The wall cracked when Grace hit it.
Again.
She slid down, leaving another bloody streak to join the collection she'd been painting across the chamber. Her remaining hand scraped against stone as she tried to catch herself.
Tried and failed. Instead, she hit the ground face-first.
"Pathetic." The Flame stood over her. "Is this really the best you can do? A goddess like you, being reduced to this?"
Grace pushed herself up. Blood dripped from... everywhere, really. Her nose. Her mouth. The stump where her arm used to be.
"I'm... just getting started."
"You've been saying that for an hour."
Had it been an hour? Felt longer. Felt like days.
Grace made it to her knees. Then, through pure stubbornness, to her feet.
The Flame circled her. Predator and prey. Except the prey kept getting back up.
"You know what I've realized?" The Flame's sword dragged along the ground. Sparks flew. "You're not even trying to fight back."
"Hey, that's not true. I'm giving it my all here."
