Chapter 97: Second wave
Adrian’s breath came in sharp, controlled bursts as he steadied himself. The mist puppets didn’t relent. Instead, they advanced again, their movements eerily synchronized, their faceless visages locked onto him.
’It’s as if they are copying me.’
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. Their stances, their footwork, even the way they angled their swords, it was all his style. They weren’t just mindless constructs; they were reflections of his own combat instincts, honed from years of training and battle.
That changed the whole game. It meant they would anticipate his moves. He was uncertain about how they were able to mimic his sword moves, but couldn’t afford to dwell too much on the issue.
It wasn’t all bad news, though. He thought to himself while preparing for the next bout.
If they were truly mirrors of himself, then perhaps he could anticipate them as well.
The first mist puppet lunged, its blade cutting through the air in a diagonal slash. Adrian sidestepped, pivoting on his heel, and countered with a swift horizontal strike aimed at its midsection.
The mist puppet tried to dodge but wasn’t able to do so fast enough. The tip of the sword passed through the mist, dispersing it where it passed, but the puppet didn’t fall.
Though the mist in the areas where the sword passed through didn’t coalesce, leaving a thin line that indicated the damage that the mist puppet took.
Adrian frowned at the situation, clearly not expecting what had just happened. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but he knew that the mist puppets were not built for defense.
He had expected that strike to finish it off, alleviating some of the pressure on him. Then a thought struck him.