Meika struck.
Both daggers came down—
Clank! Clank!
They clashed against Darian's shield, sparks flying.
Undeterred, Meika planted her hands on the shield, vaulted into the air, and flipped over him—landing silently behind his back in a crouched position, her body nearly flat against the ground.
Darian's shield swept forward, just inches above her head.
Slash! Slash!
Her twin daggers lashed out, striking his right heel—twice.
Blood splattered.
Darian grunted, stumbling.
She vanished—swallowed by the shadows—and slipped past the first column.
A muffled groan escaped Darian's lips. He dropped to one knee, bracing himself on his shield.
Earth elemental energy surged through his leg.
Stones from the arena floor rose and wrapped around his injured limb, forming a sleek protective layer up to the knee—a stone brace that halted the bleeding and restored some stability.
The pain lingered, but mobility was salvaged.
