Time felt slightly different.
Not slowed.
But segmented.
Andres saw it:
The creature's shoulder shift before movement
The distribution of weight in its legs
The angle of its next attack path
It wasn't perfect understanding.
But it was enough.
"…Left…"
He muttered instinctively.
The creature lunged exactly where he predicted.
And he moved.
Not gracefully.
Not trained.
Just correctly.
He rolled sideways, barely avoiding impact.
Dirt exploded where he had been.
His breathing sharpened.
"…Okay…"
His voice was low now.
Different.
More focused.
"…So that's how you move."
The creature circled him.
Now cautious.
Not because it feared him—
But because its target had stopped being predictable.
Andres stood slowly.
Hands trembling slightly.
Not from fear.
But from strain.
His body was not used to this level of reaction.
But his mind—
Was adapting.