It moved first
and the world followed.
Not aligned. Not obedient. Not clean.
Responsive.
The space bent around the figure like it wanted to keep up, like it had learned just enough chaos to be dangerous and not enough control to be safe.
Victor saw it instantly. "Yeah… that's worse."
He moved anyway.
Forward. Fast. No waiting for a perfect opening that didn't exist anymore.
This time, when he struck
the space didn't shift out of the way.
It shifted with him.
For a split second, it looked like the hit would land
then the figure leaned into it.
Not dodging.
Not correcting.
Accepting the motion and redirecting it mid-contact.
Victor's arm slid off target, his momentum turned just enough to throw him off balance.
"Okay new rule," he muttered, catching himself. "Nothing behaves the way it should."
"No kidding," the girl shot back, already moving to his left, forcing the field to stretch between them again.
Dante didn't move.
Not yet.
He watched.
Felt.
