He responded by driving his shield's edge into the coiled tail like a hammer blow.
Skar hissed in pain, his tail releasing involuntarily from the impact. He landed in a crouch, his tail now aching from the blunt strike.
"First blood to me," Marcus said, noting the bruising forming on Skar's tail. "Crushing blows. Your scales don't stop those as well."
"And I've learned your shield is weapon as well as defense," Skar replied, his forked tongue tasting the air. "You use edges and weight, not just blocking. Interesting adaptation."
They engaged again, this time with fuller commitment.
Skar's spear became a blur of motion—thrusting, slashing, using the weapon's length to attack from outside Marcus's sword range. High, low, left, right, the spear struck from every angle with serpentine speed.
