Vincent moved first.
The Crafter's hand had barely dropped before the red display behind Vincent sealed itself into the air and the blue one behind Randalp answered it. The information did not vanish. It stayed above them like a reminder that every strike now had a name, a cost, and a place on a tree none of them had fully understood.
Randalp saw the same thing Elias saw. Platebound Defender against Molten Reclaimer. One man built to endure and return force. One man built to keep moving after damage should have ended him. Neither layout promised mercy.
Vincent gave no warning flare and no opening shout. He crossed the arena in four hard steps and swung for Randalp's head like the match had started several seconds ago and everyone else was late.
Randalp blocked high. Forearm met forearm. The impact drove through his shoulder and pushed his back foot across the sand. Tock's plates tightened behind him but did not fully deploy.
