Asher slid back a step, feet digging into the stone to stop himself. The sentinel didn't give him even a second.
SQ-L88 lunged, stabbing forward with its blade-arm like a spear.
Asher twisted aside. The blade scraped across his ribs, tearing cloth and skin but missing anything vital. He grabbed the sentinel's wrist, trying to yank it off balance.
The metal didn't budge.
SQ-L88 rotated its entire torso like a drill, forcing Asher to let go as the back of its elbow almost clipped his jaw.
The Knight attacked again, sword swinging down in a clean, heavy arc.
SQ-L88 snapped its shield up and blocked perfectly. Sparks burst from the impact. The sentinel shoved forward, pushing the Knight back step by step.
Asher rushed in from behind.
He kicked the sentinel's knee joint as hard as he could. This time, the joint bent slightly—only a little, but enough.
SQ-L88 stumbled.
Asher grabbed its shoulder and slammed his knee into the side of its head.
