---
A small void window opened beneath Ned's front boot. His foot entered it as he tried to change direction, and his balance broke for less than a second. John used Gravity Pull against the sword arm at the same moment, dragging the weapon wide.
Fizz struck Ned's face with a fireball at close range. The white aura protected him from most of the damage, but the explosion blocked his sight. John stepped under the blind swing and punched him directly over the heart. The white lines beneath Ned's skin flickered as he flew backward and struck the ground.
Ned rolled, stood, and released a wide wave of light around his body. The force struck John and Fizz. Fizz flew into the air while John crossed both arms and slid several yards across the broken ground.
Ned wiped blood from his eyes. One side of his face had been burned, and his breathing sounded damaged.
"You needed both of them."
John looked toward Nyx's hidden shadow and then toward Fizz. "Yes."
