Torren stepped in front of her, shield already coming up.
"Get back!"
Althea's voice followed instantly.
"Now!"
Her mana surged.
Two layers at once.
They wrapped around Torren just before impact.
Strength.
Defense.
Then... BOOM!
The hit landed.
The sound cracked through the room.
Torren's shield took it, but the force drove him down for a split second before it gave.
His body was launched backward.
CRASH!
He slammed into the ground, rolling hard, tearing through the dirt before coming to a stop.
"…Ghk..!"
Nox stumbled back, breath shaking.
Arthur was in front of her the next second.
"You good?"
She nodded quickly, still trying to steady herself. "…Yeah."
Arthur didn't look at her again.
His eyes were already back on the wolf.
The beast lifted its claw slowly.
The ground where Torren had stood was ruined.
Cracked deep.
Split apart from the impact.
The first clash stayed with them.
