The battlefield was a warzone of scorched stone, melted metal, and ash.
Albrecht stood near the edge of the arena, his hand pressed to his temple as spiritual power flowed out of him in precise pulses to try and somewhat stabilize the poor condition of his contracts.
In his star space, the Scaldhide Ore Demon groaned weakly—its core barely holding together after its violent self-detonation. It would survive, but only barely, and only if the match ended soon.
He couldn't afford to lose it permanently. Then he'd go from one of the top young talents of the Empire...to a cripple with a broken star.
Even if, with the royal family's or the College's help, he managed to restore the star space after the broken contract, it'd be hard to find a contract as talented as his Ore Demon...not to mention their emotional connection.
