Cipher stood at the center of the training room, his posture relaxed.
Ryker and Dante faced him from opposite ends, weapons at the ready.
"Come at me whenever you're ready," Cipher said.
Ryker moved first, his sword blazing with blue energy as he closed the distance with Lightning Step. The blade came down in a vicious arc, but Cipher tilted his head slightly to the side, letting it whistle past his ear. He caught Ryker's wrist mid-swing, redirected the momentum, and sent him stumbling forward with a gentle push.
"Your footwork is too predictable," Cipher commented. "I knew where you'd end up before you even moved."
Dante charged in immediately after, his massive shield raised. He swung it like a battering ram, trying to create an opening for Ryker to exploit. Cipher stepped inside the swing, placed a palm against the shield's surface, and used Dante's own force to spin him off balance.
