The Magus opened his palm.
With a single thought, a violent shockwave erupted from him like a bomb of raw energy.
Ben sensed it a heartbeat too late.
He turned sharply, planted his feet, and raised his pickaxe.
BAM!
The blast struck him head-on.
The force sent him flying, wind howling in his ears.
He twisted in midair and angled his body toward the base.
He crashed down beside Elvira.
Stone cracked beneath him.
His body steamed, smoke rising from his armor.
The chitin armor was split down one side, but his hand never left the weapon.
He rose slowly, eyes locked forward. "Elvira, barrier.
Now."
"I'm already on it!" she snapped.
Her voice was tight.
A magic circle appeared on her hand.
The circle lit up like a sunburst, then spread across the structure in a lattice of glowing threads.
A translucent dome of mana snapped into place over them, multi-layered and reinforced, anchored by white gemstones.
The transformed Magus floated in the sky above the base.
