As the guards closed, Kai unleashed a focused pulse of raw mana. Not an attack, but a simple push. The two nearest guards were flung backward, stumbling over their comrades. Distraction achieved.
Vex charged, his broadsword aimed at Kai’s head. This was the first serious fight since training, a direct confrontation against a seasoned warrior stronger than himself in pure martial might.
Kai didn't engage directly. He slipped the blow by less than an inch, his movements utilizing the 4th Circle Wind-Step Spell he had been perfecting—a magic-enhanced martial movement he called "Phantom Step". His body became a blur, his outline flickering as he moved faster than the Captain's eyes could track. Vex's massive sword sliced through empty air, scarring the cobblestones.
Vex roared in frustratio
