Archer watched as Malakia's lips curled into a fierce smile. ''Oh, I'm just warming up, handsome!''
She lunged again, this time feinting left before delivering a lightning-fast uppercut. He caught her wrist, his grip iron-strong, and spun her into a grapple, their bodies locked in a whirlwind of motion.
The ground trembled as they traded blows, each strike explosive yet precise. Malakia's claws raked across his shoulder, drawing thin lines of red, while his elbow slammed into her side, forcing a grunt from her lips.
Neither held back, yet Archer's restraint kept the fight balanced, his strength reined in to match hers. The field erupted into chaos as the older woman broke free, leaping back to summon a burst of primal energy, an aura that flared like a golden flame around her.
