Jack flared his wings, generating a downdraft that carried him above the strike while his tail whipped forward to catch the shadow across its ribs.
The bone spike punctured scales and flesh, drawing purple-and-black ichor.
The shadow stumbled but converted the momentum into a spin, its foot sweeping toward Jack's legs with enough force to shatter concrete.
Jack's wings beat hard, carrying him higher as the kick passed beneath him. He twisted mid-air, both clawed hands gathering golden lightning as he prepared to release Arc Blast.
The shadow threw itself forward, closing the distance before Jack could complete the cast. Its hands grabbed his tail, using the appendage as leverage to PULL him from the air.
Jack crashed to the obsidian floor, the impact driving air from restructured lungs.
The shadow was on him immediately, fists hammering down with force that fractured the stone beneath Jack's back.
[HP: 92,234/151,775]
