He was winded.

I probably have a mild concussion too, he thought as he stood, swaying, tasting blood in his mouth from a cut on the inside of his cheek.

At first, they had tested each other, Denizen the Destroyer and he, making jabs and blocks. Once the Destroyer feinted and landed a good blow on Lucien's ribs, but the follow-up, a hook to Lucien's jaw, caught air as Lucien had astutely pulled his head back, just on time.

He had smiled a thin smile that had enraged the younger man who had made a mistake. The Destroyed had been winded. That was when Lucien had punched him in the...