Author Becomes Character (Revised version)

"Lady," Sir Denise said, lowering himself onto one knee and bowing his head with a surprising amount of grace for someone in armor.

Nine's sharp gaze locked onto him, his stance shifting slightly—not in confusion but in quiet assessment. His eyes narrowed as he studied the man before him, taking in every detail of his posture, movements, and intent.

"Let's talk later," I said quickly, placing a hand on Nine's arm before he could say anything. "There's something more urgent to deal with right now." My eyes drifted toward the battlefield, where Rhian, Eli, and Tafi were locked in an intense fight against the monster horde.

The scene was chaotic. The three young men moved in tandem, each fighting with their unique style. Rhian's sword flashed through the air, his strikes calculated and efficient as he felled one monster after another. Eli stood farther back, firing magic-imbued arrows with precision. His arrows tore through multiple monsters at once, glowing faintly before striking their targets. Meanwhile, Tafi was a blur in his berserk form, claws ripping through scaled hides and furred beasts alike. His movements were raw, powerful, and relentless.

Nine glanced at the battlefield but kept most of his attention on Sir Denise, his posture loose yet ready, like a coiled spring. He wasn't about to drop his guard just because the man had bowed.

"You're right," Sir Denise said, rising to his feet. His tone was calm, but there was a quiet confidence in his voice. His eyes flicked toward the battle, and in an instant, he was gone.

The sound of tearing flesh and thudding bodies filled the air as the vanguard of the horde was suddenly obliterated. Monsters fell in pieces, their upper halves flung into the air as their torsos collapsed to the ground. Sir Denise reappeared at the front of the battlefield, his massive sword held horizontally in front of him. The ground beneath his feet was cracked, and the faint glow of his Aura rippled around him like a living force.

Nine's eyes narrowed further, his expression unreadable. He didn't react with awe or surprise like the others might have; instead, he tilted his head slightly, as though analyzing Sir Denise's technique and movements.

"That's the power of Aura," I murmured, watching as Sir Denise carved through the monsters with terrifying ease. "An extension of the soul. It's what makes a weapon master so formidable."

Nine's lips pressed into a thin line. "He's good," he said simply, his tone neutral. "Fast, clean, precise. He doesn't waste a single move."

Rhian froze for a moment, clearly stunned by the display of power, but Sir Denise's sharp voice cut through the chaos. "Stay focused! Don't get distracted!"

Rhian snapped out of it, his grip tightening on his sword as he continued his assault. Eli loosed another volley of arrows, his aim never faltering. Tafi roared, launching himself at a larger beast and sinking his claws deep into its chest.

Sir Denise moved like a whirlwind, his sword a blur as he carved through the horde. Each strike was devastating, leaving no room for the monsters to recover. The battlefield was littered with fallen creatures, and the tide of the fight shifted dramatically in our favor.

Nine crossed his arms, his gaze still fixed on Sir Denise. "He's efficient," he said after a moment. "But reckless. He relies too much on brute force."

I glanced at him, startled by the critique. "You think so?"

"He's skilled, but he's leaving openings. Against someone faster—or smarter—he'd have a hard time." Nine's tone was calm, almost detached, as though he were observing a sparring match rather than a life-or-death battle.

I couldn't argue with him; Nine's mastery of martial arts gave him a perspective I couldn't fully understand. But for now, Sir Denise's power was exactly what we needed to turn the tide of the fight.