Leaning forward on his toes, Derek charged ahead, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. 'Win or lose, let's see how far I can push him,' he thought mid-charge.
As he closed the distance, Derek arced his arm, ready to unleash a slash.
The man moved as well, taking a casual stance to block the strike, but at the last moment, Derek bent low and leaped off the ground, bringing his sword down from above in a powerful overhead slash.
The man was caught off guard for an instant but recovered swiftly, raising his weapon to block Derek's attack with ease. An amused smile spread across his face.
Derek landed smoothly, but before he could regain full balance, the man thrust his sword forward, aiming straight for Derek's chest.
Reacting quickly, Derek twisted his wrist, using his blade to deflect the incoming strike. The tip of the man's sword scraped along the length of Derek's blade, sending a sharp metallic hiss echoing through the air.
