Poppy shouted a warning as the man shot forward. Solder’s lieutenants were all above level 30, with a bevy of skills, and none of them had slouching classes either — they were all strong, and fast. Talc was no exception.Why he washed up alone here, she didn’t know. When the labyrinth rearranged himself, he must have been isolated or caught up into the water. But he threw himself to his feet ready to fight.Feng Sai was strong, she knew that.But she didn’t know exactly how good he was. She could tell by the second exchange of blades that Talc was faster.Sparks flew where their blades met, Feng Sai’s footwork bringing him circling around Talc, but Talc turned faster than Feng Sai could pivot, sharp edge meeting sharp edge, the blade of Talc’s right hand meeting Sai’s sword.A heartbeat later, Talc’s left hand flew upward. But Sai had already predicted the movement. Sai had met the first blade at such an angle that when he took a step, his blade blocked the second too.But Talc wasn’t just faster. He was stronger.He pushed with both hands where the blades met, and Sai started to lean backward. Instead of falling, he took two deft steps away. Talc pulled his blades away to avoid falling forward. And in a single motion, Sai’s blade nicked Talc’s face.Talc practically growled.Poppy’s heart sank as she watched the third, fourth, and fifth exchanges.The characteristic black coating never appeared on Sai’s blade. And… he seemed slower outside of the scenarios. Was there something wrong with him? Something weakening him?She tried to think.She had to help. He was being pushed back. But what could she do? Talc was still holding back, wasn’t he? She tried to remember what his class was. The lieutenants of the Bleeding Crown rarely fought in the open in front of the rank and file and never sparred.A two bladed fighting style — definitely an Agility branch class. Light mixed armor (...)