The swords clashed in the middle of the room. Sorin's strike was heavy as a boulder.
Ryan blocked, but his arm shook. Sorin was physically stronger than him. But Ryan was faster.
Ryan stepped back, then lunged again. His sword arced toward Sorin's shoulder. Sorin blocked easily, and nearly countered with a strike to Ryan's stomach – but Ryan jumped back just in time.
Sorin said.
"Good,But that will not be enough."
Sorin advanced, delivering three consecutive strikes. First to the head – Ryan ducked. Second to the chest – Ryan twisted his body. Third to the legs – Ryan jumped over the blade.
Sorin's movements were precise, calculated, like a man who had fought thousands of times. He was not using any supernatural power. Just experience. The experience of a man who had spent his life fighting.
Ryan felt the difference. He was faster, but Sorin was smarter. He read Ryan's movements before he made them.
Ryan realized he could not win with swords alone. He released a small ice shard from his left hand – not to hit Sorin, but to distract him.
Sorin dodged the shard easily, but Ryan seized the opening. He lunged forward, and his sword nearly touched Sorin's side.
But Sorin was faster than expected. He turned his body and struck Ryan's shoulder with the hilt of his sword. Ryan felt a sharp pain but did not fall. He stepped back.
Soren raised an eyebrow. "So you still have some spark. Interesting."
Then he gave Ryan a cold look.
"You need to use your element more, kid. You won't defeat me with those skills."
After that Sorin attacked first. His sword shot forward like an arrow. Ryan blocked – but the force pushed him back a step.
Sorin gave him no space. Strike after strike. Fast, strong, precise.
Ryan was backing away. The wall was behind him, and there was no way out.
But he was waiting for the right moment. When Sorin raised his sword high for a finishing blow, Ryan slid forward, under Sorin's arm, and struck him in the stomach with his elbow.
Sorin grunted. He had not expected that. He stepped back.
Ryan stood upright, gasping. His sword was still in his hand.
Sorin looked at him. His eyes were different now. He was angry.
he asked.
"Who taught you to fight?"
Ryan did not answer
Sorin smiled – a cold, short smile.
"Enough."
Then he threw his sword to the ground.
Everyone was surprised. Why did he throw his sword?
Then they saw.
Sorin's veins ignited with brown.
Not gradually. Suddenly. Like fire catching on dry charcoal. The dark brown spread over his hands, his arms, his neck. His eyes became deeper. His body seemed larger, heavier.
Soren said in a deeper voice.
"Let's see if you can handle this now,"
Ryan paused for a moment. He had never seen anything like it before. He knew that some people used this element internally, and he had even done so, but he had never seen anyone do it in front of him.
Lyana gasped from behind. She had heard of this type of fighting, but she had never believed it until she saw it.
Lena whispered.
"He is... enhancing his body with earth..."
Sorin did not wait. He lunged – much faster than before. Faster than a man his size should be.
Rayan raised his sword to block, but the punch of sorin was faster.
His fist struck an ice shield that Ryan formed at the last moment. But the shield shattered like glass. The punch was incredibly heavy – heavier than anything Ryan had ever felt.
Ice shards flew. Ryan staggered backward, feeling vibration in his bones.
Ryan whispered.
"This... this is not normal...how can he be so fast when he's using the Earth element?"
Sorin looked at Ryan. He said in a low, heavy voice:
"You are strong. But that is not enough here."
Then he lunged.