Millie knew Rukmini couldn't attack first—not yet. For a few precious seconds, his legs simply couldn't move. Spreading his energy through his entire body had locked him in place. Drawing that power back into a single point would take time.
She was still thinking this when Keave charged at him like the wind. Rukmini braced for a frontal blow, ready to meet the strike head‑on—but the moment he blinked, Keve vanished from in front of him. A sharp gust brushed past his side. He turned toward it, but there was nothing there.
Before he could adjust, pain exploded across his other cheek. A brutal punch crashed into the side of his face—Keave had circled around and driven his fist into Rukmini's left cheek.
Blood began to run from Rukmini's nose in a thin red line. The first blow hadn't even finished throbbing when another punch hammered into his opposite cheek. His face snapped with the impact, but he remained standing. Even under those heavy hits, his feet did not falter.
Then, suddenly, he felt another rush of air from his right. His neck turned in that direction, but his hands were already moving forward. Keave's next punch came straight from the front, and Rukmini caught it cleanly with both hands, locking his fists in an unbreakable grip.
Keave's feet were suspended in the air; Rukmini stood firm on the ground. Red light burned from the mark on Keve's forehead—he was channeling his energy, while Rukmini was still fighting without using any of his own.
Feeling his attack halted mid‑strike, Keave tilted his head and started laughing. Blood smeared both their faces. Suddenly he pushed harder, trying to drive Rukmini backward.
Millie knew Keave could only unleash his true energy strike once he let go and formed the symbol with his hands. As long as his hands were trapped, he couldn't complete it.
Rukmini's steps trembled under the pressure, but he didn't shove back. He stayed calm, his face empty of any readable emotion.
Scarlet energy coiled around Keave like flames, licking outward from his body. The arena had fallen into an eerie stillness. Then, in the middle of that red blaze, streaks of darkness began to form.
Millie's gaze flicked to Rukmini—and her heart skipped. From his body, deep blue light erupted like waves of an ocean breaking free. It was unbelievable. To stabilize his energy in just a few seconds was something almost no amateur could do.
Rukmini's feet began to lift off the ground as well. Red and blue light collided and blended, casting a violet glow over the battlefield.
Then, with a sudden surge, Rukmini started pushing Keave back. Matching the speed of a storm, he drove him toward the black edge of the arena.