Noah's instinct screamed at him.
At the very last second, he twisted his torso.
The blade missed his heart by inches, carving a clean line across his chest instead. Pain exploded through him.
But the sword didn't stop there.
It tore through the golden barrier behind him, and with a deafening crack, the wall shattered.
A gap, wide and jagged, opened in the golden field.
Noah didn't hesitate.
He dove.
He hit the ground outside the barrier hard, rolling once, then lifted his hand. Mana surged weakly through his veins.
Null Stride.
The world blinked.
He vanished.
Noah reappeared inside the infirmary. The shift left him staggering, his vision swimming, his lungs burning.
He barely managed to stay upright for two steps before his knees buckled.
His hand caught the edge of a bed, leaving a bloody smear across the sheets.
"Help…" he croaked, voice barely audible.
The nurse at the far end of the room turned just as he collapsed.
Her startled gasp echoed through the ward.
