Kael saw James' sword flashing through the air, aimed at his side. His body moved on instinct. He twisted his torso, bringing his own blade up in a smooth arc.
The two swords clashed hard, metal on metal, sending out a loud clang that echoed like a thunderclap. Kael took the force of the strike, shifted his footing, and used the enemy's momentum to twist it aside with his Reflection technique. The air around them cracked from the pressure.
The ground split beneath their feet. Dust shot into the air. A tree nearby was sliced through at its base from the shockwave. The cut left behind was deep and long, like a scar across the earth. Kael's arms trembled from the force. He gritted his teeth. His hands started to go numb, but he didn't let go.
