Heriean raised his blood blades, their crimson glow intensifying as he slashed upward, cleaving through the spike. The shattered golden sand scattered like shimmering shards before dissolving back into a swirling storm around Herald.
"You've gotten better since last time," Herald said, his tone playful but laced with a darker edge. "But we both know how that ended, don't we?"
Heriean didn't rise to the bait. He moved forward instead, his blades morphing mid-step into a whip that lashed toward Herald's face. The golden sand reacted instantly, forming a shield to intercept the attack. Sparks flew as the crimson whip struck the shield, each strike reverberating through the arena like a gunshot.
"You think you've cornered me?" Herald sneered, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "You're not even close."
