The Construct didn't rise. Kael took two steps back. His chest rose and fell. His lips split into a smirk, thinking he had defeated his opponent.
"Still standing," he muttered. "Still in this."
And then—
The Construct stirred.
Kael's smile faded and his smirk turned ugly.
It rose.
The Construct's limbs twitched, like a puppet regaining strings. Its knees cracked, arms tightening as it forced itself upright. Its head lifted slowly—those dull red eyes sparking once more.
Kael's jaw clenched but he didn't curse, didn't panic. He just breathed in, shallow and focused
The thing should've stayed down. No—it had to stay down. But it didn't.
The Construct stood fully again, slower than before, its stance more rigid. Its legs wobbled for the first time. The damage was showing—but it wasn't enough.
Not yet.
Kael wiped blood from his cheek. "You stubborn pile of metal…"
This time, it didn't charge. It walked slowly. Each of its steps was heavy and unrelenting.
