Joi huffed in frustration as her heart raced and muscles ached from the strain and fatigue. Her body weakened with each exchange, while the Mantis Queen barely lost momentum. The last attack nearly tore through her strongest defense with little effort. Another two or three more attacks of that caliber would render her defense obsolete.
If things went on this way, she would be dead for sure. Joi gnashed her teeth and reassured herself, "this stalemate had to end." She had just the thing to do it, but she was reluctant. The blade in her palm vibrated as if it knew what she was thinking and gave her its blessing.
