The swamp burned with noise and light as the battle dragged on.
The five Creed men had already revealed their hybridized strength, their bodies pulsing with veins of unstable energy, yet the fight wasn't tilting their way. If anything, it was tilting against them.
Arden stood slightly back, watching with folded arms as Rael, Nyra, and Zephyra handled the fight. His lotus shield bloomed outward like translucent petals, protecting them from stray attacks so they could go all out without fear.
He could have ended it himself from the start, but he had no intention of robbing them of the experience.
"Don't get sloppy," he said calmly, his voice carrying over the crackle of flames and shattering ice. "If you want to cut across realms, then learn to fight like it."
