Leo stood in the middle of the dirt road. He didn't draw a weapon. He spread his arms wide, leaving his chest completely exposed to the giant in front of him.
"I'll give you one free swing, big guy," Leo said, his voice flat and mocking. "Make it count."
Commander Thorne stared at the unarmored boy. His scarred face twisted into a mask of pure, insulted rage. The veins on his thick neck bulged against his steel gorget.
"You arrogant little shit," Thorne roared.
He didn't hesitate. He gripped his massive steel halberd with both hands. He planted his heavy iron boots into the gravel. Thorne twisted his torso and swung the halberd horizontally.
He put every ounce of his monstrous strength into the strike. The heavy steel blade tore through the air, howling as it displaced the wind, carrying enough kinetic force to cleave a fully grown warhorse in half.
Leo didn't try to block.
He didn't even step back.
