Vader suddenly burst out in laughter, a taunting response to Claudia's defiance, her laughter echoed through the hall. The challenge had been laid bare, and Vader, ever confident, was quick to respond.
"I doubt you really believe that, or do you want to put your coin where your mouth is?" Vader's voice held a taunting edge, an invitation to back up words with action.
Claudia, undeterred and resolute, did not back off. "What do you have in mind?" Her question hung in the air, a thread connecting the challenge to the impending proposition.
Vader's smile, a cunning expression that hinted at hidden intentions, graced her features. "How about a game of Bloodline suppression?"
Gray, observed the exchange from the sidelines, sensed the mounting tension and the potential for a clash that went beyond the realms of verbal sparring.
