"Shit!" Even with Lorenor's level of skill with the sword, his handicap in the sunlight was a true hindrance. The ghoul was eternally grateful for the endless' protection. Glowing green with power, the living armor could adequately deflect most blows. However, the knife's sharp edge vibrated across the ghoul's sensory array. Too fast, he's too damned fast. In slow motion, the ghoul felt an impact against his mid section and that's probably what saved his life. The force from Cronen's attack was like being hit by a freight train. His living epidermis took the brunt of the blow, acting like a buffer against the majority of the attack. Pain resounded across the small warrior's brain, lighting up his dendrytes.

Cursing again, the ghoul could only react. His movements were fueled by his long standing training with the sword. Moving his hand on instinct to intercept the incoming blow, the movement was jerky, not as fluid as it could've been normally. However, it would have to do. Reflecting brilliant sunlight upon the ghoul's face, the sword moved in a downward arch towards the warrior's foot. Then, continuing the movement, Lorenor harshly swung upward to intercept the incoming sword arm. It was a double-timed movement made possible by his superior senses.

Though they were cut down from their normal capacity, Joshua made the mistake of engaging the ghoul in close-range combat. He exceeded in this realm, not quite a master, but not a chump either. Knowing that this was going to be his most difficult challenge yet, Lorenor had to hang in there with everything he could. As he moved in a downward motion, striking upwards with a less than graceful attack, Lorenor saw the dagger's blade, moving across the top of his head. His dreadlocks jumped upward, and a single thick lock was suddenly amputated by Cronen's blade.

Pieces of hair fell down to the sand. The ghoul flinched as his hair was forcibly removed, though a single lock of it. Unable to move thanks to his concentration in the movement, Lorenor waited to see what would happen next. Everything was slowed down to his perception. His heart beat in his neck. Lorenor knew he would have to be more careful than ever and use everything at his disposal. Even fight dirty. Dirtier than Cronen was fighting, a plan was forming. Somehow, I gotta trick him. Somehow, I gotta use everything at my disposal to get him. His kinetic blast hadn't done more than annoy him. Lorenor thought about that. That meant that his shadow ring was out of the question. Lorenor thought of his Aegis Shield and pondered a desperate plan for the next round of attacks...

...The ghoul only hoped he could survive that long.