The air shifted.
The cursed soul's smile faded.
No more taunts. No more games.
He adjusted his stance, the blood-forged blade spinning once in his hand. A faint hum echoed from it, like a predator growling just before the kill.
"You've annoyed me enough," the soul said coldly, "It's time I ended this."
A crack of force echoed as he dashed forward — too fast.
Boom!
Riven barely blocked the first strike, but the force sent him sliding back, boots carving twin lines in the ground.
"Everyone — formation!" Emil shouted.
Kael lunged with a warcry, trying to flank. Luin summoned barriers, layering them rapidly like glass shields. Riven moved like a phantom to cover the backline.
But it wasn't enough.
In one sweeping motion, the cursed soul shattered Kael's aether punch, sent him crashing into a tree with a bloody gasp, and pierced through Luin's second barrier with a wave of his hand.
"No—!" Emil moved to intercept, but he was a second too late.
