Kael stood up from the sand, a slight sting of pain echoing in his joints.
The kick had winded him. Even with the damage dampeners of the simulation, he could feel a dull, throbbing ache in the center of his chest.
Across the arena, The_Red_Lizard wasn't giving him time to file a complaint.
The lizard-man twirled his combat staff, the heavy wood humming through the air. The fire wreathing the weapon wasn't roaring anymore; it had dimmed to a concentrated, angry white line along the striking edge.
"Round two," Red grinned, his serrated teeth flashing in the sunlight. "Try not to fall so fast this time."
He lunged.
This time, there was no explosive launch. It was pure footwork. Red closed the distance with a terrifying fluidity, his reptilian legs digging into the loose sand to generate torque.
The staff came in low, sweeping toward Kael's knees.
