Khepri landed heavily, skidding across cracked stone as dust and gravel exploded beneath his feet. He didn't have time to steady his breath before Alex was already there again — a blur of golden light, streaking toward him with a roar of thunder.
BOOM!
Alex appeared directly above him, katana raised — no wasted motion, no hesitation. It came down like a divine decree, splitting the air.
Khepri crossed his shield and khopesh in a tight guard just in time, but the impact drove him a full meter into the ground, his knees digging trenches as he struggled to hold his ground.
Before he could even retaliate—
Another flash!
Alex was gone — and then behind him, a thunder kick sent Khepri crashing into a stone wall with a sickening crunch. The wall shattered on impact, and Khepri burst out of the rubble a heartbeat later, arm raised to summon help.
