The battle began—
And in the very first moment, everything changed.
The opposing team didn't hesitate.
They didn't test.
They executed.
Mike moved forward instantly, his speed cutting through the air as he appeared directly in front of May and Emily. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no doubt in his movement.
He attacked head-on.
Igna's eyes widened.
(He knows he can't win…)
But Mike wasn't trying to win.
He was trying to hold them.
And in that single moment—
The real attack began.
The other two vanished.
Sele reacted instantly, her body shifting as she tried to track them, but even for her—
It was too fast.
A blur.
A distortion.
Then—
Impact.
A sharp strike landed before she could fully adjust. She tried to counter, her dagger moving with deadly precision, but the second attacker was already there.
Another strike.
Clean.
Coordinated.
Relentless.
Within seconds—
Sele was forced back.
Then—
Taken down.
Igna clenched his fist.
(They took her out first…)
Perfect strategy.
Remove the assassin.
Remove the instant kill threat.
Now—
The battlefield shifted.
Mike continued to hold Emily, his movements sharp and controlled, blocking, dodging, redirecting. He wasn't trying to win.
He was buying time.
Behind him—
The other two turned toward May.
And attacked together.
Fast.
Unpredictable.
May reacted immediately, her body enhanced to its limit, blocking one strike, dodging another, her movements precise, controlled.
But two against one—
At that level—
Was different.
The pressure built instantly.
She couldn't counter.
Couldn't create space.
Only defend.
Back on the other side—
Emily saw it.
And in that moment—
Her expression changed.
The playful smile disappeared.
Her eyes sharpened.
Cold.
Focused.
Emily: "So that's your plan…"
Mike didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
He just held his position.
Emily moved.
And the air itself changed.
Her body surged forward with explosive speed, her power rising instantly. This wasn't her earlier playful movement.
This was serious.
Her attacks came like a storm.
A barrage.
Each strike carried full force, full intent. The impact of her movement pushed the air itself, sharp currents forming around her like invisible blades.
Igna felt it from where he stood.
(The air… feels like a weapon…)
Mike blocked the first strike.
Barely.
The second pushed him back.
The third—
Broke his stance.
Emily didn't stop.
She didn't give space.
She didn't allow recovery.
Every attack followed the next, faster, heavier, stronger.
Mike tried to hold.
But now—
He was the one being overwhelmed.
His role had reversed.
Back near May—
The two attackers continued pressing her, but their focus shifted slightly.
They could feel it too.
Emily's power.
The pressure she was releasing.
The battlefield was changing again.
Igna's eyes locked onto her.
For the first time—
He truly understood.
(This is her real strength…)
And the fight—
Was only getting started.