If I use Life Burn, I could deal with it. I'd have the same power or higher and with my full kit, I could end this quickly.
The thought came and went in an instant, and he crushed it just as fast.
But I can't. I've barely recovered. Stacey was clear about the cooldown, about the cumulative channel damage. I made that mistake once and it nearly ruined me. If I make it again this soon, the consequences could be irreversible in worst case scenario. In best case, my recovery would cost billions and would take months...perhaps years.
Life Burn was off the table. That meant he had to work with what he had, and what he had, right now, in this moment, was a single clean shot at a distracted target.
He watched in silence.
The cicada sang, unaware of the mantis behind it. The mantis crept forward, unaware of the oriole above. Every predator on this battlefield believed itself the hunter, and none of them looked over its own shoulder.
