The water stopped its dance movements and instead exploded back toward Malachai. The old mage threw up a water shield with everything he had, shouting, "[Aqua Ward]!"
"Nope," the masked man said, and the shield parted at his will. As a result, the returning torrent slammed into Malachai full force. The impact drove the breath from him, and the light left his eyes in a slow, terrible retreat.
A chime rang in his head just before the gentle embrace of unconsciousness claimed him.
[You have been defeated by the Primordial Subjugator.]
[Your fate now belongs to him. All you ever were, all you ever will be, is his to command.]
Malachai's knees buckled. He slumped to the floor without the fight that had defined him. Selene's mother was about to scream when a sudden gust of wind knocked her out before being greeted by the same message.
