The tension rose higher, a string pulled to its breaking point.
Selene stood in the center of the arena, her robes flowing in silver fire, her circlet blazing, Astralis glowing like a piece of the moon itself. The entire stadium held its breath, waiting for the moment her next strike would fall.
Selene lifted Astralis and whispered a single word. The silver flames surged outward, spreading across the floor. They rose into the air and gathered together, forming a great sphere of light that hovered above her head. It pulsed like a living moon, vast and serene, and yet heavy with destructive power. The glow poured over the coliseum, drowning the battlefield in white brilliance. For a moment it felt as though the night had descended, not with darkness, but with the purity of the moon itself.
