The force of the clash still lingered in my arms as I steadied myself, my footing sliding back across the plaza before I came to a stop, and when I lifted my gaze again, I saw the shift immediately.
The silver glow around his sword didn't fade.
It spread.
From the blade, it crawled outward, wrapping around his arm, then his shoulders, and within a breath it covered his entire body, a controlled aura that pulsed with each step he took forward. He didn't rush this time. His eyes moved once toward the two bodies lying broken behind him, then returned to me.
"You're going to pay for that."
His voice was low and threatening. Then he moved. His sword came up and slashed once.
Then again. Then a third time.
Each swing released multiple compressed blades of wind and energy that tore through the air in overlapping paths, cutting straight toward me in rapid succession. The space between us filled instantly, the attacks stacking on top of each other with no gap to slip through.
