Lila recovered quickly, rolling away from the energy beams. Blood now soaked the left side of her gear where Adrian's attack had burned through fabric and skin. Her eyes narrowed in a combination of pain and determination.
As Adrian disappeared below the platform level, Lila extended her hand toward the gap, telekinetic energy surging outward. Instead of targeting Adrian directly, she focused on the air around him.
Adrian felt his descent suddenly slow, as if he'd plunged into invisible molasses. Another slow zone, but more concentrated than before, completely encasing him in temporal distortion.
Within the zone, Adrian could barely move. His continuing attack slowed to a crawl, the energy beams becoming weak, unfocused streams that Lila easily avoided.
From above, Lila approached the edge of the gap, looking down at Adrian suspended in her slow zone. Blood still ran from her nose and the wound on her shoulder, but her expression showed no pain—only intense focus.
