章 229: Do better next time...

"Again."

Medea smirked, motioning for her to come. "That's more like it."

Selene lunged forward, her movements more precise and intentional this time. She aimed for Medea's shoulder, her blade slicing through the air. Medea parried the strike, but Selene was ready, twisting her wrist to redirect the momentum toward Medea's side. 

For a brief moment, she saw a flicker of approval in Medea's eyes before the goddess spun away, using Selene's momentum against her.

Selene stumbled, and Medea seized the opening. A sharp kick to Selene's legs sent her sprawling once more, and Medea followed up with the flat of her blade against Selene's ribs. 

The force sent Selene rolling across the dirt, her body aching from the repeated impacts.

She lay there for a moment, staring up at the canopy of trees. The pain was real, grounding, but it only served to stoke the fire inside her. Slowly, she got to her knees, her chest heaving.