Another explosion detonated beneath my feet and hurled me sideways through the air. The recoil twisted my body, heat roaring past my ears as the arena floor blurred below.
"My thrum stat," I shouted, grinning like an idiot despite the strain in my arms, "is the one thing I am confident in!"
I did not give him time to answer.
Explosions chained together in rapid succession.
Each detonation overlapped the last, pushing me higher, faster, then snapping me sideways again. The pressure shook the air. Stone cracked. Smoke swallowed the space between us.
Lioren cut through it.
His blade carved a clean path through the explosions, wind screaming as it condensed around the edge. Each swing split the blasts apart instead of deflecting them. It was terrifying.
But Lioren knew better.
I saw it in his eyes, just for a moment. If this kept going, he would lose.
The result of that should have made me hesitate. Drawing this much attention, especially from the Ocypete elders, was dangerous.
