Chapter 35: Teamwork
The air vibrated with tension, the whistle of the wind accompanying the lingering echo of the threatening slash. Lian crouched low, his heart pounding in his chest, as a lock of his hair slowly fell to the sand, severed by the unseen blade.
Seline, a few meters away, had her eyes narrowed, mana swirling around her in spirals of water ready to strike. The unknown swordsman’s voice rang out again, cold and sharp as his blade.
"Not bad, kid. You dodged by a hair," the man said, emerging before the duo. He could no longer stay hidden; after all, he wanted a fight, not senseless killing.
He was tall, with a muscular build, wrapped in a tattered black tunic. A long, thick sword gleamed in his right hand, its metal etched with faint runes glowing green. His steel-gray eyes scanned them with a mix of curiosity and disdain, a predator sizing up his prey.
But before Lian could attempt to reason with the man, Seline attacked without a second thought. Her motto remained: hit first, talk later, her impulsiveness as fierce as her reputation.
A powerful, razor-sharp jet of water surged toward the stranger with unprecedented ferocity. The man used his massive sword as a shield, deflecting the attack with ease.
"Not bad at all!" he replied, locking eyes with Seline. "But I know you can do better. Come at me together!" His challenge was bold, almost taunting.
Lian clenched his fists, mana boiling within him. Was this guy insane? He had never seen a human act so aggressively before. The world outside Dustwall was truly terrifying, a realization that shook his small-town perspective.
Lian glanced at Seline, exchanging a nod. They had fought together and knew each other’s abilities—at least on the surface, their trust built on shared battles.