âđđđđđđ
âI pushed, channeling every scrap of Core energy left in my depleted reserves and shoved against his broad chest with both feet, using him as a springboard to propel myself backward. The distance between us widenedâthree feet, five, sevenâand for a heartbeat, I felt victorious.
âThen gravity remembered I existed.
âMy energy reserves hit empty. The Core sputtered out like a dying flame. I was falling backward through open air with nothing left to catch myself, the arena floor rushing up to meet my spine. All I could do was brace for an impact that was going to hurt. My arms came up instinctively to protect my head as the world spun andâ
âHands caught me mid-fall.
