The shadow man moved as the darkness around him coiled like a spring and launched him forward, erasing the fifteen meters between him and Kael in a blur of black. His hand came up, and something materialized from the writhing shadows.
A black spear.
Kael's hands were already moving.
Two flashes of light from his storage ring. Two short blades materialized in his grip—Tier 3 shadow-steel.
The spear thrust arrived as Kael's left blade intercepted it.
CLANG!
The impact sent a shockwave through his arm. His boots skidded backward across the cracked warehouse floor, leaving two grooves in the stone.
Not bad.
The shadow man didn't pause. The spear retracted and stabbed again—aimed at Kael's ribs. Kael's right blade swept across, deflecting the thrust upward. The spear tip shrieked past his ear, close enough that he felt the dark energy kiss his cheek like a cold tongue.
A third thrust. Kael crossed both blades overhead and caught it.
