The moment Damon's sigh faded, the air between him and Brakkar snapped tight.
Then—
The moment the distance closed, Damon stepped in with a sharp, probing jab aimed at Brakkar's face, testing the reaction rather than committing to power, but the beastman simply tilted his head aside as if the strike were too slow to matter, his counter already moving in the form of a heavy hook that tore through the air with enough force to make Damon slip instantly to the side.
Without breaking rhythm, Damon stepped inside the opening he had forced, his elbow driving cleanly into Brakkar's ribs with a solid thud, followed immediately by a rising knee toward the abdomen, only for Brakkar's hand to clamp down around his leg mid-motion, stopping it completely as their eyes met for a fraction of a second.
