The creature mirrored the step—perfectly. Same angle, same posture. It was studying him, adapting to him, learning him.
Lira realized it faster than Yuri did. "It's copying your movements."
Yuri tensed. "Then let's see what it does with this."
He sprinted at the creature.
It sprinted back.
Their collision sent a shockwave through the corridor. Lira shielded her face as splinters of broken stone blasted outward. The two silhouettes slammed into each other, grappling in the center of the hall.
Yuri grabbed the creature's wrist.
The creature grabbed his.
They were identical in speed now. Identical in leverage. Identical in movement.
Perfect mirrors.
That meant only one thing would break the deadlock: something unpredictable.
Lira sprinted in.
The creature reacted instantly—mirroring Yuri's instinct to defend her—but that reaction created an opening.
Yuri twisted. Hard.
