Gathering mana into his feet, he dashed towards her, a fireball already forming in his palm as he closed the distance.
She only registered him when he was nearly on top of her – Stealth doing exactly what it was meant to – and by then there was no time left to properly defend. The fireball connected into her chest at close range.
She got a thin flicker of a mana barrier up at the very last instant, enough that it didn't end her outright, but enough force still got through to stagger her hard/
She swore, stumbling back.
"Who are you?! Show yourself!" She screamed, her eyes wide with the particular panic of someone who thought they had more time to prepare than they did.
Then she saw him.
Ronan didn't answer.
He was already moving into the follow-up. He activated Flame Mirage, creating an illusion that he was still standing in the same place while he moved up. It only lasted a second before his clone burst into flames, but he was already right in front of her.
