Chapter 109: Battling Bane
The initiate’s eyes flashed blood red as he shot forward, his foot leaving a spiderweb of cracks in the ground. The way he moved, the tension in his muscles, the look of barely controlled fear in his eyes – everything about him screamed that he was fighting for his life.
Just like last time, the Skybound didn’t know the difference between a spar and a death match.
I waited until the last possible moment, when his fist was less than an inch from my face. I could feel the displacement of air, see the red energy crackling around his knuckles. That’s when I activated Blink Step.
The world blurred briefly as I vanished, reappearing instantly at his side. His punch continued through the air, slamming into the wall behind where I'd been standing. The defensive formations flared to life as they absorbed and dispersed the impact.
Even through the magical barrier, I could feel the raw power behind his strike.
Not giving him time to recover, I channeled energy into the Titan's Crest on my left hand. The interlocking triangles burned with power as I struck at his exposed left side. The hit landed clean, and I felt the satisfying impact of enhanced strength meeting flesh and bone.
The force sent him tumbling across the floor, though he managed to turn it into a somewhat controlled roll before coming to a stop.
"Master," Azure observed as our opponent climbed back to his feet, "his control over runic energy suggests mid-rank 1 Skybound capabilities."
I gave a slight nod, keeping my eyes on the disciple. "If he has a trump card, his power probably reaches late rank 1." I glanced briefly at Elder Molric, who was watching with that unsettling gleam in his eyes. "Which is when I can turn to the elder and ask for some plant assistance. He should give me the vine."