Arty of course was stunned by the sudden attack. The boy had barely said a few words before lunging at her. The surprise jolted something primal deep within her. A raw instinctive urge to protect herself at all costs.
Her mind reacted faster than her body and without a single conscious motion, a massive gust of wind erupted outward from her.
The force was immediate and overwhelming.
The wind smashed into the boy before he could brace himself, flinging him backward at blinding speed and slamming him hard against the inner barrier of the arena.
Even with lightning wrapped around his legs, enhancing his speed and mobility, he couldn't resist the sheer power of the wind wave.
He grunted in pain. The impact left a visible dent in the barrier. But to her surprise, he only chuckled.
