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At the call of the announcer, Dhundan's pressure rise, rise again, rise some more.
"<span class="mu-s">I bet you'd wish having trained for that, Quiet Word!</span>
- Oh, but so did I, Dhundan."
In turn, you focus your Fighting Intent, shaping it as a spearhead, piercing through the wave of oppression.
Giving your all, you <span class="mu-s">push</span> further, letting the Intent reach your rival. It doesn't last long. You're not sure spectators have seen it.
But you felt it : Dhundan flinched.
"<span class="mu-s"> So did you indeed... I can't afford to underestimate you! </span>"
In one smooth motion, he unbound the fabric layered around his treasured Saber, reward of winning the first Stable Lotus Harbour tournament.
Sleek, obsidian-black blade that seems to absorb all surrounding light. Some twirling spirals are sculpted in the blade.
Your accrued perception gives you more information than last time : three energies mingle together. Two of them unfamiliar, one extremely so : this is a Growth-aligned weapon.
One that can pull spirit beast toward itself, as Dhundan did to that poor Southern branch kid during Stable Lotus gathering.
That mean the time of your summoned Blood Shadow Wolf is ticking of. Both of you rush Dhundan.
He retaliates with a wide cleaving motion, diverting your spear and deviating the summoned spirit in the same breath.
"<span class="mu-s">Are you even trying?</span>"
You don't answer, spinning the dispelled summon into your second and last <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-r">Blood Burst</span></span>.
Dhundan have a perfect half turn, sending a slash to your throat while summoning his <span class="mu-s">Pangolin Scale Shield</span> to block your attack.
"<span class="mu-s">Materializing energy? I thought it was impossible before second stage! Unfair!</span>
- It's the pot calling the kettle black with your Cheater's Shield!"
The trade starts again. A trade in your favor : you have more technique, more raw power. You send a bunch of fast thrust, block a vertical slash, strike at his leg with the staff end, avoided by a small jump backward from Dhundan. He immediately leaps back at you like a spring coiled then release, you block his thrust with your staff's shaft and push him on your left. Using the push, he turns into a spinning cleave, that you block by holding your spear vertically on your right
<span class="mu-s">Crack</span>
