Jason's fist smashed into Maldred's jaw once again.
The impact was disgustingly powerful.
No roots softened it, no summoned wood diverted the force, no trick of leverage or magic turned it into something cleaner than what it was. It was a bare-knuckled, desperate, full-bodied punch thrown by a man who had already spent too much of himself and still had more to give.
Jason felt the force surge from his planted heel, roll through his hips, twist through his spine and shoulder, and explode out through his arm. Something in his hand tore but also something in Maldred's face broke.
A crunch snapped through the chamber.
Maldred's head whipped sideways with enough violence to spray black ichor in a glittering arc through the torchlight.
