Turai's body hummed with adrenaline. Director Ashline stood before him—a man whose presence alone commanded respect and fear throughout the Empire.
This was no mere sparring match; it was a battle that would test Turai to his limits. The air in the chamber was thick with tension, every breath heavy with expectation.
"Show me why you believe you can win," Ashline's voice was cold and unyielding—a demand, not a request.
Turai's jaw tightened. This was the moment to prove himself, to silence the doubts of others and perhaps his own. "Then watch," he said, his voice steady, laced with defiance.
Before the final syllable left his lips, Turai moved. He vanished from sight, a blur of speed that left an afterimage in his wake.
Swooosh...
