Chapter 187: The Edge of Control
Arthur’s lips curved as he read through the interface.
Yeah... this is it.
But he didn’t have time to go through it properly like he normally would.
As Lyra had already moved, settling into a stance while he stepped in, he refocused.
"Stay sharp," he called, his voice steady. "Same plan. Watch for openings."
"Got it!" Nox answered, already circling.
Althea didn’t speak, but her mana flickered again.
Arthur moved faster this time.
No hesitation.
As his foot stepped forward, he was already in front of Lyra, his fist coming in..
THUD!
She blocked it cleanly.
But this time..
Arthur felt the contact.
As his arm connected, the layer around it shifted on its own, hard where it needed to be, soft where it could give.
The impact didn’t push him back as much.
Instead... It spread.
And a small part of it pushed back into her.
Lyra’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Redirected?"
Arthur grinned.
"Something like that."
He didn’t stop.
Another strike.
Then another.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Fast and relentless.
Lyra matched him, her movements still smoother, cleaner. Every block was precise, every counter measured.
She didn’t rush or panic.
But she felt it.
Each hit carried something new.. a shift, a pressure that didn’t just stop at contact.
As Arthur slipped to the side, barely avoiding a counter punch..
"Close."
The air cracked beside his face.
SWOOSH.
He felt it graze him.
Intent Skin reacted instantly, the layer softening at the edge before tightening again.
The damage dulled.
Not completely gone, but it had reduced.
Arthur exhaled sharply.
"Okay... this effect is really useful."
Lyra didn’t give him time to breathe.
As she stepped in, her knee came up..
Arthur reacted late once again.
THUD!
It hit his side.
He felt the heavy force it carried as it connected.
But..
The layer caught it.
Shifted.
Absorbed.
His body slid back a step, but he didn’t lose balance.
Instead..
He pushed forward again.
Lyra paused for half a second.
"...You’re adjusting the mana layer mid-hit."
Arthur shrugged lightly.
"Learning to."
Far from them, Torren leaned forward.
"...He’s taking hits better now."
Selene’s eyes followed every exchange.
"And giving them back."
Ryn stayed quiet, but his gaze sharpened.
That layer... it’s changing.
He watched closely.
Each time Arthur got hit, the mana shifted.
Each time he struck, it answered smoothly.
He’s not just using it... he’s learning it in real time.
Within the marked zone, Nox dashed in again.
"Hey! Over here!"
As she aimed straight for Lyra’s hand, Lyra turned with a simple motion..
Tap.
But this time, Nox twisted, barely slipping past.
"Ha!"
Still..
She couldn’t reach the core
Arthur used that moment.
As he stepped in again, closing the distance.. too close as his hand came forward.
Not a punch.
A push.
But his intent followed it.
Manifest Intent flowed through his arm, through the layer..
BOOM.
The force released on contact.
It wasn’t explosive or heavy. Instead it pressed against the commander’s mana layer.
Trying to disrupt.
Lyra felt it.
Her mana layer met it and held..but shifted slightly.
Just a bit.
She stepped back half a step.
Their eyes met again.
"...You’re testing your different skills now?."
Arthur nodded.
"Feels natural."
She smirked.
"That’s dangerous."
Arthur let out a soft laugh.
"For you or me?"
She didn’t bother with an answer as she attacked.
Faster this time.
Arthur reacted.. barely.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
The hits came in quick succession.
His body moved, dodging some, blocking others, and each time..
The layer shifted.
Hardened.
Softened.
Redirected.
He felt it working.
It wasn’t perfect. But if felt alive.
"Keep going!" he called out.
Althea responded instantly.
As a buff landed... speed this time and Nox shot in again, even faster.
"Try stopping me now!"
Lyra moved again, but now she had to split her focus more.
Arthur didn’t let up as he pressed harder and faster.
Each movement tighter than the last.
As dust began to rise around them and their feet scraped the ground.
SHH.. THUD!
BOOM!
SWOOSH!
The pace climbed.
Quick. Heavy. Relentless.
The air felt thicker.
Even the onlookers leaned in.
Selene narrowed her eyes.
"He’s pushing her more now."
Torren shook his head slightly.
"Still not enough."
Ryn spoke this time.
"...Not yet."
His eyes never left Arthur.
"But he’s getting there."
Back in the fight, Arthur felt it too.
The gap was still there.
Still wide.
Every time he gained ground, Lyra adjusted.
Every time he pressured, she absorbed it.
Calm and composed.
Even now.
Even after being pushed back twice.
Arthur exhaled.
She’s still holding back.
But that didn’t frustrate him.
It excited him as he stepped in again, closer this time, he let the layer flow more.
Not just defense.
Not just reinforcement.
But connection.
His intent moved his mana through his body, through his arm, through the contact..
He struck again.
THUD!
Lyra blocked.
But she felt the difference.
A small push.
A pressure that tried to slip through her control.
Her brows lowered slightly.
"...Interesting."
Arthur smiled.
"I’m just getting started."
She let out a soft laugh.
"You better be."
Then...
She pushed back.
Harder. Faster.
And Arthur felt it immediately.
The difference.
The pressure increased.
The pace jumped once more.
As he adjusted his stance and steadied his breathing, Intent Skin tightened around him.. stronger, more focused.
Behind him, Nox slowed slightly.
"...She’s speeding up."
Althea nodded.
"...Stay sharp."
Arthur didn’t look back.
His eyes stayed on Lyra.
Locked.
Focused.
"Now we’re talking."
Lyra stepped forward.
"Show me."
Arthur moved... and the fight rose again.
He didn’t slow down.
If anything, he got sharper.
His breathing stayed steady, but his movements changed... less waste, less hesitation. Every step had purpose now, every strike carried something behind it.
He kept the pressure on Lyra.
Not wild or reckless.
Just... constant.
A punch.
A kick.
Again.
THUD. SWOOSH. THUD.
Lyra blocked them all.
Clean. Calm.
Like she had already figured him out.
And slowly.. she had.
Arthur could feel it.