Unfortunately, his kick was already in motion.
Malak struck her knee, but her sword struck him, sliding into his side. He made a choked sound--less because he actually felt it with adrenaline pumping through his blood and shock taking over, and more because he saw it happen and it was a very surreal, strange sensation--and went very still, his sword still locked with her blocking sword.
His body hadn't yet caught up with what had happened, but he knew. And he knew this was bad.
Shoving against her sword, he yanked himself backwards--and off her sword--and stood there, wide-eyed and breathing hard as blood began to soak through his clothes. Shakily, he fell back into a defensive stance. Still no pain, still that surreal sense of being outside himself, but it wouldn't last long and he had no idea how badly he was injured; this needed to end now.
He went for her again, thrusting for her middle.