The first match of the true bracket drew every eye in Reaching Heaven Realm, and for the first time all tournament, Kael Vantress did not end it in one strike.
The Wraith fought from angles that shouldn't have existed, shadow bending around her like it owed her a debt, and for three full exchanges she found seams in Vantress's guard that no one else all tournament had managed to locate at all.
"You're better than the rumors said," Vantress said, almost surprised, turning to track her fourth vanishing step a half beat late.
"Rumors undersell everyone," the Wraith said, and struck from a shadow that hadn't existed a heartbeat earlier.
It nearly worked. Vantress caught the blow on a guard raised at the very last possible instant, and for one suspended moment the whole garden seemed to hold its breath along with him.
