Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as Damien battled the clones. His breath came in steady but heavy, his muscles burning with exertion. He knew he couldn’t keep this up forever. He needed a plan.

Then he saw it—a momentary flicker in one of the clones, a slight hesitation before it attacked. Damien’s eyes narrowed. He feinted an attack toward another clone, drawing its blade away, then turned sharply and drove Ebonfang toward the flickering figure.

The blade connected, and the illusion shattered. Cassian staggered back, his eyes widening briefly in surprise before a sly smile spread across his face.

“Well done,” he said, his voice quieter now. “But the true test is still ahead.”

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The shadows around Cassian gathered once more, but this time they didn’t form clones. Instead, they wrapped around his body, amplifying his presence. His blade darkened, its edge shimmering with an eerie light.

Cassian charged, his speed and power now amplified. Damien met him head-on, their blades colliding with explosive force. The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, drawing gasps from the crowd.

The battle became even more intense. Cassian’s attacks were faster, more aggressive, each strike aiming to overwhelm Damien’s defenses. But Damien held firm, his focus sharper than ever. He deflected each blow with precision, countering with powerful strikes of his own.

For the first time, the battle felt evenly matched. The crowd watched in stunned silence, their anticipation growing with every clash of steel.