Damien moved.
He struck the Ursine's knee joint with a precise blow, shattering balance rather than bone. The creature crashed to one knee with an earth-shaking impact.
"Now," Damien said.
Garrick surged forward, blade flashing as he drove it into the exposed neck beneath the stone plating. Mana erupted in a violent burst as the Ursine collapsed.
Luton retracted smoothly.
A moment later, it spat out a pulsing Grade Four essence core, landing neatly at Damien's feet.
Garrick stared. "…It really did."
Damien picked up the core and handed it to him. "One."
They hadn't gone far before the forest retaliated.
A sharp whistling sound sliced through the air.
Damien shifted instantly, grabbing Garrick's shoulder and pulling him aside as twin blades of compressed wind tore through the space where Garrick's head had been.
Three figures dropped from the trees.
Razorwind Mantises.
