Ace ran as fast as he could to intercept Seraphina Griffin. He wanted to save her, so he couldn't let her do any more damage. The problem: she was miles away.
Before he could reach her, Seraphina swung her swords and sent waves of ash and cinders. The waves hit Ignis Caro and their fallen kin, forcing them to explode. Huge blasts rippled across the battlefield, swallowing rankers and buildings and knocking them down like dominoes.
Even Chaewon and the other top rankers couldn't get close; they raised their guards and held. Ace threw himself straight in, stepping into a burning world where everything fought him.
Breathing hurt. He shaped an ink mask and forced air through it. His clothes held together only because of Drew's buffs.
With only those two to help him, he crushed ash and burning soil under his shoes and drove toward the woman. Within the pillar of fire, she stood like an alluring yet callous master of the inferno. To drive it home, Seraphina leveled a sword at him.
