Varnak slammed the butt of his halberd into the stone.
The impact echoed through the arena.
The artifact in his chestplate pulsed, a deep red glow spreading out like veins across his armor.
His already massive body swelled as his muscles bulged.
The air around him grew heavy.
Pressure rolled outward in waves.
Stone under his feet cracked and buckled as mana surged from his body.
Ben narrowed his eyes.
The artifact was different from the one he had seen before, even by Nephirid standards.
Then Varnak vanished.
He reappeared mid-swing.
The halberd tore through the air, a blur of red light.
Ben ducked.
The blade passed over his head, but the shockwave still hit him.
It sent him skidding backward as a chunk of the arena wall exploded behind him.
"Good," Ben said, shaking dust from his shoulders. "Now you're worth my time."
Varnak charged again.
Each step left a crater in the stone.
He swung down from above.
Ben rolled under the attack.
