Atticus had always been careful from the outset. This was how he had always been.
He could have chosen to engrave multiple grade one runes so he would be able to probably minimize his will, but Atticus had decided against that.
Apart from the fact that the material he could engrave on was very limited, Atticus could feel the scorching heat of the massive fireballs approaching him. It wasn't something a grade one rune shield could block, not even close.
So he had decided to be careful from the outset and go with a grade 2 rune despite the strain. But Atticus would have never expected what happened next to happen.
One second elapsed, the massive fireballs landing with force.
The shield emitted a chorus of metallic clangs as the fireballs bombarded its surface, the sound reminiscent of a blacksmith hammering molten metal on an anvil.
Atticus's assumption had been completely accurate; the wave of fire was cataclysmic.
