The Warden hurled the sphere.
It tore through the hall like a meteor, stone crumbling in its wake. Aria charged forward instead of retreating, black flames lashing from her body. She swung her sword in a wide arc, her death-fire colliding with the sphere. The impact detonated in a shockwave that split the floor open, slabs of stone tumbling into the abyss below.
The explosion threw her sideways, but she rolled with the force and came up running. The Warden was already on her, claws like scythes cutting through the air. Aria ducked under the first strike, sparks bursting as the claws shredded the wall behind her. She drove her blade upward into its ribcage, black fire surging with the thrust. Bone cracked, but the Warden's other hand swung around and caught her across the chest.
