Edrin had a new problem.
The enemy was faster than his thoughts.
"…This is bad," he said, barely twisting out of the way as the figure's strike cut through the air where he had been.
"Focus!" Lyra called.
"I am focused! It's just faster than my focus!"
The figure didn't pause.
Didn't hesitate.
It moved again—
Precise.
Direct.
Efficient.
Edrin stepped back—
Too slow—
The strike grazed his shoulder.
He flinched, stumbling.
"…That's new!" he shouted.
"You're injured," Lyra said sharply.
"I noticed!"
"Stay moving!"
"I'm trying!"
The voice returned.
Stronger.
Clearer.
Inside his mind.
"Correction required."
Edrin froze for half a second.
"…I don't like that phrase."
The figure lunged again.
This time—
It didn't miss.
Edrin barely deflected the strike, the force sending him sliding backward across the ground.
"…That's definitely worse," he muttered.
Ronan charged in, intercepting the next attack with a heavy clash.
"Back off!" he shouted.
"I would love to!" Edrin replied, scrambling to his feet.
Kael moved in from the side—precise, controlled strikes forcing the figure to adjust.
But only slightly.
It adapted instantly.
Matching rhythm.
Matching speed.
Lyra's magic surged—striking the figure directly—
It slowed.
For a moment.
Then continued.
"…It's resisting everything," she said.
Edrin swallowed.
"…No, it's filtering it."
Kael glanced at him. "Explain."
"It's not reacting like the others," Edrin said quickly. "It's choosing what matters."
Ronan smirked. "Then we overwhelm it."
"No," Edrin said.
Ronan blinked. "…No?"
Edrin shook his head. "…That's what it wants."
The figure turned toward him again.
Of course it did.
The voice returned—
Sharper now.
"Unstable variable."
Edrin frowned. "…That's me again."
"Yes," Lyra said.
"I don't like being labeled."
The figure moved—
Faster—
More aggressive—
Targeting him directly.
Edrin stepped back—
Then sideways—
Then forward—
Not clean—
Not perfect—
But enough.
Barely.
"…Okay," he said, breathing uneven. "It's not copying anymore."
"No," Kael said. "It's deciding."
Edrin nodded.
"…That's worse."
The figure attacked again—
Changing mid-strike—
Adjusting instantly—
Edrin reacted—
But this time—
He didn't just avoid.
He anticipated.
A step early.
A shift before the strike fully formed.
The attack missed.
Clean.
Edrin blinked.
"…I saw that."
"Yes," Lyra said.
"Do it again!" Ronan shouted.
"I'm trying!"
The figure paused.
Just briefly.
The voice returned—
Slower.
More deliberate.
"Adaptation… detected."
Edrin swallowed.
"…It noticed."
"Yes," Kael said.
"That's not good."
"No."
The figure shifted its stance.
More refined.
More precise.
Edrin felt it immediately.
"…It's adjusting again."
"Yes," Lyra said.
Edrin exhaled slowly.
"…Then I change again."
Ronan grinned. "Now you're getting it."
The figure lunged—
Faster than before—
Edrin moved—
But not away.
Not back.
Forward.
Into the attack.
Unbalanced—
Unpredictable—
Intentional.
The strike passed behind him—
Too late to correct.
Edrin turned—
Used momentum—
Swung—
This time—
He hit.
Direct.
The figure staggered slightly.
Not much.
But enough.
Ronan followed—
Heavy strike—
Kael stepped in—
Precise—
Lyra's magic surged—
The figure was forced back.
Edrin stood still for a moment.
"…That worked."
"Yes," Lyra said.
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…I'm starting to understand something."
Kael glanced at him. "What?"
Edrin took a breath.
"…It's trying to fix me."
Silence.
Ronan frowned. "…Fix you?"
Edrin nodded.
"…It sees me as wrong."
The voice returned—
Clear.
Cold.
"Correction inevitable."
Edrin grimaced.
"…Yeah. Definitely that."
Lyra's voice sharpened. "Then don't let it define you."
Edrin blinked.
"…That sounds important."
"It is."
Edrin tightened his grip on his sword.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"…New rule."
Ronan sighed. "Of course."
Edrin nodded.
"…I decide what's wrong with me."
Ronan grinned.
"There it is."
The figure moved again—
Fast—
Relentless—
But this time—
Edrin didn't hesitate.
He stepped.
Turned.
Shifted.
Every movement imperfect—
But chosen.
The attack missed.
Again.
Edrin exhaled.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"…Now we're fighting."
And for the first time—
It felt like he wasn't just surviving.