Night fell over the northern plains as colossal Zaira tore through the cold mountain winds, leaving the southern desert far behind.
Her giant armored scales scraped against granite boulders, throwing sparks into the darkness as she raced toward Galka War Academy at maximum speed.
High on her neck, Sagiri gripped the reins with trembling fingers, his vision blurring as waves of unbearable heat washed through his chest.
The physical blowback that had been building inside his mortal vessel for days was finally erupting with devastating force.
His veins burned beneath his skin like molten copper, glowing with erratic pulses of dark crimson and crackling silver energy.
Sagiri leaned forward over Zaira's scales and coughed violently, spitting a thick spray of black obsidian blood onto the cold wind.
The blood hissed as it hit the air, evaporating into thin plumes of dark smoke before disappearing into the night.
