Atrox threw his right hand up, and Slya screamed as she was thrown high into the air. At the same time, he condensed fire into a sword as big as himself.
Everything slowed.
Atrox raised his sword and slashed, creating a sword arc that rippled with red fire, filling the space between them in a zigzag pattern.
Alyndra had been moving as well. She bent slightly and got into position, then drew her sword—just inches of glinting metal. Suddenly, faint golden light connected everything to her as if she were the center of the world.
His sword arc was cut into pieces, and at the same time, the line that connected Atrox to her sword from the neck suddenly disappeared.
But he had already moved his head to the left.
Just as it started, everything returned to normal. Only it wasn't normal—a thin slice dripping with blood appeared on Atrox's neck, and the ground between them was melted.
