Noah's aim reached beyond this clash. He wanted Kenzo broken in a way that no recovery could fix. Defeat was temporary, but humiliation planted roots. If Kenzo's fragile pride shattered here, the pieces would turn inward, gnawing at him long after the bruises faded.
Noah intended to make sure of it. He had seen the cracks already: the restless eyes, the sudden bursts of mania, the desperate need for validation. Kenzo carried an inner demon, a vicious thing that thrived on fear of inadequacy. If that demon awoke, it would devour him from within, choking any future resolve before it could rise.
So Noah held back his killing intent and instead carved away at Kenzo's confidence slowly.
