We've been shown how not to live by gracious kings of old
Zavien moved—good instincts, sharp and fast. But Noah was already adjusting. His first lunge hadn’t caught flesh, just icy Halovian air, but it narrowed the gap. Slightly. Zavien needed to keep space, and Noah wanted to make him work for it.
He didn’t pause to reassess; he flowed. Forward again, relentless, driving his heel down into the mat to launch a second surge. Zavien’s hands rose, defense coiled tight, but Noah wasn’t aiming wide. He went straight through. A feint with the left—a low twitch of motion to draw Zavien’s guard—then a sharp pivot off his back foot. The real punch came from the right, aimed square for the center line, just beneath Zavien’s raised arm, clean and fast. Not meant to drop him. Meant to force reaction. Meant to keep the pressure on.
Already, Noah was preparing the next strike behind it. One punch wouldn’t be enough. But if he could land the first, the rest would follow like thunder behind lightning.
He didn’t pause to reassess; he flowed. Forward again, relentless, driving his heel down into the mat to launch a second surge. Zavien’s hands rose, defense coiled tight, but Noah wasn’t aiming wide. He went straight through. A feint with the left—a low twitch of motion to draw Zavien’s guard—then a sharp pivot off his back foot. The real punch came from the right, aimed square for the center line, just beneath Zavien’s raised arm, clean and fast. Not meant to drop him. Meant to force reaction. Meant to keep the pressure on.
Already, Noah was preparing the next strike behind it. One punch wouldn’t be enough. But if he could land the first, the rest would follow like thunder behind lightning.
NOAH
