Thymaleon's eyes narrowed, his expression growing more serious. "You've got some skill."

"You're not bad yourself," Dustin replied.

His face remained calm, though surprise flickered inside. Since breaking through to the realm of terrestrial immortals, he'd never met an opponent who could withstand even a single exchange. He hadn't expected to encounter someone at his level in Elysium Isle.

"Come again!" Thymaleon barked.

White light gathered around him once more. The shattered whale phantom didn't vanish. Instead, it split into thousands of silver-white fish. Their fins gleamed with sharp edges as they darted through the water, weaving an airtight net of light.

With a flick of his fingers, the net snapped shut. The fish shrieked in unison and rushed toward Dustin's sword platform. Their passage tore thin cracks through the seawater.

Dustin's gaze sharpened. He turned his wrist, and his sword carved three smooth arcs. The platform beneath him shot nearly 1,000 feet into the air.