The world around Wei slowed as his focus narrowed, every breath filling his lungs with icy determination. His muscles ached, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. This battle, this moment, was the culmination of everything that had been taken from him.
Lian stood in front of him, her twisted smile gone, replaced by something darker—fear. She sensed the shift in Wei's energy, the cold, unyielding force building within him.
"I won't let you win," Wei growled, his voice a low, deadly whisper.
Without warning, he rushed her, his body moving faster than it ever had before. He unleashed a barrage of strikes—punches, kicks, and slashes—all aimed to dismantle her defenses. Lian parried some, dodged others, but she was being overwhelmed, each block weaker than the last.
In the corner of his mind, Mei Lan's voice urged him on. "Keep fighting. Don't let her break you." It was like a lifeline, pulling him through the chaos.
