Ray lay on the floor clutching his ass, face pale as a sheet. That kind of pain? You couldn't describe it—you had to live it. And once you did, you'd never forget.
His metal arm shimmered, reverting back to flesh and blood.
"You're… you're an Awakened too?" Ray gasped, staring at Garrick like he'd just seen a ghost.
"Is that supposed to be rare?" Garrick replied coolly.
"…"
"You done?" Garrick asked, voice dry. "If you're still breathing, get up and try again. If not, just admit you lost and stop embarrassing yourself. 'Invincible among Tier 5s'? You couldn't even take one of my warm-ups."
Ray's jaw clenched so tight it looked like his teeth might crack. But to his credit, he forced himself upright, legs shaking, face twisted in pain.
"That was a sneak attack," he growled. "You think that means you're better than me?"
