A loud bang echoed in the training room, the sound sharp and concussive, and the others watched in horror as Joe's head flung back, sending him crashing to the floor in a heap.
Darno's mouth was left wide open, his composure utterly shattered by the sudden violence. "This is crazy, this is crazy! You said to put us in a life-or-death situation, not to kill us!" Darno shouted, his hands instinctively raised in a defensive, non-combat stance.
"Don't worry," Max shouted back calmly, his voice ringing over the tense silence. "He's fine. Look."
Joe slowly lifted the upper half of his body, groaning. He now had a massive, red lump forming on his forehead. When he went to press on it, a sharp sting caused him to wince and pull his hand away immediately.
