Ronan's hand hovered over the cube, its glowing red energy pulling him in. Blaky meowed loudly, almost as if ordering him to grab it. Trusting his gut—and the strange bond he shared with the cat—Ronan placed his hand on the smooth surface of the artifact.
The moment his fingers touched it, Blaky hissed violently, claws digging into his shoulder. Ronan's instincts kicked in as the cat's warning hit him. In a blur of motion, a figure dressed in white and gold dashed from the shadows, a shining blade aimed straight at his chest.
Ronan reacted without thinking. With no time to use Shadow Step, he filled his legs with wind mana and shot backward with explosive speed. Sliding across the cavern floor, he cradled Blaky with one arm and crouched defensively. His sword shimmered in the dim light as he brought it up, his sharp blue eyes locking onto the threat.
The attacker straightened, standing tall. His frame was powerful, his presence commanding.
