'Is this it?' Kai frowned, weaving beneath a fast jab and twisting to block a kick with his forearm. 'All that build-up… and this is what I saved energy for?'
Phantom V was quick, absurdly so, but seemed to be all he had.
'Fuck, this guy's good,' the masked man cursed internally.
With a sharp flick, he drew a sleek combat dagger, the edge gleaming under the blood-tinged light. His grip was practiced as he lunged towards Kai. His stance had the markings of someone trained - but only just. There was no flow, no adaptability. Just rehearsed movements and borrowed discipline.
Kai pivoted aside, letting the blade pass inches from his face, then countered with a brutal knee to the gut. Phantom V grunted but rolled away with speed that left afterimages.
Then he came back in - low feint, high strike, twisting elbow - but Kai saw through every move. His glowing crimson eyes tracked it all.
