Several minutes earlier, before Lyra's defeat…
The moment Lyra's hardened Alchemy Coat clashed against the expanding force of the Sun Alchemy explosion, the pressure around her became almost unbearable.
Golden light filled her vision.
Heat pushed against her body from every direction while the force of the explosion tried to drive her backward across the platform.
Yet Lyra pushed forward.
Her boots dragged against the damaged ground as she leaned into the pressure, both hands gripping her scythe.
She forced her body to keep moving.
A burning sensation suddenly struck the hand holding the scythe.
Lyra's fingers tightened around the handle despite the pain.
She lowered her eyes for only a moment.
The metal had become hotter.
Much hotter.
The heat had spread through the weapon from the earlier explosion, and the longer she continued holding it, the more the burning sensation climbed through her fingers and into her palm.
Her skin was beginning to burn.
Lyra looked back up.
