The next instant, their gazes locked with renewed ferocity, sky-blue eyes burning into golden ones, as both of them recovered at nearly the same time. Aura Nova had healed only her surface injuries; she dared not repair the damage to her essence yet, unwilling to further drain her already precarious mana reserves. Kingsley, meanwhile, had recovered just enough stamina to move freely once more.
With that, the fragile tactical impasse shattered into nothingness. Both of them transitioned simultaneously into motion, each preparing to unleash whatever technique or ability they intended to use as their final trump card. The air itself seemed to tense in anticipation, as though reality understood that the battle was about to reach its decisive moment.
But before Aura Nova could finish issuing her command or fully gathering her mana, Kingsley acted first.
He needed no mana. He required no preparation. Thus, he needed not even a fraction of a second.
