I dismissed my staff, letting it fade from my hand, and looked around at the devastation. The ground was cracked and blackened, trees uprooted or flattened, a haze of smoke still drifting across the ruined forest. That final explosion had changed the landscape.
Then a soft chime echoed in my head—a notification.
I didn't bother checking it. My vision swam slightly, and I realised that last blast had done more damage to me than his saber ever could. Essence backlash. Internal trauma. Maybe even organ rupture. Didn't matter. I couldn't stop now.
I turned, locked onto Silver's direction, and started jogging toward him.
Each step was a punishment. Blood dripped from my wounds, trailing behind me in red splashes on the dirt. I clicked my tongue, irritated, and bit down a growl. This was slowing me down.
