The satisfying muffled impact of flesh on flesh widened Kara's lips from their previous smirk into a toothy grin. The expression remained plastered on her face as she crab-walked a half-circle opposite the arena from Captain Marvel while he regained his footing and massaged his head. That... felt good. It was probably the most significant hit she'd landed the whole fight and it also proved her latest theory on how to capitalize on her abilities in combat valid.

Kara nodded while her opponent spoke, her fierce gaze softening somewhat for the first time in several rounds as she beamed at the more experienced hero's praise. The notion that she might have come up with a way of using one of their shared powers in a way the Captain had not before was definitely gratifying.



"Please do borrow it, if you are wanting." The Kryptonian responded to the mention of 'remembering that one', only half in jest. A dimple did tighten in between her brows though as she heard her own words leave her lips. She had not said that quite right, Supergirl could tell... but then her focus was pulled back to Captain Marvel as he followed up compliments with advice.



She nodded again in understanding. He was right of course. With everything she was capable of on Earth, it was so easy to rely on brute strength and sheer speed. But the Leaguer was right; that was a mistake, to replace earned skill with gifted talent rather than using the latter merely to enhance the former. That was why she was here, after all, wasn't it? Kara took a deep breath to settle her temper and refocus on what it was she was trying to train.



And in that moment, for the first time in several exchanges, Captain Marvel made the first attack.



In a blur of red and blue, the entire assault and counter taking less time than normal combatants might to even draw back for a strike, Kara twisted to her right and leaned back. Palms flattened, her hands came out in front of her with the intent of catching the fist her opponent was leading with and using his own momentum to throw him past her.



Too late, Supergirl recognized the feint for what it was.



She couldn't reverse her turn fully in time to meet Captain Marvel's right uppercut, nor bring her arms around to parry. The best the superpowered teen could managed was to twist her hips halfway back towards her previous position and, with bended knee, bring her calf up in an awkward block.



This of course left Kara awkwardly twisted and balancing on only her right foot when the gods-powered fist connected with the impromptu-shield of her left shin. Meeting the force of the blow so directly with a part of the anatomy with minimal cushioning before the bone, and against someone who at least equalled her enhanced strength, sent a stab of sharp pain racing up Supergirl's leg sufficient to elicit an almost-yelp from the blonde. To her credit, she at least managed to bite it back into a forceful falsetto grunt.



Of course, the strike also completely stole Supergirl's unsteady footing and she landed flat on her back with enough force that it would have knocked the wind out of her without powers. As it was, her cheeks simply flushed in embarassment. She remained laying there for a moment as she bent her left leg up over her stomach and massaged the spot below her knee, from which the gradually-receding soreness radiated. The Kryptonian glanced up at Captain Marvel standing over her and flashed him a rueful smile.



"Balance and stability? Object lesson recieved." Moment of humility and acknowledgement passed, fire lit Kara's gaze again as she planted her left foot and used the hands already gripping her shin to pull her torso off the ground and into a crouch. At the same time, she snapped her right leg forward in a short arc, hoping to sweep her opponent's feet.



"And answered!"