"I admire your enthusiasm," he said, his calm voice laced with menace. "But I expected more from you."
Heriean stepped forward, blood pooling at his fingertips as they morphed into jagged, weapon-like shapes. With a guttural shout, he slashed at the King's aura, each strike leaving faint ripples in the golden light. The King remained unmoved, deflecting the attacks with barely a flicker of effort. A wave of energy from his aura sent Heriean stumbling back, his crimson blades shattering into droplets.
"Stop this madness," the King said, his voice sharp. "It's embarrassing."
Cade's heart sank as the timer on the bomb ticked closer to zero. "Osalf, what do we do?!" he shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
Osalf didn't answer immediately. His sharp eyes remained locked on the King as he adjusted his stance, his fists clenched. "We buy time," he said grimly. "Keep him occupied."
