We rushed at each other again, not even a second of hesitation between us. There was no dramatic pause and no drawn-out stare. It was just raw instinct and the unspoken understanding that neither of us planned to step back. The moment our swords collided, it felt less like a clash and more like a detonation.
Steel met steel with a violent shriek, and the impact exploded outward in a massive shockwave that twisted the air itself. The ground beneath us cracked faintly, dust lifting into the air as if the platform had exhaled in shock. The blast slammed straight into the barrier surrounding the arena, sending ripples across its surface like someone had hurled a boulder into a frozen lake.
The spectators didn't just react. They gasped. Some stumbled backward. Others covered their ears. The pressure alone was suffocating, and it was very thick and heavy, and it was pressing against their chests like invisible hands.
