"ARGHH!!"
With a roar ripped from blood-filled lungs, Emery forced power into his arms and shoved the Swordmaster backward just enough to break the execution angle—but the reprieve lasted less than a breath.
More attacks were already converging.
Domains overlapped. Spell circles ignited. Killing intent pressed in from every direction.
They thought he was finished.
They were wrong.
Emery coughed up a mouthful of blood, red mist scattering in the wind—then the air around him exploded with motion. Twilight vines burst outward in a violent spiral, thick, thorned tendrils intercepting incoming spells and smashing aside closing enemies. He stepped into the chaos instead of retreating from it, both swords still in hand, and swung in a savage cross.
Two grand magus dodged in time.
One did not.
The intersecting arcs of Khaos-infused steel tore through layered defenses and cleaved him apart, blood and shattered soul fragments scattering into the burning sky.
Then—
