The moment Nyssara felt one of her appendages tear away from her body and plummet toward the black earth below, agony exploded through her entire being.
The pain was far worse than before. Her cosmic body twisted violently as dark starlight rippled across its surface.
This body was no longer a disposable projection.
Because of the oath and the restrictions binding her power, her consciousness had become anchored entirely within this manifestation. She could no longer simply abandon it and retreat into another cosmic vessel.
If she died here, the portion of her soul bound to this body would be destroyed alongside it.
For a mortal, such a loss would mean death. But for a cosmic being, it meant something arguably worse, which was a permanent reduction of power. A wound that could take ages to heal.
It would become a weakness. And weakness among cosmic beings was an invitation.
The moment others discovered she had suffered such a loss, they would descend upon her.
