The moment Ezekiel fell, I didn't waste a heartbeat.
I triggered [Leap], space folding around me, and reappeared beside Thok. My gut tightened at the sight before me—I had been right. We were under attack.
There was no time to take in the full scope of what had happened. My eyes caught the only thing that mattered: the enemy's weapon raised high, about to cleave down on Zarah.
Instinct overrode thought. I warped again, reappearing in front of her just as the strike came down.
CLANG!
The impact rang out like steel on stone, sparks snapping at the edge of my vision.
But I barely felt it.
At most, there was only a faint pressure—hardly more than a shove against my chest.
[Fractured Shield] had absorbed the force, the barrier shimmering faintly before settling back into place.
I finally looked my attacker in the eye.
