Thane staggered backward, his chest heaving with ragged breaths, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. His body trembled as he felt the sharp sting of the cuts and slashes across his skin. Blood dripped from his wounds, a thick, dark red that sizzled and evaporated into the air, his regenerative powers struggling to keep up with the onslaught. His mind raced, trying to comprehend how things had gone so horribly wrong.
He had embraced the demonic power, surrendered himself to it fully, expecting to become invincible—yet here he was, beaten and broken, overwhelmed by a foe who should have been long dead. Anger surged through him, hot and furious, a wildfire burning through his veins. His face twisted into a snarl, his teeth clenched so hard they threatened to shatter.
