Without a second thought, Shaan threw himself sideways and hit the ground hard. He dodged Ronin's attack, but his shoulder scraped hard against the ground, leaving a nasty wound.
"D-damn it." Shaan pressed a hand against his injured shoulder, but fresh blood continued to seep between his fingers. "I have to defeat Ronin, no matter what it takes."
Shaan forced himself to his feet, but a sudden cracking sound came from his pocket. He reached for it immediately, and his face turned pale. His heart seemed to stop for a moment when he realized his Iron Blood Rune had shattered.
"Oh no, no. This can't be happening." Shaan pulled the broken rune fragments from his pocket. "Not now. I still need it."
His hands trembled as he tried to piece the fragments back together, but his efforts proved futile. The rune's effects had stopped working. Slowly, its fragments dissolved into specks of light and vanished.
[Iron Blood Rune effect lost]
[Status returned to normal]
