Shadow Slave

It went well.

Sunny was not doing much better against the murderous hurricane of steel wearing the beautiful human face of Morgan of Valor... but he did manage to slow her down a little.

Morgan slowed down not because she felt pressured by his sudden change of techniques, but because she was fascinated by it.

Her raven-black hair swept back and her simple tunic rippling from the wind risen by their clash, she pierced him with a burning vermilion gaze. Her red lips moved:

"Interesting. Very interesting..."

Morgan was not addressing Sunny, but more so speaking to herself.

After that, she changed her strategy, as well. Before, Morgan was all offense, all sharp edges, and a relentless barrage of calculated, but devastating strikes. Now, she was moving more deliberately - not really holding back, but also not pursuing an overwhelming defeat of the enemy at all costs.

It was as if Morgan was afraid to break him too soon.

...Sunny did not really know how to feel about that.

'Huh... well, that's a new feeling...'

They clashed, their swords weaving a cacophonous, but strangely beautiful melody of hissing and clangor. At the side of the dojo, Cassie turned her head slightly, listening.

Sunny had long beaten his record of holding out against Morgan for thirty-six seconds. A minute passed, then another. He was still solidly standing on his two feet, and even though his breathing was growing a little labored from the terrible strain of the intense fight, his stamina was far from running out.

In the middle of a particularly furious exchange, when they were close to each other, Morgan suddenly asked:

"That style... who taught you?"

Sunny struck at the hilt of her sword, aiming to sever her fingers, and answered hoarsely:

"No one taught me. I just learned it... from a Nightmare Creature..."

easily avoided his strike and punished it by aiming a

"...In the Nightmare?"

fought the Barrow Wraiths as Mongrel, after all... but then again, no one else had

in front of a Nightmare

Morgan's smile widened.

a fast

have gotten a good grasp on the essence of the primal battle style he was using, which translated into her attacks

not quite suit Sunny. It was too soon - he could not have her growing bored yet. He needed to impress

turning into a great jian.

and turned into a thrust, catching Morgan by surprise. She moved with the grace of a dancer, pulling her head

"Ah! Devious!"

vibrant eyes

- they had agreed to leave their Ascended

Cheating was exactly what an

it was also what a person from the outskirts would actually

fighter in a real battle would not shy away from, which was why Sunny thought that Morgan was bound to enjoy

he attacked, turning his jian into

well enough to summon them on the fly... the only one he had reasons to avoid was the odachi, since that was what he had used

Her smile grew wider.

strain. At some point, one of them even started to crack. Sunny used it to his advantage, launching a deliberate strike

aside, Morgan pivoted, shifting her

delivering a lightning-fast, picture-perfect roundhouse kick

react, pulling the spear slightly back and raising

alabaster shin connected with the matte black

if it was not as strong as an Ascended weapon would be. Sunny's eyes widened

'Crap...'

decided to start using more of her Aspect Abilities,

him to do but accept the blow and hope