Edrin had broken his own rule in less than five seconds.
"…I fell," he said from the ground.
"You said you wouldn't," Ronan replied, barely dodging a sweeping strike from the creature.
"I changed my mind!"
The creature moved again—faster this time.
But not wildly.
Not like before.
Every motion was precise.
Measured.
As if it was testing them.
Testing him.
Kael stepped in, blade flashing with controlled force. His strike landed—
And stopped.
Not blocked.
Not deflected.
Just… resisted.
"…That's not normal," Kael said.
"I don't like when you say things like that," Edrin replied, scrambling to his feet.
Lyra unleashed a focused burst of magic toward the creature's center—
It hit.
The light flared—
And then dimmed.
"…It absorbed it," she said quietly.
Edrin blinked. "…That's new."
The creature didn't retaliate immediately.
Instead—
It adjusted.
Its stance shifted.
Subtle.
Intentional.
Edrin froze.
"…It copied that," he said, pointing at Kael.
Kael didn't deny it.
"It's learning combat form," he said.
Edrin swallowed. "…I don't like that at all."
Ronan grinned. "Then don't let it learn too much."
"I'll do my best!"
The creature moved again.
This time—
Toward Kael.
Fast.
Direct.
Their blades clashed.
For a brief moment, the two moved in sync—
Strike.
Block.
Counter.
Precision against imitation.
Edrin stared.
"…That's terrifying," he said.
"Yes," Lyra replied.
"Because it's keeping up with him."
"Yes."
"That means it's better than me."
"That was already true."
Edrin frowned. "That wasn't necessary."
The creature shifted again—
And suddenly broke rhythm.
Its attack changed mid-motion—
Unpredictable.
Edrin's eyes widened.
"…That's new."
"It's adapting faster," Kael said, stepping back.
The creature turned.
Toward Edrin.
Of course it did.
"…Why does it always come back to me?" he asked.
"Because you're the variable," Lyra said.
"I don't want to be the variable!"
It lunged.
Edrin reacted—
Not perfectly—
But fast.
He stepped sideways—
The attack missed—
Barely.
But this time—
The creature adjusted mid-strike.
Edrin's eyes widened.
"…It corrected!"
"Move!" Ronan shouted.
Edrin dropped—
Not intentionally—
But not entirely by accident either.
The follow-up strike passed just above him.
"…That worked!" he shouted.
"For now!" Lyra replied.
Edrin rolled to the side, scrambling up again.
"…It's not just watching anymore," he said. "It's learning while fighting."
"Yes," Kael said. "And improving."
Edrin nodded. "…That's bad."
"Yes."
Ronan charged in again, forcing the creature's attention away.
"Then we don't give it time!" he shouted.
Edrin blinked. "…That sounds like a good plan!"
"It is!"
"I still don't like it!"
The creature blocked Ronan's strike—
Then mirrored it.
Exactly.
Ronan's grin faltered for a split second.
"…Okay," he said. "That's new."
"It's copying everything," Lyra said.
Edrin tightened his grip on his sword.
"…Then I have an idea."
All three of them glanced at him.
"That's concerning," Ronan said.
Edrin ignored him.
"If it's learning from us…" he said slowly, "…then I'll give it something confusing."
Kael frowned. "Explain."
Edrin hesitated.
"…I don't fully understand it myself."
"That's not reassuring."
Edrin took a deep breath.
"…I fight badly."
Ronan blinked. "You already do."
"Not accidentally," Edrin said. "On purpose."
Lyra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Unpredictable movement," she said.
"Exactly," Edrin replied.
Kael shook his head. "That's dangerous."
"I know," Edrin said.
"That's your plan?"
"Yes."
Ronan grinned. "I like it."
Lyra hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…It might work."
Edrin swallowed.
"…I regret suggesting it already."
The creature turned toward him again.
Waiting.
Watching.
Learning.
Edrin stepped forward.
Slowly.
"…Alright," he said. "New plan."
A pause.
"…I fight like me."
The creature tilted its head.
Curious.
Edrin moved.
Not clean.
Not controlled.
A stumble—
A shift—
A step too wide—
A sudden turn—
Completely erratic.
The creature reacted—
But hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Edrin saw it.
"…It's confused!"
"Good!" Ronan shouted.
"Keep going!"
"I am going!" Edrin replied, nearly losing his balance again.
But this time—
He didn't fall.
He redirected.
Turned the stumble into movement.
Closed the distance—
Swung—
Missed—
"…Still working on that part!"
But the creature didn't counter immediately.
Its movement slowed.
Its rhythm broke.
Edrin's erratic style—
Was interfering.
Lyra's voice sharpened. "It can't predict you!"
Edrin blinked. "…That's new."
Kael stepped in, taking advantage of the opening.
His strike landed deeper this time—
The creature recoiled.
Ronan followed—
Another hit.
The creature staggered slightly.
Edrin grinned nervously.
"…It's working!"
"For now!" Lyra said.
The creature stepped back.
Its form shifting again.
Adjusting.
Adapting.
Edrin froze.
"…It's learning again."
"Yes," Kael said.
Edrin exhaled slowly.
"…Then we don't stop."
The creature moved—
Faster than before.
More unstable.
More dangerous.
Edrin stepped forward again.
Unsteady.
Unpredictable.
Completely himself.
"…Okay," he muttered.
"Let's make this confusing."
And this time—
When he stumbled—
It was exactly where he needed to be.