The tension in the room shifted the moment Joseph uttered the words. Seraphina's eyes darkened, a flash of something dangerous glinting in them. She straightened up, her hand subtly moving toward her side, where a weapon might be concealed. Joseph noticed the shift in her stance and instantly felt his heart rate spike.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Joseph began, his hands rising in mock surrender, but his body tensed and ready. "Let's not start something we can't finish, okay?"
Seraphina's voice was low, edged with a calm fury. "You think this is a joke, Joseph? You think you can just waltz in here, play your little games, and walk away unscathed?"
Joseph's grin faded, and his eyes narrowed. "I'm not playing games. I told you, I'm here to help—"
"Help?" she scoffed. "Everywhere you go, chaos follows. I've read your file, Joseph. I know what you're capable of. How do I know you didn't start this whole mess just for kicks?"
His smile faded completely, replaced by a look of genuine frustration. "You think I'd burn down my old academy for fun? I may not be the most straightforward guy, but I'm not a monster."
Seraphina's lips curled into a smirk. "No, you're not a monster… but you're something far worse. Unpredictable. And right now, I can't afford to have unpredictable elements around."
Joseph's eyes flicked to her hand, now resting firmly on what appeared to be the handle of a blade. "You don't have to do this, Seraphina. We can work together."
"I'm done working with you," she snapped. "This ends now."
Before Joseph could respond, Seraphina moved, fast as lightning. She drew her blade—a sleek, obsidian weapon that seemed to hum with an eerie energy—and lunged at him. Joseph barely had time to react; he ducked low, feeling the sharp wind of the blade slicing just above his head.
He rolled to the side, quickly coming up on his feet. "Alright, so we're doing this!" he muttered, more to himself than to her.
He raised his hands, and a faint glow began to emanate from them—a manifestation of his **Dominating Energy**. It pulsed and thrummed with life, a visible wave of power that seemed to distort the very air around him.
Seraphina wasn't impressed. "Cute trick," she hissed, and with a flick of her wrist, she sent a wave of dark energy slicing through the air toward him.
Joseph leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack, the ground where he had stood moments before now scorched and crackling with leftover energy. "Okay, note to self: don't get hit by that," he murmured under his breath.
He countered with a quick burst of his own energy, sending a shockwave that rippled through the room, shattering glass and rattling the walls. Seraphina dodged with the grace of a dancer, her movements fluid and precise. She landed a few feet away, eyes locked onto Joseph, a smirk playing at her lips.
"You'll have to do better than that," she taunted.
Joseph's grin returned, more determined than ever. "Oh, don't you worry—I've got plenty more where that came from."
He thrust his hand forward, sending another wave of **Dominating Energy** toward her. Seraphina darted to the side, but Joseph anticipated her movement. He followed up with a quick, concentrated blast, aiming directly at where she was moving.
The blast hit the ground just inches from her feet, sending dust and debris into the air. Seraphina stumbled slightly but quickly regained her footing. Her eyes flickered with surprise, but only for a moment. She quickly composed herself, raising her blade and charging toward him.
Joseph braced himself, waiting for the right moment. As she closed in, he sidestepped at the last second, grabbing her wrist and twisting her arm behind her back. "Gotcha!" he whispered triumphantly.
But Seraphina was not so easily caught. She twisted her body with an agility that caught him off guard, slipping out of his grasp and using the momentum to swing her blade back toward him. Joseph had just enough time to duck, feeling the blade's edge brush the hair on the back of his neck.
He sprang back, breathing heavily, his eyes never leaving her. "Alright, I'll admit it—you're good. Really good."
Seraphina smirked. "I've been trained by the best, Joseph. You're just… what did you say? A guy who shows up at the wrong place at the wrong time?"
Joseph laughed, despite the situation. "I guess I did say that, didn't I? But hey, it makes life interesting."
"Interesting?" she repeated, and in a blink, she was on him again, her blade flashing in the dim light. Joseph dodged, blocking her strikes with his forearms, each impact sending jolts of pain through his body.
He gritted his teeth, summoning more of his energy. "Alright… let's get serious, then."
With a burst of energy, he pushed her back, creating some distance between them. Joseph's hands glowed brighter, the energy around him growing denser, more volatile. He charged forward, his fist trailing with a bright aura.
Seraphina spun her blade, deflecting his punch with a shower of sparks. She retaliated with a swift kick to his side, sending him stumbling back.
Joseph winced but caught himself, panting heavily. "Not bad… but I'm just getting warmed up."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "So am I."
They clashed again, their movements a blur of speed and energy. Joseph could feel his adrenaline pumping, his senses heightened. He dodged and countered, his energy flaring with every strike. Seraphina matched him blow for blow, her blade an extension of her body, moving with deadly precision.
The room around them seemed to shake with the force of their battle. Sparks flew, and cracks formed in the walls as their powers collided. Neither seemed willing to give an inch, both determined to come out on top.
Joseph's breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles burning with effort. "You're… tougher than you look," he admitted between breaths.
Seraphina's smile was fierce. "So are you. But one of us is going down, Joseph."
He nodded, his grin never faltering. "Yeah… but which one?"
They stared at each other for a long moment, both poised to strike, both ready to end this fight. The tension was palpable, a charged silence that stretched out like an eternity.
And then they moved.
In a flash, they collided again, the sound of their clash echoing through the room, a burst of light and energy filling the space—
The outcome of their battle remained unknown, hanging in the air like the dust that settled slowly around them.
---
The silence returned, deeper than before, leaving only the echoes of their breaths and the hum of energy lingering in the air.