The shield slammed into Raze Dawg's face with a flat, brutal impact.
No flame burst from it, and no thunder cracked through the cavern. The damage number that flashed above Raze Dawg looked almost insulting compared to his level and gear, yet the sound spread farther than it should have.
It cut through the hiss of poisoned water, the scrape of the legendary greatsword, and the broken breathing of the vanguard.
Everyone heard steel crash into the face of the man who had made them feel helpless.
Raze Dawg's head snapped back by a fraction. His HP barely moved, and Martin's arm almost went numb from the rebound as pain climbed from his wrist to his shoulder.
Martin held the shield anyway, close enough to see Raze Dawg's eyes widen behind the fading grin.
The strike had never been about damage. The shield only needed to touch him.
Landing it was enough to make Night Espresso's vanguard move again.
"Checkmate," Martin said.
