The leader clapped his hands slowly, the sound echoing off broken glass and rubble. He ran one hand through his hair and smiled like a man who liked seeing his plan unfold. For the first time since the fight started, his face showed something close to amusement.
"You took me by surprise," he said to Lilith, his voice flat but polite. "I did not expect you to beat him." Blake glanced at the man on the ground, then back at Lilith. "I never thought you could defeat him."
Lilith did not answer. She just watched him, that same cool look on her face, like she was bored and not interested in small talk.
For a moment everything was still. Then a low vibration crawled under everyone's feet. It started slow, then spread out through the broken street like a pulse. People froze. Cameras tilted. Phones started ringing with new alerts. Someone swore, low and sharp.
