MARA vs. KELLEN VOSS
Mara stepped into the combat ring with focused calm, her twin short blades drawn, her Clear Mind core maintaining the mental clarity that had become her foundation.
Her opponent was a Low Initiate—rank advantage that immediately complicated the matchup. Kellen Voss came from Redwatch, the eastern outpost that had sent candidates on the same convoy. His build was straightforward strength enhancement and basic combat technique, nothing sophisticated but executed with the confidence of someone who'd survived frontier warfare.
I'm out of luck on this one, Mara assessed clinically. He's stronger, faster and more durable. Let's hope he's not as technical as I am.
The match proctor activated the combat matrices. "Begin."
Kellen attacked with practical aggression—he was neither flashy nor arrogant, he was just a solid frontlines that used combat tactics that prioritized efficiency over aesthetics.
