The massive, force-dispersing doors had barely sealed when the raw kinetic tension in the room spiked.
Above them, the four women watched this with interest and curiosity.
Down in the hall, Zaeryn stood with his hands loosely tucked into his pockets, matching Mireille's icy-blue stare with a lazy but villainous smirk.
Having been looking forward to this, he was too eager, so he didn't wait for her to set the pace, nor did he bother with a standard opening stance. His newly ranked-up Tier 2 abilities were screaming to be let loose.
Zaeryn focused his will and used Sensory Jolt, targeting her mind.
It wasn't a visible blast, but a sudden, violent psychic spike projected straight through the space between them. Mireille, whose battlefield focus was usually an absolute fortress, flinched violently.
Her eyes widened and then lost focus for a fraction of a second as the phantom vertigo tore through her concentration, shattering her perfect balance.
