The flame-wreathed man finally realized something was wrong and immediately threw himself backward. Fire burst under his feet as he tried to retreat out of the edge of the blast.
But he was too close.
And the runes Ethan had laid down were too vicious.
The exploding sphere of light swelled violently, swallowing the distance and catching him anyway. His flame shield shattered on impact. The greatsword was knocked up and away. Then the annihilating shock slammed into his chest and tore more than half his body into shreds.
The surrounding space kept getting compressed by the blast.
Huge cracks caved inward. The air twisted into rings of black ripples. Soldiers fighting nearby recoiled in horror—because even from far away, they could feel the death stench riding the shockwave.
"AAAGH—!"
A shriek ripped across the battlefield.
