Rising god

Baines’ mind churned in an absolute focus, calculations racing as he faced the Iron Brotherhood’s seventh-star grandmaster. He could throw large attacks; however, his enemy was fast enough to dodge them all.

Baines charged,

"So you want this the hard way." The man’s eyes glowed as he watched Baines’ approach. When Baines was about five paces away, Baines suddenly tore through space to reach the man,

Clang...

"Oh!" The man was surprised at the sudden attack, but he was able to block the attack, his aura flaring. His sword met the grandmaster’s dagger, yet the impact rattled, but he didn’t stop for a moment and swung his sword again to the left. Once again, the dagger was there to block.

"Oh!" The grandmaster’s eyes glowed red, surprised but blocking effortlessly. Baines swung left, then up, using Changing Sword to deceive—feinting left, striking right, then down—but the grandmaster matched every move, his astral energy, a hallmark of a grandmaster, humming dangerously as it parried his moves.

Clang! Each clash shook Baines’ frame, the enemy’s dagger a blur of deadly precision. "Not bad," the grandmaster sneered, pushing Baines back. A swing grazed Baines’ cheek, blood dripping, the cut burning like fire. "But it’s not enough." With another swing, a cut appeared on Baines’ left shoulder, drawing blood.

The enemy had begun attacking.

Baines didn’t flinch, activating his indigo scarf’s effect, lightening his body, and tapped the ground, retreating as the grandmaster surged forward, daggers slashing in a relentless barrage.

Baines dodged critical strikes, the scarf’s grace saving his vitals, but lesser blows tore his arms, blood spraying, his flesh parting with wet squelches.

Not retreating anymore, he met the attack.

Clang!