"What are you waiting for?" Alvida asked, her voice calm but commanding. She raised a hand and gestured at him. "Come at me."
Alvin hesitated for a moment, teeth clenched.
'Why did it come to this?'
Still, he dashed forward, sword in hand, and slashed at her.
Alvida tilted her head slightly, just enough for the blade to whistle harmlessly past.
Then her fist drove straight into his gut.
"Argh!"
Air exploded from Alvin's lungs as he staggered back.
He gritted his teeth and spun, swinging Rhizome in a wide 180-degree arc, but Alvida was gone.
BANG!
A punch crashed into his back, sending him flying. He slammed into the ground and rolled through the dust.
"Come on," Alvida called out. "Try harder."
Alvin groaned and pushed himself to his feet. His back throbbed.
'Tch… damn it.'
Wind began to swirl around him, wrapping around his limbs like a cloak. He shot forward again.
This time, he focused the wind into Rhizome.
