Holden's earpiece crackled.
"Holden, I see it." Maeve's voice was sharp and focused. "He's not redirecting that energy with his sword. It's all in his footwork."
Holden circled to the left and David followed him move for move. He held his broadsword in a guard position that seemed simple but had zero gaps.
"Explain," Holden muttered quietly.
"The redirection works like a mirror," Maeve continued. "He catches your force with the sword, lets it travel down his arms and body, and into his legs. His feet act as the anchor. They trap the energy and bounce it right back at whatever angle he chooses. But the second his feet leave the ground, the chain breaks. No anchor means no redirection. Without it, he's just a guy holding a big sword."
Holden filed that away.
On the left side of the stage, Lyra was locked in a brutal fight with her Dragon-Heart opponent. The fighter kept the pressure on with sharp, fast combos that left Lyra scrambling to defend herself.
