The river churned between them, swirling with broken branches from their fall.
Alex twirled his twin kopis in lazy circles, curved steel flashing in the dying light.
"You're fast in the trees," Tomoe said, rolling her shoulders loose. "But down here… you're mine."
A fever-bright grin split his face. "We'll see."
He struck first.
Silver steel tore the air, spraying water in its wake. Tomoe slipped aside, the wind of the blade grazing her cheek. She swept low, her leg cutting a wave across the surface — but Alex vaulted clear, landing on a half-sunken log.
The log shifted. He spun with it, twisting into a vicious slash. The kopis bit deep into a mangrove trunk as Tomoe ducked under.
Her palm slammed into his chest, driving him back. Alex only laughed, springing forward with a spinning double strike that hissed through the air like a serpent.
The jungle stirred. Birds erupted from the canopy. Somewhere unseen, a predator's growl rumbled low and hungry. Neither fighter cared.
Tomoe feinted left, then sprang from the log — an axe kick crashing down from above. Alex caught it on crossed blades, but the force drove both fighters into the mud.
They grappled, steel flashing inches from flesh, mud streaking their skin. Alex broke free with a vicious kick, flipping backward into the shallows.
"You fight like you've got nothing to lose," he panted.
Tomoe's eyes burned cold. "And you fight like you've got something to prove."
The smirk returned. "Maybe both."
He lunged again, blades flashing for her throat. Tomoe caught the steel barehanded.
Alex's eyes widened. "How—how are you not bleeding?!"
Her voice was calm, lethal. "A twig like you could never cut me."
He roared and slashed again and again, but each strike veered at the last instant, missing by a breath.
Then his expression shifted from fury to dawning realization.
"You… you're a spirit user."
Tomoe tilted her head. "Pinog?"
"The Wind Spirit," Alex said between ragged breaths. "You're bending the air, turning my blades aside."
Tomoe's gaze sharpened. "I'm sorry, Alex. You lost the moment you fell from the trees."
She blurred forward, faster than his eyes could follow.
Jab — hook — cross — sidestep — cross — rising elbow.
The final blow sent Alex crashing into unconsciousness.
His kopis slipped from limp hands, vanishing downstream as the river swallowed their gleam.