Do-yun's shadow drove him backward again, another compressed pulse catching him mid dodge and throwing him hard into the rubble of a collapsed storefront.
He hit the ground rolling, forcing himself upright before the dust even finished settling, breath ragged, every muscle in his body screaming for a rest he couldn't afford to take. Jin and Areum stood a short distance off now, both watching, both unable to help, and something about being the last one still standing in this fight made the whole thing feel heavier than it had even an hour ago. He could feel their eyes on him, could feel the weight of their exhaustion mixed with worry, and hated, distantly, that he was the reason they hadn't gotten to properly rest yet.
The shadow reset its stance, patient, unbothered, waiting for him to close the distance again.
Do-yun didn't move right away.
