He came at Langford with the sword.
He was not the better swordsman. Langford was trained, older, stronger, and his footwork never opened. But James was faster than the man expected, and James did not fight clean.
Langford cut down at his head. James caught it, let the force fold him low instead of fighting it, and fired Necro Blast point-blank into the back of Langford's knee.
[NECRO BLAST ACTIVATED]
The gold plate blackened where it hit. The rot held for one second before the light burned it clean — but the leg buckled, the step broke, and the guard dropped for an instant.
James cut across the gap.
His blade scraped the white breastplate.
It was not deep. It was a line, a scratch across the holy plate.
But the stream saw it. And Langford saw it.
The control in his face changed.
Now he stopped playing.
A guard lay wounded near Langford's feet, trying to drag himself clear. James put a Necro Blast through him and killed him.
The death triggered the chain.
