The room erupted in light and chaos.
Mana bolts tore through the air, shattering glass pods and filling the space with hissing vapor. Merlin raised a hand, space twisting, the projectiles vanished inches from his face, reappearing harmlessly against the far wall. In the same motion, lightning arced from his palm, catching one of the attackers square in the chest.
Elara lunged forward, her spear spinning in a blur of motion. Each strike sent a pulse of earth mana rippling through the ground, cracking the floor beneath their enemies' feet. She moved like flowing stone, steady, deliberate, and utterly unstoppable.
Merlin ducked beneath a burst of energy, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Wind gathered at his heels, amplifying his speed. He slammed his palm into another guard's armor, releasing a compressed burst of lightning that sent him flying backward into a wall.
Within seconds, the fight was over.
