I rushed toward him, wooden sword gripped tightly in my right hand.
Khaun raised his wand, pointing it directly at me.
I expanded my sensory field to its limit.
A moment later—I saw it.
A compressed sphere of wind rushing straight toward me.
Two choices.
Dodge—and lose momentum.
Or break through.
After everything he said—
I chose to push forward.
I surged ahead, swinging my sword in a rising arc.
The moment it collided with the spell—
It shattered.
Too light.
The wind dispersed instantly.
Khaun used that moment.
A burst of wind launched him backward, increasing the distance between us. At the same time, he was already chanting.
Fast.
Too fast.
I didn't stop.
Beast Footwork surged through my legs, dark aura reinforcing every step as I chased him down.
Then—
Four magic circles formed above his head.
My eyes narrowed.
He pointed his wand.
The spells fired.
Wind blades—curved like sabers—tore through the air toward me.
They weren't straight.
They descended.
Tracking.
I moved.
I twisted my body, planting my left foot and throwing myself into a roll to the right, covering my head with both arms.
Too late.
One blade cut across my left shoulder.
Pain exploded.
My body shook—but I didn't stop.
Dark aura reduced the damage—but not enough.
Blood flowed freely.
My left arm—
dead weight.
Still—
If not for the aura—
my arm would've been gone.
I hit the ground, breathing hard.
My left arm—
numb.
Useless.
Through blurred vision, I saw Khaun already preparing another spell.
No time.
If I gave him space—
I would lose.
Then—
I noticed it.
The wind blades didn't stay airborne forever.
They descended before hitting the ground.
A delay.
A window.
Small—but enough.
A grin spread across my face.
From the side, Lerana watched in silence.
Her eyes narrowed.
He's adapting…
Even now…
And that smile—
It wasn't confidence.
It was something else.
Something dangerous.
I lowered my stance further.
Almost dragging myself across the ground as I rushed forward again, knees bent deeply, body low like I was crawling toward him.
Khaun watched.
Then—
again—
four magic circles formed.
The same spell.
Wind blades fired.
I didn't stop.
One sliced across my back.
Another tore through my clothes.
Pain burned through my body—but I kept moving.
Closer.
Closer—
Khaun stepped back.
Too slow.
I entered his range.
With everything I had left, I swung upward with full force—aiming for his ribs.
The strike hit—
But stopped.
That invisible barrier again.
The impact shattered my wooden sword.
Splinters scattered.
But I didn't stop.
Instead—
I forced my injured shoulder forward.
Pain screamed through my body as I jerked it violently.
Blood that had gathered—
spilled forward.
Falling directly onto his face.
Not by accident.
By force.
Khaun flinched.
His eyes closed—
just for a moment.
A mistake.
One of the first things Bharam taught me:
Never take your eyes off your enemy.
I moved instantly.
Using my remaining strength, I slammed into him.
We crashed to the ground.
He landed on top of me.
Before I could move—
his wand pressed against my stomach.
Cold.
Steady.
"Want me to finish it?" he asked calmly.
My breath was heavy.
My body barely responding.
Pain everywhere.
Slowly—
I exhaled.
"…I surrender."
Silence.
Then Khaun stood up, stepping back, as I rolled to my side and collapsed onto the ground.
I remained there, staring at the sky.
Every part of my body hurt.
But my mind—
was clear.
"You did well," Khaun said.
I turned my head slightly.
He looked down at me.
Serious.
"But understand this."
"You only reached me…"
"…because I allowed it."
I said nothing.
Because I knew—
it was true.
Khaun turned away.
Then stopped.
Without looking back, he spoke one last time—
"Next time…"
"…don't rely on pain and luck to bridge the gap."
His voice was calm.
But it hit harder than any spell.
I closed my eyes.
My grip tightened against the ground.
I'm still… not enough.