lyra adjusted her grip on her rapiers, and for the first time, she attacked without holding back. Her movements became a blur, her strikes so fast that they seemed to come from all directions at once. Damien’s blade clashed with hers repeatedly, sparks flying as steel met steel.

He struggled to keep up, his defenses stretched to their limits. Lyra pressed her advantage, her rapiers flashing in quick succession. She aimed for his legs, forcing Damien to jump back, then slashed toward his shoulder. He raised his blade just in time, blocking the strike, but the force of the blow pushed him back.

“You’re good,” Lyra said, her breathing steady. “But can you keep up?”

Damien didn’t answer. Instead, he focused on her movements, looking for an opening. He stepped forward, his blade moving in tight, controlled arcs. Lyra dodged and countered, her rapiers weaving an intricate pattern of strikes. The battle was a blur of motion, each fighter pushing the other to their limits.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Damien began to adapt, his movements becoming more fluid. He parried Lyra’s attacks, deflecting her blades and countering with swift, precise strikes. The tide of the battle shifted as Damien’s attacks grew more aggressive, forcing Lyra to retreat.

She feinted a thrust, then pivoted and aimed for his side. Damien saw through the feint and countered with a powerful slash, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. Lyra dodged, but the tip of his sword grazed her arm, drawing a thin line of blood.

The crowd gasped, their murmurs of excitement growing louder. Damien pressed forward, his confidence growing with each exchange.