The empty field disappeared beneath their power.
Shiina moved first.
Blue light erupted from the frozen ground beneath her feet, and the hundreds of sword paths surrounding her became real. They crossed the air at once, each one carrying the sharp, controlled intent of a master swordswoman.
Nathan raised Kyomei.
The Curse of Pandora surged around him.
Countless black faces twisted through the darkness, their empty eyes fixed on Shiina. Their mouths opened in silent screams before the sound arrived a heartbeat later, crashing across the field like the cries of a thousand lost souls.
Shiina's first attack reached him.
Then the second.
Then twenty more.
Blue cuts appeared around Nathan from every direction.
He stepped aside from one strike, blocked another, and turned Kyomei to catch a third. The next slash came from behind him. A black face rushed toward it, opening its mouth wide as though swallowing the blue blade whole.
The magic collided.
BAAAADOOM!
