A jagged slash of dark energy ripped through the space. It was black and crackling like lightning born from nightmares.
It came too fast, a blur of shadow and malice, and before Iyana could react, it struck her squarely.
Her breath caught.
The force was monstrous. Despite her aura, her body arched backward. Weightless for a heartbeat, then flung like a ragdoll across the hall.
She slammed into the wall with a sickening crack that echoed through the golden chamber. Plaster and paint exploded around her, raining down in dusty clumps as the wall fractured.
Chunks of debris tumbled to the floor, bouncing and skittering across the cold marble ground. One heavy slab landed with a thunderous thud near her feet.
Without wasting time, Iyana staggered to her knees, rubble crumbling around her like bones. The surprise attack had hit like a god's wrath—wild, sudden, and untraceable. Her limbs screamed in protest. Her breath was blown away.
