Maddy kicked off the mulch and launched herself at the Wizard. He tried to raise a barrier of reinforced oak, but his movements were sloppy. His tactical mind was failing under the pressure.
"Cross Slice!"
Maddy delivered two intersecting slashes. The wood barrier split into four pieces. She landed right in front of him. The Wizard looked at her with wide, human eyes. For a second, the puppet showed the face of the dead man inside.
"I... must... protect... the forest…" he stammered.
"No. You must protect yourself for the forest," Maddy replied, her voice sharp and unyielding. "Your life ended a long time ago. Now… you must rest."
She moved with fluid precision, her blade slicing through the husk.
"Clean Cut."
A single, decisive flash of steel followed. It was the most efficient strike she had ever delivered. The Wizard's head left his shoulders. His body didn't bleed. It simply fell apart into dry leaves and grey dust.
