The first guard managed to complete only half the movement.
Grace opened her hand, and the transparent ice advancing from the right rose into a curved wall, sealing off the escape route of the vampires near the artifact. The structure did not appear to protect her. It leaned inward, compressing the available space and forcing all the survivors toward Victor.
He noticed immediately.
Victor spun the Black Ice sword and let Black Lightning travel through his arm in a concentrated flow. The energy passed through his shoulder, moved down through his elbow, and reached his fist at the exact moment he began the slash.
The blade cut through the air.
A shockwave swept across the center of the ruins.
