Jade settles, then slips back into southpaw as if nothing happened. The opening exchange ends without a clean shot, but the message lands all the same. This isn't going to be simple.
The effect shows immediately. Ryoma has to adjust again, cutting off his pendulum just to angle left. He restarts the sway, but the rhythm isn't there. It's careful now, too measured.
He steps in and snaps a textbook jab.
Dug.
Jade blocks it easily, and then widens his lead foot by a fraction.
Ryoma sees it and retreats at once. The timing breaks and his pendulum collapse into stillness.
Jade shifts his rear foot a bit forward, and twitches his left shoulder, just slightly. At once, Ryoma resets and lifts his guard higher, breath sharp in his chest, pulse louder than the crowd.
All of it from just one small adjustment, and it's already enough to break his rhythm.
