Lerana wiped the blood from her chin and rushed forward again.
I didn't give her time to think.
Using Beast Footwork, I lunged toward her. The moment we entered range, she stepped in and threw a right hook, followed by a left.
I dropped low instantly, planting my left hand on the ground, and swept my right leg toward her ankles.
She reacted fast—jumping into the air to avoid the sweep.
Still grounded on one hand, I twisted my body and spun my leg in a wide arc from behind, aiming at her midsection. The kick connected mid-air. She blocked with both arms, but the impact sent her crashing to the ground.
She rolled back, coughing—yet her eyes never left me.
Still glaring.
"No chance," I muttered under my breath.
I rushed again.
This time, she was ready. She planted her feet—left leg back, right leg forward—both hands raised in a tight guard.
As I closed in, I executed the move I had been practicing for days—
a full 360-degree spinning kick aimed at her head.
But—
Instead of blocking, she countered.
She lifted her leg and drove a sharp kick into my thigh mid-spin.
My balance shattered.
I crashed hard onto my right side. Pain shot through my body, but I forced myself up, shaking my arms.
The pain didn't matter.
That smirk on her face…
—I needed to erase it.
She charged again, unleashing a barrage of punches—left, right, then kicks mixed in between. I blocked what I could, but several slipped through, grazing my cheek and striking my stomach.
We were both breathing heavily now.
I focused.
Her attacks were direct—no feints, only power.
Good.
I could use that.
A memory surfaced—
Siena's training.
She had done this to me countless times.
Let's try it here.
Using Beast Footwork, I stepped back, creating a brief gap—
—but she followed immediately.
As expected.
She threw a straight punch toward my face. Direct. Full force.
I sidestepped.
Grabbing her right arm with my left hand, I struck her supporting leg with my foot, breaking her balance. Using her own momentum, I lifted and slammed her hard onto the ground.
She hit the ground on her back and coughed up blood.
But she wasn't done.
Even as I loosened my grip, she reacted.
She grabbed my right arm, twisted it, and pulled me down with her. In one motion, she dragged me forward and locked her arm around my neck—forcing my head into her shoulder.
A choke.
Air—
I couldn't breathe.
My right arm screamed in pain, but I forced it to move.
I punched her side once.
No reaction.
Second punch.
Still nothing.
My vision began to blur.
Third punch—
Her grip weakened slightly.
I didn't stop.
Fourth punch.
This time, her hold loosened enough.
I tore myself free, crawling back, gasping for air.
We both sat there, bleeding.
My nose… my arm… everything hurt.
Across from me, she sat up too, blood dripping from her mouth and nose.
We stared at each other.
Neither of us had the strength left to stand—
…but something inside me screamed:
Stand up.
My body moved on its own.
Shaking… unstable… but I stood.
She did the same.
Barely.
Then—
"Enough."
Ranile's voice cut through the air.
"The spar is over."
The moment those words fell—
Lerana collapsed to the ground.
A second later, my legs gave out as well.
I fell onto the dirt, my vision fading at the edges.
But in my mind, only one thought remained—
Rusty is safe.
And that was enough.