Blitz, equally caught off guard, threw herself to the side just in time to avoid Alister's sweeping kick. The force of his attack sent a gust of wind rippling across the arena, and she stumbled slightly before regaining her balance.
Axel, meanwhile, brought up his twin daggers in a desperate cross-block, only for Alister's golden aura to slam against him like a tidal wave. Though the blunt edge of Alister's weapon didn't touch him directly, the sheer impact of the mana knocked him back a few steps.
Blitz, panting slightly, shot Axel a look. "He's not kidding around, is he?!"
"Yeah, no kidding," Axel muttered, his playful demeanor replaced with wide-eyed focus. His grip tightened on his daggers as he adjusted his stance, sweat starting to bead on his forehead.
Alister's expression didn't waver as he closed in again, his movements deliberate but fluid, testing their reactions. "If you can't handle this, then Rush will never activate," he said coldly.
