Akumu's breath grew shorter with each exchange of blows. Opposite him, the canine demon was intensifying, as if it was enjoying gauging the strength of its opponent before unleashing its full power.
The initial moments of the fight had seemed evenly matched, their weapons meeting in a deadly dance. But the pace was increasing alarmingly.
The demon's heavy blows resonated in the air, causing Akumu's khopesh to vibrate with every impact. Each strike was a trial, his sword tracing luminous arcs through the air as he struggled to keep up with the infernal rhythm. But he felt something was off. The demon was becoming more unpredictable. Its attacks were no longer just brutal but calculated. It feinted, delivering blows in one direction only to quickly pivot and strike from the other side, plunging Akumu into uncertainty.
