"You're quick," he admitted, "but speed alone won't win this fight."
Ayane smirked, her voice calm and confident. "Who said I was relying on speed?"
She extended her hand, and the shadows around her surged forward, forming tendrils that lashed out at Kael. He sliced through them with ease, but the distraction gave Ayane the opening she needed. She closed the gap, her blades striking in a synchronized dance that forced Kael to retreat.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the battle reached its climax. Kael's radiant magic clashed against Ayane's shadows in a dazzling display of light and dark. The forest clearing bore the scars of their duel, with charred trees and deep gouges marking their relentless exchange.
Kael knew he had to end the fight before Ayane could wear him down. Channeling his celestial magic, he raised his sword and called out, "Solar Ascension!"
