The clash of steel against steel reverberated through the compound as Stella engaged Marcus, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest. The world around her faded, narrowed to just the two of them—the hunter and the hunted. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, sharpening her focus as she dodged his first strike, barely escaping the blade that could have ended her fight before it began.
"Is this really the best you can do?" Marcus taunted, his eyes glinting with malice. "I expected more from the so-called leader of the resistance."
Stella gritted her teeth, forcing herself to maintain her composure. "You don't know what we're capable of," she spat back, her voice steady despite the tension. She swung her blade, aiming for his side, but he blocked it with practiced ease, retaliating with a swift kick that sent her sprawling backward.
