The massive Earth-Rending Ursa shook its heavy, stone-plated head, its glowing yellow eyes locking squarely onto me and Emma.
With a deafening roar that shook the leaves from the canopy, it charged.
"Jin!" Emma shouted. Her silver bracelet flared brilliantly, and a shimmering light dome snapped into place just as the beast swiped its massive claws.
The heavy stone claws screeched against the hard-light barrier, sending violent sparks flying into the dim forest.
The shield held, but the sheer force pushed Emma sliding backward through the dirt.
"Its armor is too thick!" Emma strained, holding her hands up to maintain the barrier.
"My light spells can blind it, but I don't have the offensive spells to pierce that plating!"
A standard blade wasn't going to cut it.
I let out a slow, controlled breath. Up until now, I had kept this entirely under wraps. In this world, rare and destructive affinities, especially dark variations, carried heavy, often dangerous stigmas.
