I pushed myself up, my world was spinning, and I coughed again, more violently, and the pain I experienced as I spat out pieces of my internal organs was intense.
Looking down, I saw that my chest was a crater of cracked ribs and cauterized flesh, and silver blood rose from my wounds like smoke from a dying fire. The light in my channels was dim, nearly spent. I had poured everything into that Tribunal bolt, and Vrakth had simply... taken it.
Was the gap between us that great?
"To kill this demon, you must peel his Abyssal Shield from his flesh," the Hollow Avatar whispered.
"Peel it," I muttered. "Right, so at his rank, Abyssal Shield becomes fused with flesh… good to know."
Vrakth tilted his head as he saw me standing. His six burning eyes tracked the silver blood rising from my chest, and something flickered across his ancient face that I think was close to interest.
