Akaza crossed the chamber in a single step.
Simon felt the pull before he saw the fist.
A point of gravity had formed in front of Akaza's knuckles, and everything around it was falling toward it. Loose earth, drifting dust, and Simon's own body were all being dragged toward the punch waiting for them.
It was the technique Akaza had learned from the Vardran on the Bloodline Origin Path.
The Gale Crown released a burst of stored wind behind Simon's back. The pull and the burst cancelled each other out, and Akaza's fist passed a hand's width from his chin.
Simon swept his arm.
A burning crescent tore free from the Rending Crown. Its two layers of fire and wind spun against one another as it struck the lower pair of Akaza's arms.
The skin along both forearms split open and blackened at the edges.
Akaza didn't even flinch.
His upper arms were already coming down. Simon slipped one fist and caught the other on his scaled forearm.
BANG!
The impact drove him back several metres.
