The eastern courtyard...
A corrupted figure lunged at a golden-brown haired from his left.
He sidestepped, hand already moving. Flames gathered in his palm, compressed, focused and...
WHOOSH-BOOM!
The fireball struck the creature's chest at point-blank range and detonated, blowing a hole clean through its torso. It collapsed mid-lunge, dead before it hit the ground.
Two more appeared from the smoke. Caleb's expression didn't change.
His hands came together, fingers forming seals with practiced precision. "Flame Serpent."
Fire erupted from his palms and coalesced into a serpentine form, fluid, alive, burning with intense heat. It shot forward, weaving between the two creatures.
HISS-CRACK!
The serpent wrapped around the first creature's torso and squeezed. Flames ate through corrupted flesh, reducing it to ash in seconds. Then it unwound and struck the second creature like a viper, punching through its skull.
Both bodies collapsed.
