The green ball rested in her palm, almost casual, like she was holding a toy instead of a weapon.
It was about the size of her hand, smooth, faintly glowing.
She rolled it once between her fingers and smirked.
The barrier had been on the whole time.
That alone made my stomach tighten.
"I know something like this could happen," she said lightly, tilting her head, watching us.
"That's why I made a gas version."
Before I could move, before I could shout a warning, she clenched her fist.
The ball exploded.
The mist hit my skin like wet cloth.
Not burning. Not choking.
Just wrong.
My first breath came out shaky.
My second didn't feel like it belonged to me.
It didn't shatter.
It burst.
A thick green mist spread outward in a single violent pulse, flooding the room in seconds.
It clung to the air, to the walls, to us.
"Not good, everyone cover your mouth!" I shouted.
I grabbed my coat collar and pulled it over my nose and mouth.
