Just pure motion.
She was on him in less than a second—her gauntleted fist slamming toward his chest.
Leon activated Shell Reverb: Echo of Origin at the last instant—but it only slowed her. Not stopped.
He shifted his footing and redirected the blow to the side—countered with a Spiral Reverb that sent shockwaves through the platform.
Vel'Zhara twisted midair, absorbed the pulse, and struck again from above.
No wasted movement.
No flair.
Every motion meant to kill.
Not disable.
Not teach.
Kill.
Leon gritted his teeth. He used Karmic Loop, only to realize—
It didn't activate.
The floor blocked it.
"Your echoes won't help you here," Vel'Zhara said, sweeping his leg and knocking him into the air. "This trial is not about your tricks."
Leon crashed to the ground, rolled, and came up bleeding from the side of his mouth.
Still, he smiled.
"Good. I was tired of relying on them anyway."
She rushed again.
And this time, Leon didn't defend.
He advanced.
